BS Game Design and Development

A Major for the Games Industry

The Bachelors of Science in Game Design and Development (GD&D) defines a program of study that allows students to explore the entertainment technology landscape as well as other related areas, while still pursuing a broad-based university education. The program focuses its technical roots in the Computing and Information Sciences disciplines. Simultaneously, the program exposes students to the breadth of development processes through involvement in topics such as game design, design process, and animation.

The program is characterized by a clear focus on development, but meets the industry need for developers that will be involved in the design process from the beginning, just as they are in the professional field. The degree is intended specifically for students that aspire to hold careers within the professional games industry or a related field such as simulation, edutainment or visualization, and focuses on producing graduates that understand the technical roots of their medium, the possibilities that creative application of software development affords, and the way in which their industry operates. This degree also provides students with a core computing education that would prepare them for graduate study in a number of computing fields, and employment in more general computing professions.

Program Overview

The program is a 4-year undergraduate program in which students complete a core of required coursework, and then pursue a block of coursework in advanced studies that is customizable to their individual interests and career goals. In addition, all students complete coursework in the liberal arts, the social sciences, and the laboratory sciences in keeping with the long-standing traditions of a traditional university degree. Students can further customize their experience though both general elective coursework and free electives.

In particular, the program integrates strong programming skills, which are mandatory in the game development field, with game design and collaborative skills that are essential to success in the games industry, where multi-faceted professionals are in high demand to work on game development teams.

Applications for 2008

The application deadline for RIT's innovative new BS program in Game Design and Development (GD&D) has passed for fall 2008. The number of applications for this coming fall was overwhelming, and acceptance was highly competitive, and many students who applied to GD&D for fall 2008 were accepted to their second choice major. Students accepted to Computer Science, Information Technology, New Media Interactive Development, and some other computing majors will have the opportunity to complete a minor in GD&D, probably beginning in their third year.

Program Changes into GD&D for Fall 2008

Applications for a change of program into the Game Design and Development program for current RIT students have been considered for the fall 2008 quarter (2008-1). Current RIT students who wish to apply for a change of program into GD&D should follow this timeline:

April 4: Last day to submit a program change form directly to the IT department along with a brief written statement (one to two pages) on your goals and why you should be accepted into the GD&D program.

April 21: On or before this date students will receive notification of whether they've been accepted. If so, they will receive a GD&D worksheet that shows where their credits landed and which quarter they should take the GD&D core courses during the 2008 academic year.

April 28-30: Sophomores and Freshmen register for fall (2008-1) classes. Students accepted to GD&D for the 2008-1 quarter will need to stop by the IT office (70-2100) to add the GD&D core classes indicated on their worksheets for fall quarter.

Links for further information

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