This course offers a comprehensive introduction to game studies, exploring the theoretical frameworks that define interactive games as cultural, social, and personal experiences. At its core, the course examines the dis/connection between ludology and narratology, analyzing how games function both as systems of play and as narrative experiences. By engaging with foundational and contemporary game theories, students will critically assess the ways in which games shape identity, influence culture, and function as a dominant form of modern media.

Through the lens of ludology, students will study games as rule-based systems, focusing on their mechanics, procedural rhetoric, and the psychology of play. They will explore how interactivity fosters agency, player immersion, and emergent storytelling, as well as how game mechanics create meaning beyond narrative structures. On the other hand, narratology will introduce students to the study of games as storytelling media, emphasizing narrative architecture, spatial storytelling, and player-driven narratives. Discussions will cover how games blur the lines between authorship and player agency, procedural storytelling, and the evolution of digital narratives. By the end of the course, students will develop a nuanced understanding of how games operate as both play-spaces and narrative worlds, positioning them as critical thinkers in game studies and interactive media.

This course explores the art and science of crafting immersive worlds and compelling narratives for interactive media. Students will delve into the foundational principles of worldbuilding, including history, geography, cultures, mythologies, and sociopolitical structures, to create believable and engaging game settings. Emphasizing the interplay between narrative and mechanics, the course examines how environmental storytelling, lore, and character development contribute to player immersion and emotional engagement. Through case studies of successful game worlds, students will analyze different narrative structures, player agency, and emergent storytelling techniques.

Beyond theory, this course challenges students to develop original worlds and narratives through hands-on creative exercises. They will engage in storyboarding, lore crafting, interactive storytelling techniques, and collaborative worldbuilding projects, ensuring that their creations are both thematically rich and mechanically cohesive. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive toolkit for designing game worlds that are not only visually and narratively compelling but also deeply interactive, preparing them to create engaging, player-driven stories in the game industry.

This course explores the fundamentals of game user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, emphasizing the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), cognitive psychology, and game design. Students will learn how to craft intuitive, immersive, and engaging player experiences by applying usability principles, interaction design methodologies, and accessibility guidelines. Topics covered include diegetic and non-diegetic UI, information architecture, cognitive load, onboarding techniques, feedback loops, and player behavior analysis. By examining industry best practices and emerging research, students will develop a strong foundation in designing interfaces that enhance gameplay and player immersion.

Through hands-on projects, students will apply a human-centered design process tailored specifically for game development. They will engage in user research, sketching, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing to refine their designs based on real player feedback. The course encourages iterative problem-solving, helping students make informed design tradeoffs and explore alternative solutions. Additionally, students will gain insight into current trends in game UI/UX, such as adaptive UI, procedural interfaces, and AI-driven design tools. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the skills to design seamless, engaging, and accessible game interfaces that elevate player experiences.

This course introduces the fundamentals of human-computer interaction and human-centered design from research and product design perspectives. As an interdisciplinary field within computer science, HCI integrates theories, principles, and methodologies from engineering, cognitive psychology, social sciences, design, and many other fields. Students will learn principles and guidelines for usability, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and several techniques in designing and evaluating interfaces that support and enrich human activities. Cultural, social, organizational, cognitive, and perceptual factors that guide design decisions will be discussed. 

Students will work on team projects following a human-centered design process which involves understanding users’ needs, brainstorming, sketching, making design tradeoffs, exploring design alternatives, communicating and critiquing designs, prototyping, usability testing, and reflecting on these activities. More than anything, we will do interaction design, and students will be interaction designers. We will develop your ability to envision the design of technologies that do not yet exist but, if realized, will produce net benefits for the people involved and affected. Students will also be exposed to current research in HCI, covering a breadth of topics and a range of issues addressed in the field.

This course introduces the art and discipline of hand-drawn illustration, guiding students through the fundamental techniques that form the backbone of visual storytelling. Students will analyze, discuss, and experiment with the essential elements of drawing, including balance, value, composition, proportion, and conceptualization. Through structured exercises and creative exploration, they will refine their ability to observe, interpret, and translate ideas into compelling visual compositions.

Emphasizing both technical skill and artistic expression, this course challenges students to develop their craft within specific prompts, constraints, and industry-relevant requirements. By engaging in structured art creation, students will cultivate the discipline, adaptability, and problem-solving skills essential for professional game art. Whether sketching environments, designing characters, or refining compositions, students will gain a strong foundation in drawing that prepares them for the demands of the game art industry.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and techniques of game art, focusing on the foundations of visual design and artistic expression in interactive media. Students will explore composition, form, lighting, color theory, perspective, and anatomy, learning how these elements contribute to immersive and engaging game worlds. Through hands-on exercises, students will develop their ability to create visually compelling characters, environments, and assets while considering the unique demands of interactive storytelling and player experience.

Beyond artistic techniques, this course emphasizes industry-standard workflows and creative problem-solving in game development. Students will work within technical constraints, style guidelines, and production pipelines to understand how art integrates seamlessly into games. By the end of the course, students will have a strong foundational skill set in 2D and 3D game art, preparing them for further specialization in concept art, character design, environment art, or asset creation within the game industry.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of game art development, covering both 2D and 3D asset creation. Designed for students with no prior background in drawing or digital art, the course provides a structured approach to understanding design principles, color theory, composition, and animation techniques. Through practical, hands-on exercises, students will create 2D assets using raster, pixel, and vector art styles, progressing from simple sprite sheets to more detailed character and environment designs. The course emphasizes industry-standard workflows, ensuring students gain the necessary skills to produce high-quality assets for game engines.

In the 3D section, students will transition into environment and prop modeling, learning essential techniques such as low-poly modeling, modifiers, texturing, lighting, physics, and particle effects. They will develop a fully rendered 3D scene, culminating in a cinematic camera panning animation to showcase their work. By the end of the course, students will have a diverse portfolio of game-ready 2D and 3D assets, equipping them with the foundational skills necessary for game development and digital art careers.

This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the core elements of music production, sound effects, and voice acting. Through hands-on exercises and theoretical exploration, students will learn how to create, mix, and edit music tracks, design immersive sound effects, and develop voice acting skills to bring characters and scenes to life. The course covers essential concepts in sound design, audio manipulation, and the role of music in storytelling, equipping students with the tools to work on various creative projects, from films to video games.

By the end of the course, students will be able to integrate these three areas effectively, using digital audio workstations (DAWs) to compose and mix music, create realistic sound effects through Foley techniques, and perform voice acting to fit specific roles and narratives. The course emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and technical proficiency, providing students with practical skills that can be applied in both professional and independent projects in the entertainment industry.

Art Studies and History surveys influential works of art and architecture of different cultures, from the prehistoric to the postmodern. Students will study architecture, painting, sculpture, and other media in their cultural and historical contexts. They will understand and discuss these works from various social perspectives to recognize, analyze, and value artistic expressions, functions, and effects. Works of art will be explored as aesthetic and material objects as well as cultural artifacts and forces. This course provides a solid foundation in art and design, allowing students to think critically about the visual arts, media, and architecture. Moreover, they will be able to see the influences of art on gaming and understand its importance in the game industry.