Summary
The Game Design BFA (Catalog Year 26/27) is a standard four‑year, full‑time program requiring 120–122 credits (121 typical) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0; it includes a 1-credit First Year Experience, 15 credits of Foundations, 39 credits of General Education (including core and electives), 60 major credits (54 required DMA courses plus 6 major electives), and 6 open elective credits. The catalog provides a recommended semester-by-semester 4‑year pathway with specific course sequences (drawing, digital techniques, game ideation, 3D graphics, game art, modeling/texturing, game projects, senior studios, thesis and professional futures), options for select course choices and approved major electives, and notes that timelines may vary by prior credits or course sequencing—students should verify progress via Self‑Service.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Catalog Year 26/27
Standard 4 Year Pathway (full-time status)
Total Credits 120-122
First Year
Second Year
Third Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Choose one course: DMA-245 Game: Concepts & Technology DMA-297 Intermediate 3D Computer Graphics | 3 |
| DMA-246 Game Art | 3 |
| DMA-233 Environments and Characters | 3 |
| WRT-102 Composition II (CR) | 3 |
| AHV-214 History of Animation & Digital Media (MR) | 3 |
Fourth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Choose one course: DMA-232 Drawing Tech for Visual Media DMA-248 Game: Concept & Technology II DMA-317 3D Animation I | 3 |
| DMA-247 Game Art II | 3 |
| DMA-256 Lighting & Rendering | 3 |
| DMA-341 Digital Character Sculpting | 3 |
| Choose one: AHV-203 Global Art History I (CR) AHV-204 Global Art History II (CR) | 3 |
Third Year
Fifth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DMA-329 Advanced Computer Generated Environments | 3 |
| DMA-339 Game Projects I | 3 |
| Game Major Elective (see approved list/RC) | 3 |
| Humanities: Choose from approved list (CE) | 3 |
| General Education Elective (CR) | 3 |
Sixth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DMA-340 Game Projects II | 3 |
| DMA-364 Game Thesis Design & Management | 3 |
| Game Major Elective (see approved list) | 3 |
| Science Elective 200-400 level (CE) | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
Fourth Year
Seventh Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DMA-403 Game Trend | 3 |
| DMA-413 Game Senior Studio I | 3 |
| AHV 200-400 Art History & Visual Culture Course (CE) | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
Eighth Semester = 15 Credit Hours
| Course Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| DMA-414 Game Senior Studio II | 3 |
| DMA-428 Game Professional Futures | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 |
Additional ”Program & Credit Requirement Details” attached; includes ”approved course lists” and ”recommended courses (RC)” for any requirements with noted selections. Enrolled students should view Self-Service (My Progress/Plan & Schedule) for complete program information; see catalog for additional course details and descriptions.
This plan is provided for use as a guide only and is based on full-time status with successful completion of credits outlined per semester. Degree Timelines and requirements may vary based on actual program, credits completed per semester and/or catalog year. Students are responsible for confirming completion of all requirements before graduating (use program/student resources to support degree progression). Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0 required.
Program & Credit Requirement Details
| Degree Requirements | Total credits required | Requirement Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience | 1.0 | SLP-007 is waived for eligible transfer students with 12.0 (or more) college. |
| Foundations | 15.0 | Required for all majors. Successfully complete listed DFN Foundation courses for enrolled major; requirements may vary per major. |
| General Education | 39.0 | Liberal Arts courses required for all undergraduate majors; total credits may vary per program. |
| General Education Undergrad CORE Requirements (CR) | 12.0 | Successfully complete WRT & AHV core general education prerequisites requirements (Composition pathways may vary based on completed assessments, test scores or transfer credits). |
| General Education MAJOR Requirements (MJ) | 3.0 | Successfully complete major specific Liberal Arts. Requirements vary per major. |
| General Education Undergrad CORE Electives (CE) | 9.0 | Successfully complete core general education electives required for all UG majors (Science, Humanities, Art History & Visual Culture) as outlined on 4 year pathway/degree requirements: |
| 3.0 cr. Science: Successfully complete one course from the SCI subject; 200-400 level | ||
| 3.0 cr. Humanities Option: Successfully complete one of the following approved courses: LIT 239, LIT 203, DHS 201, DSS 215, DSS 240 or DPL 201 | ||
| 3.0 cr. Art History & Visual Culture: Successfully complete course from AHV subject, 200-400 level | ||
| General Education Electives | 15.0 | Successfully complete any non-required 200-400 level Liberal Arts course from subject codes: AHV, BUS, DHS, DPL, DSS, SCI, WRT, LIT (Total Gen.Ed Elective credits vary per major). (RC) Recommended course towards General Education Elective credits: BUS 213 Business Practices |
| Major § | 60.0 | Studio and/or lecture courses specific to major focus. |
| Major Courses § | 54.0 | Successfully complete listed DMA courses in 4 year plan, by recommended sequence (based on prerequisites). |
| Major Electives | 6.0 | Successfully complete courses from the list below, to satisfy required “Game Design Major Elective” credits. Must select courses that do not already apply towards other degree program credits. |
| Game Design Approved Major Electives DMA-381 Hard Surface Sculpting – (RC) Recommended DMA-101 Animation I DMA-211 2D Digital Animation I DMA-228 Stop Motion I DMA-230 Experimental Animation DMA-309 Concept Design DMA-328 Stop Motion II DMA-351 Advanced Creature Creation Environments | Additional courses approved to fulfill Game Design Major Electives DIL-147 Figure Illustration I DIL-246 Anatomical Figure Illustration FLM-225 Sound Design I FLM-254 Playing the Self Note: Some courses may require additional approval for registration, based on availability, offerings and prerequisites. | |
| Open Electives | 6.0 | Successfully complete 100-400 level courses from any Undergraduate subject (Studio or Lecture). |
| Total Program Credits | 121.0 | Total credits required 120 – 122 ‡ |
| Undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts program, GPA minimum requirement = 2.0 | ||
Footnotes
* ELS 101 Composition I for Multilingual Students 4.0 cr.
† WRT 101/102 Self Placement Survey available.
‡ Based on SLP 007 (1.0 cr.) and ELS 101 (4.0 cr.)§ Remaining Major course sequence impacts timeline to degree completion.