The undergraduate GAME STUDIES & DESIGN MINOR is a set of courses that fosters critical skills in academic game studies, and technical skills in game design. The minor will serve undergraduates who are interested in the study and design of games, gaming, game design and the digital, extended and virtual reality (XR/VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies involved with the crafting of interactive systems and interfaces relevant to the game, film, education, and media industries, as well as a range of other emerging professions.
Through this minor, students will learn to think critically about the history, cultural meaning, social impact, ethics, and the increasingly significant role of games, gaming, and interactive media in a diverse society; they will develop the logical, algorithmic, narrative, and design capacities needed to make games, interactive narratives, and simulations; and they will become prepared for graduate work, if desired, on a path to pursuing a career in the game industry or in academic game studies research.
Why Game Studies and Design?
A Minor in Game Studies & Design can diversify your educational portfolio and complement your major. This minor signals not only that you have acquired design skills (relevant to games, but also other interactive media) but also that you are aware of the impact of games across sectors of society, and that you understand how games and game technologies can be applied more broadly, and in ethical and socially constructive ways.
Game Studies & Design will teach you to become a better creator and user of games and game technologies, and to think critically about their role in society.
Who should Minor in Game Studies and Design
ANY STUDENT who wants to learn more about game design, innovative applications of games and game technologies, the impact of games on society, or simply enjoys games!
What can a student do with a minor in Game Studies and Design?
The game industry market value for 2021 was expected to exceed $175 billion, and $200 billion by the end of 2023. New technologies are also creating new markets; cloud-based gaming, for example, which was valued at just $152 million in 2019, had an estimated 23.7 million paying users in 2021 and is projected to grow in value to $6 billion by 2024.
Our Game Studies & Design program, however, does not only serve students with ambitions towards the thriving video game industries (which offer careers for designers, programmers, graphic artists, sound technicians, composers, writers, developers of virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence technologies, among other emerging fields). Our program will also provide training to students headed towards many other professions as well; our students are likely to be asked to navigate the game-like environments of social media, to program chatbots for their employers’ websites, or to work with VR and AI applications in their medical, educational, or business fields, for example.
Independent Studies
Students who have declared the Undergraduate Minor in Game Studies and Design may complete an independent study with a Game Studies and Design affiliate faculty member by submitting the form below.
Independent Study Form for Undergraduate Minor in GSDTwo course options are available—GSD 199 and GSD 399—each offered for 1–4 credit hours.
Before submitting the form, students should first meet with the faculty member who will supervise the research project to determine which course is appropriate and how many credits align with the proposed work.
Independent studies taken as GSD 399 count as upper-level electives for the Undergraduate Minor in Game Studies and Design.
Please note: This form is for undergraduate students in the Game Studies and Design Minor. Students pursuing the Graduate Minor in Game Studies should follow the graduate-level independent study procedures instead.
Requirements for the Minor
Students are required to take three core courses: GSD 101, a minimum of one of the following historical/social perspectives courses: GSD 102, IS 142, or GSD 202, and at least one of the following introductory game design courses: GSD 103 or CI210.
In addition, students must complete 3 approved upper-level Games Studies electives totaling at least9 credit hours.
Core Game Studies & Design Courses
The three required core courses provide a general and solid foundation in game studies. All three are introductory in nature and meet the university’s General Education requirements.
GSD 101 Introduction to Game Studies
This broad survey course will provide students across campus an introduction to interdisciplinary game studies, covering both historical/social perspectives and game design. It will explore humanities, social science understandings of play, and the social contexts from which our games and gaming practices arise, as well as the development and consequences of gaming cultures.
A minimum of one 100-200 level historical/social perspectives course. Choose from the following:
- GSD 102 – Introduction to the Video Game Industry
- IS 142 Social History of Games & Gaming
- GSD 202 Let’s Play: Understanding the Role of Play in Life and Art
A minimum of one 100-200 level introductory game design course. Choose from the following:
GSD Undergraduate Minor Pathways
There are 10 suggested GSD Undergraduate Minor Pathways to help focus the minor in an area of interest: Design, Programming, Education & Research, Film & Media, Music, Sound & Dance, Narrative, Play Studies, Theater, and Visual Arts. These pathways are suggestions; students may choose any combination of classes on the approved list.
Design Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- ART 310: Design Thinking – Art
- ARTD 318: Digital Interaction – Art-Design
- ARTD 418: Advanced Interaction Design – Art-Design
- CI 210: Introduction to Digital Learning Environments – Curriculum & Instruction
- CI 437: Educational Game Design – Curriculum & Instruction
- DANC 465: Screendance – Dance
- GSD 103: The Basics of Game Design – Game Studies and Design
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 403: An Introduction to Top Down Video Game Design – Game Studies and Design
Note: formerly taught as INFO 403
- GSD 409: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations – Game Studies and Design
Note: Same as CW 463 1U Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations
- GSD 490: Video Game Development Process – Game Studies and Design
- INFO 416: Makerspace: Game Studies – Informatics
- INFO 418: Makerspace: Escape Rooms – Informatics
- IS 145: Mapping Inequalities: Serious Games & Simulations – Information Sciences
- IS 426: Museum Informatics – Information Sciences
- IS 490: Topics in Info Foundations: Playful Design Methods – Information Sciences
- THEA 456: Properties Design – Theater
- THEA 461: Introduction to Media Design – Theater
Education & Research Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- CI 210: Introduction to Digital Learning Environments – Curriculum & Instruction
- CI 437: Educational Game Design – Curriculum & Instruction
- CI 439: Critiques of Educational Technology – Curriculum & Instruction
- CI 482: Social Learning & Multimedia – Curriculum & Instruction
- CI 499: Issues and Development in Education: Attention Learning and Tech – Curriculum & Instruction
- CI 499: Issues and Development in Education: Technology Apps for Teachers – Curriculum & Instruction
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- INFO 416: Makerspace: Game Studies – Informatics
- JOUR 430: Augmented and Virtual Reality – Journalism
- MACS 496: Advanced media/cinema topics: Collaboration in Interactive and Immersive Media – Media & Cinema Studies
Film & Media Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- ADV 390: Content Creation – Advertising
- ARTJ 301: Manga: The Art of Image and Word – Japanese Arts and Aesthetics
- ARTJ 302: Intro to Japanese Animation – Japanese Arts and Aesthetics
- DANC 330: Dance Documentation – Dance
- DANC 400: Viewing Dance – Dance
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- JOUR 430: Augmented and Virtual Reality – Journalism
- JOUR 460: Special Topics: Basic Video Production – Journalism
- MACS 323: Studies Film/Media Production – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 326: New Media, Culture, and Society – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 370: Cinematography and Sound Design – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 371: Editing and Postproduction for Cinema – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 372: Screenwriting – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 480: Advanced Filmmaking – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 481: Advanced Filmmaking Studio – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 485: Making Video Essays – Media & Cinema Studies
Games & Society Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- ART 310: Design Thinking – Art
- ARTD 451: Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy – Art-Design
- CI 437: Educational Game Design – Curriculum & Instruction
- DANC 451: Independent Study & Special Topics: Social Impact thru Arts Technology – Dance
- ENGL 253: Topics in Literature and New Media – English
- ENGL 277: Gender in Gaming – English
- GSD 102: Introduction to the Video Game Industry – Game Studies and Design
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- INFO 303: Writing Across Media – Informatics
Note: Same as WRIT 303 Writing Across Media
- INFO 416: Makerspace: Game Studies – Informatics
- IS 145: Mapping Inequalities: Serious Games & Simulations – Information Sciences
- IS 199SHG: Undergraduate Open Seminar: Social History of Games & Gaming – Information Sciences
- JOUR 101: Interactive Media and You – Journalism
- MACS 326: New Media, Culture, and Society – Media & Cinema Studies
- RST 199ESF: Undergraduate Open Seminar: Esport Foundations – Recreation, Sport, and Tourism
- THEA 418: Devising Social Issues Theatre – Theater
Music & Sound Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- DANC 268: Music Theory for Dancers – Dance
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- INFO 490: Special Topics: Computer Music – Informatics
- INFO 490: Special Topics: Musical Informatics – Informatics
- MACS 370: Cinematography and Sound Design – Media & Cinema Studies
- MUS 209: Acoustics for Musicians – Music
- MUS 407: Electronic Music Techniques I – Music
- MUS 409: Electronic Music Techniques II – Music
- MUS 499: Proseminar in Music: Audio Coding with SuperCollider – Music
- MUS 499: Proseminar in Music: Audio Recording Techniques I – Music
- MUS 499: Proseminar in Music: Critical Audio Listening for Audio Engineers – Music
- THEA 453: Introduction to Theater Sound – Theater
- THEA 455: Sound Design for Video Games – Theater
Performance & Dance Technologies Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- DANC 256: Choreographic Laboratory Intermediate – Dance
- DANC 268: Music Theory for Dancers – Dance
- DANC 330: Dance Documentation – Dance
- DANC 400: Viewing Dance – Dance
- DANC 451: Independent Study & Special Topics: Social Impact thru Arts Technology – Dance
- DANC 465: Screendance – Dance
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- JOUR 430: Augmented and Virtual Reality – Journalism
- MACS 370: Cinematography and Sound Design – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 496: Advanced media/cinema topics: Collaboration in Interactive and Immersive Media – Media & Cinema Studies
- THEA 409: Production Management – Theater
- THEA 418: Devising Social Issues Theatre – Theater
- THEA 453: Introduction to Theater Sound – Theater
- THEA 455: Sound Design for Video Games – Theater
- THEA 456: Properties Design – Theater
Programming Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- ARTD 418: Advanced Interaction Design – Art-Design
- CI 437: Educational Game Design – Curriculum & Instruction
- CS 415: Game Development – Computer Science
- CS 418: Interactive Computer Graphics – Computer Science
- CS 498: Special Topics: Video Game Development – Computer Science
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 409: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations – Game Studies and Design
Note: Same as CW 463 1U Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations
- IS 145: Mapping Inequalities: Serious Games & Simulations – Information Sciences
Theater & Production Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- ARTS 320: Fashion and Textiles Design – Art-Studio
- DANC 256: Choreographic Laboratory Intermediate – Dance
- DANC 451: Independent Study & Special Topics: Social Impact thru Arts Technology – Dance
- FAA 499: Special Topics: Escape Rooms as Interactive Theatre – Fine & Applied Arts
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- INFO 490: Special Topics: Computer Music – Informatics
- IS 410: Storytelling – Information Sciences
- JOUR 460: Special Topics: Basic Video Production – Journalism
- MACS 323: Studies Film/Media Production – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 496: Advanced media/cinema topics: Collaboration in Interactive and Immersive Media – Media & Cinema Studies
- THEA 409: Production Management – Theater
- THEA 410: Dramaturgs’ Workshop – Theater
- THEA 411: Playwrights’ Workshop – Theater
- THEA 418: Devising Social Issues Theatre – Theater
- THEA 426: History of Décor – Theater
- THEA 427: Scene Painting I – Theater
- THEA 428: THEA 428 Scene Painting II – Theater
- THEA 445: Costume History I – Theater
- THEA 448: Costume Crafts – Theater
- THEA 455: Sound Design for Video Games – Theater
- THEA 456: Properties Design – Theater
- THEA 461: Introduction to Media Design – Theater
Visual Arts Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- ART 310: Design Thinking – Art
- ART 350: Writing with Video – Art
- ART 499: Special Topics in Art – Art
- ARTD 318: Digital Interaction – Art-Design
- ARTD 418: Advanced Interaction Design – Art-Design
- ARTD 451: Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy – Art-Design
- ARTD 499: Special Topics in Art & Design: – Art-Design
- ARTJ 301: Manga: The Art of Image and Word – Japanese Arts and Aesthetics
- ARTJ 302: Intro to Japanese Animation – Japanese Arts and Aesthetics
- ARTS 320: Fashion and Textiles Design – Art-Studio
- ARTS 444: Interactivity II – Art-Studio
- ARTS 499: Special topics in Studio Art – Art-Studio
- CS 418: Interactive Computer Graphics – Computer Science
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- JOUR 430: Augmented and Virtual Reality – Journalism
- MACS 323: Studies Film/Media Production – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 496: Advanced media/cinema topics: Collaboration in Interactive and Immersive Media – Media & Cinema Studies
Writing & Narrative Design Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
- ART 350: Writing with Video – Art
- ARTJ 301: Manga: The Art of Image and Word – Japanese Arts and Aesthetics
- ARTJ 302: Intro to Japanese Animation – Japanese Arts and Aesthetics
- DANC 256: Choreographic Laboratory Intermediate – Dance
- DANC 451: Independent Study & Special Topics: Social Impact thru Arts Technology – Dance
- ENGL 396: Honors Seminar 1: Games Telling Stories – English
- FAA 499: Special Topics: Escape Rooms as Interactive Theatre – Fine & Applied Arts
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 409: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations – Game Studies and Design
Note: Same as CW 463 1U Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations
- INFO 303: Writing Across Media – Informatics
Note: Same as WRIT 303 Writing Across Media
- IS 145: Mapping Inequalities: Serious Games & Simulations – Information Sciences
- IS 357: Introduction to Data Storytelling – Information Sciences
- IS 410: Storytelling – Information Sciences
- MACS 326: New Media, Culture, and Society – Media & Cinema Studies
- MACS 372: Screenwriting – Media & Cinema Studies
- THEA 411: Playwrights’ Workshop – Theater
- THEA 418: Devising Social Issues Theatre – Theater
Play, Sports, & Health Pathway
These are the courses available for this Game Studies Undergraduate Minor pathway. To view more information about which semesters courses are offered (and a link to the course catalog), click on a course number. These links open in a new browser window.
This pathway is not yet available but is coming soon!
- GSD 199: Individual Study (Freshman & Sophomore) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
- GSD 399: Advanced Individual Study (Junior and Senior) – Game Studies and Design
Note: Only one independent study course can count as an elective towards the minor.
How To Declare the minor
The Game Studies & Design minor program is open to undergraduates from all colleges and majors. It complements the backgrounds of those majoring in any field, whether your college is liberal arts and sciences, engineering, fine arts, applied health sciences, information science or any other! It is recommended, but not required, that you apply before the end of your sophomore year so that you will receive proper advice, and notifications about new courses.
- Complete the Minor Declaration form online
- Once Game Studies & Design approves, the form will be routed to your college for their approval. Your college will add the minor to your degree audit
- Email game-studies@illinois.edu with any questions