UAT: Graduate Game Courses

Program Core - Complete 12.00 credits minimum

MSC530 Research Methods in Technology

Credits: 3

Pre-Requisite(s): None This course emphasizes developing research methodology used in specific industrial segments. Skills required for conducting alternative approaches to qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, hypotheses, models and theories, will be developed. The student will develop competence in the use of statistical packages for various analytical approaches.

MSC690 Thesis I

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSC530 Students will enroll in this course to obtain credit for their thesis work. Students will meet regularly with their advisor to discuss analytical issues, such as methodologies, statistics, data collection, possible outcomes, etc., pertaining to their line of inquiry. A thesis proposal is the expected outcome of coursework. The proposal should be defended and approved at the end of the course.

MSC691 Thesis II

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSC531, MSC690 Students will enroll in this course to obtain credit for their thesis work. Students will meet regularly with their advisor to refine their writing and complete their methodology, analysis and conclusions. A draft of the thesis' final chapters is the expected outcome of this course.

MSC692 Thesis III

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSC691 Students will enroll in this course to obtain credit for their thesis work. Students will complete their thesis, making all necessary revisions as dictated by their committee members and chair. Future uses of their research, including publication, will also be discussed. Students should expect to schedule and complete their thesis defense during this semester.

MSC694 Continuing Thesis

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Chair Approval Continuing thesis is designed for those students who, through no fault of their own, require additional time to complete their thesis. Continuing Thesis may only be taken for credit twice.

Degree Specific - Complete 24.00 credits minimum

MSC521 Technology and the American Workplace Seminar

Credits: 3

This course is required for students enrolled in the International Work and Study Program. This course requires students to critically evaluate and synthesize the American work experience in relation to the theories and concepts learned within the student's individual degree program. Students unite theory and practice, formulate concepts and strategies to engage the challenges of a changing technology environment, and address the challenges of cultural differences gleaned from their work-study experience.

MSE501 Game Production and Documentation

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): None The ability to clearly communicate exactly what a game is, how it plays, what it will feel like, how it will look and more importantly, how a team will get it done is what makes or breaks projects at both the pitch stage and during review points in actual development. Students will create a game design document representative of professional quality documentation found in leading game studios and master the art of pitching to multiple audiences from team members to executive decision makers.

MSE502 Project Management

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): None This course covers all phases of project management in a technology environment. This course focuses on successful completion of the project through each phase, from opportunity recognition and strategic integration to team building, tracking and budget management. Included is a survey of tools and best practices. Applications include projects of differing scope. Learning activities include exploration of case studies, problem-solving exercises and role-playing.

MSE503 Game Marketing and Advertising

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSE502 or MSE510 or MSE545 This course examines the progress and potential for the marketing and advertising of games. The unique needs of this market and target audience will be analyzed. In addition, the traditional marketing functions of product, price, distribution and promotion as related to the game industry will be discussed.

MSE504 Critical Game Studies

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSC530; MSE501 or MSE502 or MSE545 This course will cover advanced critical techniques and approaches to game design, game theory and the gaming audience. Using techniques of critical theory, ludology and game theory, students will take a deep look at the structure of games and their interaction with the user. Students will be expected to produce their own critical research based on the games and ideas studied.

MSE505 Serious Games and Instructional Design

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSC530, MSE501 or MSE502 or MSE545 Games that teach, test, train and pose complex, realistic challenges to the player have been branded Serious Games. Using game technologies to teach is not a new concept, but the recent reinvigoration of this genre puts the spotlight on games that focus on giving the gamer new experiences and learning opportunities. Using contemporary theories of electronic education and instructional design, students will analyze games with a message to their mechanics. The market potential for these games will be evaluated from institutional tools and tutorials, to the future of gameplay in education.

MSE545 The Business of Gaming

Credits: 3

Pre-Requisite(s): None This course addresses the economics of the game industry. This includes the ways games are funded, marketed and sold and the relationships between publishers, developers, retailers and other companies. Other topics to be covered include legal issues of gaming, intellectual property laws, the social forces that impact games and the governmental and legislative forces that impact game content.

MSE602 Seminar in Game Production

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSC530, one additional Game Production elective Recommended: MSE504 This course provides the student with an in-depth study of the critical research relating to the gaming field. Subjects will vary from semester to semester and may include the impact of virtual worlds; the developing serious and experimental game markets; or the study of aesthetics and gameplay.

MSE603 Game Project

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSE545; MSE501 or MSE502 This course concentrates on techniques to produce a game from the standpoint of production. Students will tackle topics such as people management, team building, communication and workflow in order to grasp the complexities of running a development team. The types of projects, including platform and genre, will change from semester to semester. This course can be completed twice for credit.