Game Design, Certificate (1761)
Program Coordinator
Kristina E. Arnold, kristina.arnold@wku.edu, (270) 745-3944
Program Requirements (18 hours)
Game Design is an interdisciplinary certificate including departments from PCAL (Art, Communication) and OCSE (Computer Science). It is open to all students with an interest in computer game design.
Students who successfully complete the certificate will:
- Design and build a functioning game.
- Demonstrate practical skills in at least one industry-standard programming language.
- Explore at least one industry-standard game design engine.
- Demonstrate the ability to successfully use the elements and principles of design to visually communicate ideas.
- Demonstrate logical thinking, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving.
This 6-course, 18-hour Game Design Certificate includes one basic Computer Science course (to be selected from CS 146 or CS 170 or CS 180 or CS 239), one required Computer Science course (CS 301), one foundations-level art course (to be selected from ART 130 or ART 131 or ART 140), one required art course (ANIM 310), one Communication course (UX 380), and one restricted elective to be selected from: ANTH 448; ART 105; ART 106; ANIM 344; ART 390; ART 405; ART 431; ART 436; BCOM 264; CS 270; CS 290; ENG 203; ENT 312; MUS 120; POP 201; THEA 101; THEA 303; SOCL 245; UX 330; or an additional selection from the basic computer science courses (CS 146; CS 170; CS 180; CS 239). Within Computer Science, courses must be taken in numerical sequence, no other specific course sequences are necessary. This flexibility allows for multiple entry points into the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (18 hours) | ||
| CS 301 | Game Programming | 3 |
| ANIM 310 | 3 | |
| UX 380 | Gaming, Culture, Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Select one course from the following Computer Science courses (3 hours): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
or CS 170 | Problem Solving and Programming | |
or CS 180 | Computer Science I | |
or CS 239 | Problem Solving with Computational Techniques | |
| Select one course from the following Art courses (3 hours): | 3 | |
| Two-Dimensional Design | ||
or ART 131 | Three-Dimensional Design | |
or ART 140 | Drawing | |
| Elective Course (3 hours) | 3 | |
| Visual Anthropology | ||
| History of Art to 1300 | ||
| History of Art Since 1300 | ||
ANIM 344 | ||
| Contemporary Art | ||
| Art Theory and Criticism | ||
| Illustration | ||
| Electronic Illustration | ||
| Digital Video Production and Distribution | ||
| Introduction to Web Programming | ||
| Computer Science II | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Entrepreneurship | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Introduction to Popular Culture Studies | ||
| Acting I | ||
| Acting for the Camera | ||
| Sociology of Popular Culture | ||
| Interactive Design | ||
| Or select from the following Computer Science courses: | ||
| Introduction to Programming | ||
or CS 170 | Problem Solving and Programming | |
or CS 180 | Computer Science I | |
or CS 239 | Problem Solving with Computational Techniques | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |