Interdisciplinary
Undergraduate Minor
The Minor in Game Design and Development complements the depth of knowledge students acquire in their majors with a rigorous, interdisciplinary minor. The minor is an elite program available only to students that apply and are accepted into it. The students in the minor flow as a cohort through a sequence of courses, typically across their junior and senior years. Within the minor courses, students learn the foundations and develop core competencies in their primary focus area (art, design, or programming) and broaden their horizons as interdisciplinary team members, learning game design theories and principles, collaborating on several game projects, and engaging in active learning and authentic, situated creative problem-solving while building a portfolio of game projects. The minor focuses on both hard and soft skills required to be successful in the game industry.
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, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Games and Interactive Media, or the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Arts and Information at Michigan State University.
Quick Links
Contacts
Game Design and Development Advisor
Christopher Roberts
robe1145@msu.edu
189 Communication Arts and Sciences Building
517-353-5583
Game Design and Development Program Coordinator
Brian Winn
winnb@msu.edu
253 Communication Arts & Sciences
517-353-5497
Can I do both the major and the minor?
It is possible to do both the major in Games and Interactive Media and the minor in Game Design and Development. They are two different things. The minor is an elite, application only, interdisciplinary program focused on game development in a team setting. For students in the major that want an additional challenge and desire the cohort-based experience, they should consider applying for the minor. Many of the coursework in the minor will also count toward the major. Further, several of the minor courses are ONLY available to students in the minor. So, if for example a major student wants to take the courses in the minor, they must apply for and be accepted into the minor.
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.
Time Constraints
Course Prerequisites
1.Take the following course (3 credits):
CAS | 117 | Games and Interactivity | 3 |
2.Take two of the following courses (6 credits):
MI | 227 | Concept Design for Games, Film, and TV | 3 |
MI | 230 | Games Design | 3 |
MI | 231 | Game and Interactive Media Development | 3 |
MI | 247 | Three-Dimensional Graphics and Design | 3 |
CSE | 232 | Introduction to Programming II | 3 |
CSE | 331 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 |
CSE | 335 | Object-oriented Software Design | 3 |
GD | 360 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
STA | 201 | Fundamentals of Comic Art and Graphic Novels | 3 |
STA | 380 | Electronic Art | 3 |
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):
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 | 476 | Mobile Application Development | 3 |
CSE | 477 | Web Application Architecture and Development | 3 |
CSE | 480 | Database Systems | 3 |
CSE | 484 | Information Retrieval | 3 |
MI | 327 | Advanced Concept Design for Games, Film, and TV | 3 |
MI | 330 | Game Level Design | 3 |
MI | 332 | Game Interface Design | 3 |
MI | 334 | eSports and Online Broadcasting | 3 |
MI | 337 | Compositing and Special Effects | 3 |
MI | 339 | Games and Society | 3 |
MI | 344 | Sound Design for Cinema, Television, and Games | 3 |
MI | 347 | Advanced Three-Dimensional Computer Animation | 3 |
MI | 349 | Web Design and Development | 3 |
MI | 377 | Advanced 3D Modeling | 3 |
MI | 402 | Topics in Game Studies | 3 |
MI | 430 | Game Writing | 3 |
MI | 431 | Advanced Game Development | 3 |
MI | 447 | Three-Dimensional Graphics and Animation Portfolio | 3 |
MI | 449 | Advanced Web Development and Database Management | 3 |
MI | 477 | Character Design | 3 |
MI | 482 | Building Virtual Worlds | 3 |
MI | 484 | Building Innovative Interfaces | 3 |
MI | 486 | Serious Game Design | 3 |
STA | 301 | Advanced Comic Art and Graphic Novels | 3 |
STA | 350 | Figure Modeling | 3 |
STA | 351 | Mixed Media and Installation | 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 |
GD | 460 | Graphic Design II: Visual Communication | 3 |
GD | 462 | Spatial Design | 3 |
GD | 468 | Interaction Design | 3 |