Undergraduate Program
The 120-credit Computer Game Design, BFA program enables students to focus on the artistic components of computer game design while providing them with the technical skills prerequisite to the field. Required courses include computer science, art and visual technology, music, the humanities, and computer game design. The required internship provides students with practical experience that enhances their employability post-graduation.
Graduate Program
The Master of Arts in Computer Game Design prepares graduate students who may have studied game design at the undergraduate level or who have degrees in a related technology, humanities, or arts disciplines for a career in game development and design. The program’s intention is to prepare students for employment and further study in computer game design and development fields with a curriculum that reflects the gaming industry’s demand for an academically rigorous, technical program coupled with an understanding of the artistic and creative elements of the evolving field of study.
Program Faculty
Associate Professor
Enfield (Research Associate, VSGI), Martin (Director VSGI), Willis
Assistant Professors
Dieterich, Grimsby, Hudson, Lebowitz, Nam (Director, Graduate Coordinator), Nolan, Piccione (Associate Director), Prawat, Strangio
Administrative Faculty (Instructional)
Casey (Associate Director, VSGI)
Undergraduate Program
Admissions
A writing sample will be reviewed prior to admission into the Game Design Program. Students will either be accepted, provisionally accepted, or denied. Visit the department website for further instruction.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all undergraduate students to complete at least one course designated “writing intensive” in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students in the BFA in computer game design fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GAME 332 RS: Story Design for Computer Games.
Upper-Level Credits
All undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits of upper-division courses at the 300-499 level. Fulfilling degree requirements does not guarantee this requirement will be met.
Major GPA
All GAME undergraduate students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in their major.
All GAME courses except GAME 101 Introduction to Game Design (Mason Core), GAME 250 Music for Film and Video and GAME 367 Writing and Editing Music and Sound must be passed with a grade of C or better.
Academic Policies
All GAME majors are required to adhere to the George Mason University Honor code. Failure to do so may result in academic sanctions up to an including dismissal from the University.
Please see College of Visual and Performing Arts for college academic policies.
Graduate Program
Admissions
Admission is competitive. An offer of admission is valid only for the semester for which the student applies. For application requirements and deadlines, applicants should visit the Computer Game Design website. Mason encourages early applications from prospective students who wish to be considered for academic scholarships or grants.
Computer Game Design (GAME)
100 Level Courses
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
200 Level Courses
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (GAME 210C or 210XS) and (GAME 230C or 230XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (GAME 210C or 210XS) and (GAME 230C or 230XS) and (GAME 140C, 140XS, CS 112C or 112XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
300 Level Courses
Required Prerequisites: (GAME 310C or 310XS) and (GAME 398C or 398XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (GAME 231C or 231XS) and (GAME 232C or 232XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (GAME 310C or 310XS) and (GAME 331*C or 331XS).
* May be taken concurrently.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (GAME 310C or 310XS) and (GAME 330*C or 330XS).
* May be taken concurrently.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: GAME 250C or 250XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: GAME 231C or 231XS.
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
400 Level Courses
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Required Prerequisites: (GAME 330C or 330XS) and (GAME 331C or 331XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Computer Game Design.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
500 Level Courses
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
600 Level Courses
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
700 Level Courses
Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Non-Degree level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Non-Degree level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Non-Degree level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Satisfactory/No Credit scale.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Non-Degree level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Satisfactory/No Credit scale.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Non-Degree level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Satisfactory/No Credit scale.