Game Design (BA)

Lindenwood University offers you the chance to earn a bachelor of arts degree in game design. The Game Design program is designed to prepare you for working in a game studio environment. The curriculum for the game design degree includes advanced game design and production courses, allowing you to move from conception to application covering key industry concepts ranging from aesthetics and immersion to usability and game economics. You will also study foundational topics like storytelling and character development. Project and portfolio courses are threaded throughout the curriculum and are dedicated to providing a relevant and comprehensive curriculum.

The Game Design (BA) is offered in both traditional and online formats.

Game Design Faculty at Lindenwood University

Game Design instructors at Lindenwood University are some of the most knowledgeable around. They have the educational background and real-world, professional skills that allow them to understand the changing landscape of the industry, preparing you for a career in game design.

Required Equipment

This program has immersive reality technologies integrated throughout the curriculum and requires the use of a virtual reality headset identified by the department and associated applications. Immersive realities, such as virtual reality, provide a fully immersive educational experience that leads to greater engagement and understanding of subjects covered in classes. Students are not only able to engage with the material, other students, and their instructor; they also can better understand the context of those relationships while immersed in the virtual environment. These experiences support the learning outcomes of the program and prepare students for use of these technologies in their professions.

Game design is a competitive field, and the median salary is in the $58,000 range. Different areas within the industry, including game designers, game programmers, and game artists, all have their specialties. Mechanics designer, writer, concept artist, modeler, art director, engine programmer, and audio programmer are all careers under the game design career umbrella.

As a Game Design major at Lindenwood University, you will study in either an online or hybrid environment, combining online classes with on-campus, face-to-face, courses. The bachelor of arts (BA) degree in game design requires major coursework in addition to the general education requirements. Online and hybrid courses in game design include Game Development, Concept Design, and 3D Animation.

Major Coursework

21 credit hours of coursework from the following options:

• AAD 20300 Adobe Certification in Photoshop
• AAD 33600 3D Graphics
• GAM 10000 Introduction to Game Design
• GAM 23000 Prototype Studio
• GAM 30100 Team Studio I
• GAM 36800 Game Development
• GAM 42400 Team Studio II

Elective Coursework

15 credit hours of coursework from the following options:

• AAD 10100 Emerging Technologies
• AAD 13000 Drawing I
• AAD 14000 Visual Storytelling
• AAD 33100 Figure Drawing I
• AAD 32900 Concept Design
• ARTH 37000 History of Games and Critical Theory
• ARTH 38400 Classical Myth
• CAH 43000 Arts Entrepreneurship
• CAH 44444 Internship
• ENGL 20900 Writing for Game Design
• GAM 30120 Level Design
• GAM 31000 Scripting for Games
• GAM 32000 Audio for Games
• GAM 33000 Game Testing
• GAM 38600-38699 Special Topics
• GAM 46900 3D Animation