This degree program provides students with a well-rounded education that combines artistic creativity with technical proficiency, preparing them for diverse roles in the gaming industry, including game designer, level designer, artist, animator, writer, or producer. The Multidisciplinary Studies - Game Design degree is an exciting pathway for those passionate about creating immersive and interactive experiences. Game design is a perfect blend of artistry and technology. You'll learn how to use industry-standard software for 3D modeling, animation, and digital art, while also gaining proficiency in programming languages like C#, C++ or Python for gameplay scripting. This combination of skills allows you to bring your creative visions to life in a digital medium.
Contact
Robin English-Bircher- Assistant Professor of Practice / Game Design UGAR
Assistant Professor of Practice / Game Design UGAR
Main Campus: GSR 1.110J
Curriculum
The minimum number of semester credit hours for this degree is 120, at least 39 of which must be at the upper-division level.
Students seeking a B.A. degree in the Game Design path of Multidisciplinary Studies must fulfill the university core curriculum requirements.
Students seeking a B.A. degree in the Game Design path of Multidisciplinary Studies must fulfill the following 78 semester credit hours.
- Technology Requirement: CS 1083 (3 semester credit hours)
- Communication Requirement: COM 1043, COM 1053, COM 2113, COM 2343, COM 2733 or ENG 2413 (3hrs)
All candidates for this degree must complete three areas of focus. Courses selected to satisfy each area must be approved by the Multidisciplinary Studies Program Coordinator and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Furthermore, the courses used to satisfy each focus area must be completed with at least a 2.0 grade point average.
All candidates for this degree must complete MDS 2013: Introduction to Multidisciplinary Studies.
All candidates for this degree must complete MDS 4983: Senior Seminar for Multidisciplinary Studies.
All candidates for this degree must complete 27 semester hours of free electives, at least 15 of which must be at the upper-division level.
BA-MDGD Game Design 2024-26 Catalog
FIRST YEAR - FALL
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AIS 1203 or 1233 | Academic Inquiry and Scholarship | 3 |
| WRC 1013 | Freshman Comp I (Q) | 3 |
| Free elective | ART 1003 | 3 |
| CORE | Creative Arts | 3 |
| CORE | Mathematics 1073 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
FIRST YEAR - SPRING
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Requirement | CS 1083 (FA1) | 3 |
| ART 1023 | FA 2 | 3 |
| Free elective | MAT 1093 | 3 |
| WRC 1023 | Freshman Comp II (Q) | 3 |
| POL 1013 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
SECOND YEAR - FALL
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 2113 | FA 1 | 3 |
| POL 1133 or 1213 | Texas Politics and Society | 3 |
| Free elective | MAT 1213 | 3 |
| MDS 2033 | Intro to Multidisc Studies (Game Design) | 3 |
| CORE | ANT 2053 (Social & Behavioral) | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
SECOND YEAR - SPRING
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 2123 | FA 1 | 3 |
| ART 2223 | FA 2 | 3 |
| ANT 3803 | FA 3 | 3 |
| CORE | American History | 3 |
| COM Requirement | COM 1043,1053,2113, 2343,2733, ENG 2413 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
THIRD YEAR - FALL
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 3443 | FA 1 | 3 |
| ART 4313 | FA 2 | 3 |
| COM 3023 | FA 3 | 3 |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| CORE | Life & Physical Sciences | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
THIRD YEAR - SPRING
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 4423 | FA 1 | 3 |
| COM 3723 | FA 2 | 3 |
| COM 3743 | FA 3 | 3 |
| CORE | Life & Physical Sciences | 3 |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
FOURTH YEAR - FALL
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 4953 | FA 1 | 3 |
| HUM 3173 | FA 3 | 3 |
| CORE | Lang, Philosophy, & Cult. | 3 |
| CORE | American History | 3 |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
FOURTH YEAR - SPRING
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Free elective | 3 | |
| MDS 4973 | Seminar for Multidisc Studies | 3 |
| CORE | Component Area Option | 3 |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Focus Areas
Focus Area 1 - 15 hours (9hrs UD) (9 hrs required*)
| Course Number | Title | Prerequisite C- or better |
|---|---|---|
| CS 1083 | Programming I for Computer Scientists | Completion of or concurrent enrollment in MAT 1073 or the equivalent |
| DDTI 3013 | Game Architecture | CS 1153, DDTI 2153, or CS 2123 NOTE: this course is equivalent to CS 3003 |
| CS 4953 | CS 4953 Special Studies in Computer Science | Consent of Instructor |
| CS 2113* | Fundamentals of Object-Oriented Programming (Required) | CS 1083 |
| CS 2123* | Data Structures (Required) | CS 2113 |
| CS 3443 | Application Programming | CS 2123 |
| CS 4423* | Game Development (Required) | CS 2123 or CS 3003 |
| CS 4383 | Computer Graphics | CS 2713, CS 3343, MAT 2253 |
| CS 3773 | Software Engineering | CS 3443 |
| CS 4013 | Fundamentals of Software | Consent of Instructor |
| CS 4023 | Fundamentals of Systems | Consent of Instructor |
| CS 4393 | User Interfaces | CS 3443 |
Focus Area 2 - 12 hours (6hrs UD)
| Course Number | Title | Prerequisite C- or better |
|---|---|---|
| ART 1023 | Foundations III | |
| ART 2223 | New Media: Basic | ART 1003 & ART 1023 |
| ART 4033 | Studio Art Problems | 9 hrs LD 2000 level ART and consent of instructor |
| ART 4313 | New Media: Advanced | ART 2223 |
| COM 3723 | Digital Media Production I | COM 2433, COM 3023, and enrollment as a Communication major |
| COM 4723 | Digital Media Production II | COM 3723 or consent of instructor |
| COM 2743 | Gamification and Global Gaming Industries | WRC 1013 and WRC 1023 |
| ENG 2323 | Creative Writing: Fiction | WRC 1013 & WRC 1023 (Completion of the Core Curriculum requirement in Language, Philosophy and Culture) |
| FMS 2043 | Basics of Screenwriting | Completion of the Core Curriculum requirement in Communication |
| FMS 4013 | Screenwriting Workshop | FMS 2043 or HUM 2043 |
| MES 3333 | Digital Video Production | WRC 1023 or equivalent |
| MES 4333 | Digital Video Practicum | MES 3333 or consent of the instructor |
| MUS 4433 | Multimedia Production |
Focus Area 3 - 12 hours (6hrs UD) (9hrs required *)
| Course Number | Title | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| DDTI 2153* | Game Programming (Required) | Computer Literacy (Same as CS 1153) |
| COM 2313* | Introduction to Media Studies (Required) | |
| COM 3023 | Foundations of Communication | WRC 1013 & WRC 1023 |
| COM 3743* | Game Studies (Required) | WRC 1013 & WRC 1023 |
| COM 4413 | Topics in Communications | Enrollment as a Communication major |
| COM 4743 | Global and Intercultural Gaming | |
| HUM 3173 | Topics in Digital Humanities | |
| HUM 3703 | Topics in Popular Culture | Completion of Core Curriculum requirement in Communication |
Archived Focus Areas by Year
Want to learn more about this program?
Contact the Multidisciplinary Studies Department
