The 120-credit Computer Game Design program enables students to focus on the artistic components of computer game design while providing them with the technical skills prerequisite to the field.

Policies

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.

Banner Code: AR-BFA-GAME

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Mason Core

AVT 180New Media in the Creative Arts (Mason Core)3
PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology (Mason Core)3
Select one from the following (or any other PHYS natural science course with advisor approval):4
PHYS 103
Physics and Everyday Phenomena I (Mason Core)
PHYS 160
& PHYS 161
University Physics I (Mason Core)
and University Physics I Laboratory (Mason Core)
Total Credits10

Non-Specific Mason Core Requirements

Oral Communication3
Arts3
Literature3
Natural Science 14
Global History3
Global Contexts3
Quantitative Reasoning3
Written Communication (Foundation)3
Written Communication (Integration)3
Total Credits28
1

including laboratory

Approved courses may be found under the Mason Core section of this catalog.

Major Core 

GAME 140Applied Coding for Game Designers3
or CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core)
GAME 104Two-Dimensional Design for Games 13
GAME 101Introduction to Game Design (Mason Core)3
or GAME 210 Basic Game Design
GAME 230History of Computer Game Design3
GAME 231Three-Dimensional Game Art I3
GAME 250Music for Film and Video3
GAME 240Gameplay Scripting Implementation I3
GAME 300Portfolio Preparation1
GAME 310Digital Game Design3
GAME 330Computer Game Platform Analysis3
GAME 331Consumer Gaming Platform Analysis Lab1
GAME 332RS: Story Design for Computer Games (Mason Core)3
GAME 367Writing and Editing Music and Sound3
GAME 398Three-Dimensional Game Art II3
GAME 410Advanced Game Design Studio3
GAME 489Pre-Internship Seminar1
Six credits of6
GAME 490
Senior Game Design Capstone (Mason Core) (Must be taken twice for 3 credits each)
GAME 491Internship3-4
Total Credits51-52
1

Students who took AVT 104 and GAME 231 during catalog years 19-20, 20-21, 21-22, may use these courses to fulfill the GAME 104 requirement.

Digital Media Electives

Select at least 12 credits from the following (or another course approved by your advisor):12
AVT 280
Introduction to New Media Arts
AVT 354
Digital Photography II
AVT 382
2D Experimental Animation
AVT 383
3D Experimental Animation
AVT 390
Video Art
AVT 482
Advanced Image Making
AVT 487
Advanced Topics: New Media Art
ENGH 372
Introduction to Film (Mason Core)
FAVS 399
Special Topics in Film and Video Studies
GAME 320
Digital Painting for Games
GAME 399
Special Topics
GAME 431
Advanced Game Animation I
Total Credits12

Visual Arts Electives

Select 6 credits from the following (or another course approved by your advisor):6
AVT 215
Typography (Mason Core)
AVT 217
Introduction to Web Design
AVT 222
Drawing I (Mason Core)
AVT 232
Painting I (Mason Core)
AVT 243
Printmaking I (Mason Core)
AVT 252
Darkroom Photography I (Mason Core)
AVT 262
Sculpture I (Mason Core)
AVT 311
Graphic Design Methods and Principles
AVT 323
Drawing II
AVT 324
Figure Drawing
AVT 333
Painting II
AVT 337
Figurative Painting
AVT 343
Printmaking II
AVT 353
Darkroom Photography II
AVT 363
Sculpture II
Total Credits6

General Electives

Select 8-13 credits of General Electives8-13
Total Credits8-13

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computer Game Design Sample Plan of Study 

The sample plan below is a recommended sequencing of courses based on pre-requisites and scheduling. This may not fit every student's needs and is a guideline, not a requirement. Students should confirm major requirements with their academic advisor and with PatriotWeb Degree Evaluation to ensure they enroll in the proper courses and are on track to graduate.

First Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
GAME 2103GAME 1043
GAME 2303GAME 1403
ENGH 1013GAME 2503
Mason Core Quantitative Reasoning Requirement3Any Visual Arts Elective3
Mason Core Global History Requirement3Mason Core Oral Communication Requirement3
 15 15
Second Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
GAME 2313GAME 3103
GAME 2403GAME 3983
AVT 1803Mason Core Literature Requirement 3
Mason Core Natural Science Including Lab4Any Digital Media Elective 3
Mason Core Arts Requirement3General Elective3
 16 15
Third Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
GAME 3001GAME 3323
GAME 3303GAME 4103
GAME 3311GAME 4891
GAME 3673PSYC 1003
ENGH 3023Any Digital Media Elective3
PHYS 1034General Elective3
 15 16
Fourth Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
GAME 4903GAME 4903
GAME 4913Any Digital Media Elective 3
Any Digital Media Elective 3Any Visual Arts Elective3
Mason Core Global Understanding Requirement 3General Elective 3
General Elective 3General Elective 3
 15 15
Total Credits 122

Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://cvpa.gmu.edu/academics/undergraduate-student-resources.