Game Design and Development Advisor
LaDonna Croffe
croffela@msu.edu
189 Communication Arts and Sciences Building
517-355-7540
Game Design and Development Program Coordinator
Brian Winn
winnb@msu.edu
253 Communication Arts & Sciences
517-353-5497
The Minor in Game Design and Development complements the depth of knowledge students acquire in their majors with a multidisciplinary understanding of game design and development. Students learn the foundations and develop core competencies in their primary area of study and broaden their horizons as interdisciplinary team members, learning game design theories and principles, collaborating on the design and development of game projects, and engaging in active learning and authentic, situated creative problem-solving while building a portfolio of game projects.
The minor, which is administered by the Department of Media and Information, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art, or the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Arts and Information at Michigan State University.
Students from the above named majors are eligible to apply for the minor if they have completed or are currently enrolled in the prerequisites applicable to their major as listed below.
To apply, students must submit an application stating their interest in the minor and a portfolio demonstrating their expertise in media design, computer science, or art. Applications are due by the tenth week of the spring semester. Depending on the number of students applying, oral interviews may be requested. Academic performance will also be considered.
Program Online Application Form
Students accepted into the minor may begin the minor in the subsequent fall semester. The advisor for the game design and development minor must approve the student’s program of study.
By applying to this minor, students are making a two year time commitment. It should be understood that the Game Design and Development Minor takes two full years (4 semesters) to complete.
Students can apply once they are at junior standing, having earned at least 56 credits.
Students from the above named majors are eligible to apply for the minor if they: (1) have completed or are currently enrolled in the prerequisites applicable to their major as listed below; and (2) are of junior standing.
Computer Science Majors | |||
Both of the following: | |||
CSE | 231 | Introduction to Programming I | 4 |
CSE | 232 | Introduction to Programming II | 4 |
One of the following: | |||
CSE | 331 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 |
CSE | 335 | Object-Oriented Software Design | 4 |
Studio Art Majors | |||
STA | 110 | Drawing I | 3 |
STA | 112 | Art and Design: Concepts and Practices | 3 |
STA | 113 | Color and Design | 3 |
STA | 114 | Three-Dimensional Form | 3 |
Media and Information Majors | |||
CAS | 112 | Story, Sound, and Motion | 3 |
CAS | 117 | Games and Interactivity | 3 |
MI | 231 | Game and Interactive Media Development | 3 |
MI | 247 | Three-Dimensional Graphics and Design | 3 |
Requirements for the Minor in Game Design and Development
Complete the following (15 credits):
1. | All of the following courses (12 credits): | ||||||||
MI | 445 | Game Design and Development I | 3 | ||||||
MI | 455 | Game Design and Development II | 3 | ||||||
MI | 497 | Game Design Studio | 3 | ||||||
MI | 498 | Collaborative Game Design | 3 | ||||||
2. | Complete one of the following courses (3 credits): | ||||||||
Computer Science Majors | |||||||||
CSE | 410 | Operating Systems | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 420 | Computer Architecture | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 422 | Computer Networks | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 435 | Software Engineering | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 440 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 471 | Media Processing and Multimedia Computing | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 472 | Computer Graphics | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 473 | Fundamentals of 3D Game Development | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 480 | Database Systems | 3 | ||||||
CSE | 484 | Information Retrieval | 3 | ||||||
MI | 401 | Topics in Media Information and Society | 3 | ||||||
Media and Information Majors | |||||||||
MI | 344 | Sound Design for Cinema, Television, and Games | 3 | ||||||
MI | 346 | Game Design | 3 | ||||||
MI | 347 | Advanced Three-Dimensional Computer Animation | 3 | ||||||
MI | 349 | Web Design and Development | 3 | ||||||
MI | 360 | Media and Information Management | 3 | ||||||
MI | 377 | Advanced 3D Modeling | 3 | ||||||
MI | 401 | Topics in Media Information and Society | 3 | ||||||
MI | 447 | Three-Dimensional Graphics and Animation Portfolio | 3 | ||||||
MI | 449 | Advanced Web Development and Database Management | 3 | ||||||
MI | 450 | Creating Human-Centered Technology | 3 | ||||||
MI | 472 | Digital Business and Commerce | 3 | ||||||
MI | 482 | Building Virtual Worlds | 3 | ||||||
MI | 484 | Building Innovative Interfaces | 3 | ||||||
Studio Art Majors | |||||||||
MI | 401 | Topics in Media Information and Society | 3 | ||||||
STA | 350 | Figure Modeling | 3 | ||||||
STA | 351 | Mixed Media and Installation | 3 | ||||||
STA | 360 | Graphic Design I: Graphic Form | 3 | ||||||
STA | 380 | Electronic Art | 3 | ||||||
STA | 384 | Experiments in Digital Video | 3 | ||||||
STA | 385 | Interactive Environments and Digital Fabrication | 3 | ||||||
STA | 450 | Senior Project in Advanced Sculpture | 3 | ||||||
STA | 460 | Graphic Design II: Visual Communication | 4 | ||||||
STA | 462 | Three-Dimensional Design | 4 | ||||||
STA | 467 | Time and Motion Design | 4 | ||||||
STA | 468 | Interactive Web Design | 4 | ||||||
STA | 480 | Advanced Electronic Arts and Intermedia | 4 |