BS in Game Design & Development

Why earn your bachelor’s in game design & development at Sacred Heart? 

As a game design & development major, you’ll gain a foundation in programming languages, 3D object creation, story creation, virtual reality and computer ethics. You will explore the game creation process, from game design document through beta testing to published games.

When you choose to become a game design & development major at SHU, you’ll join a top game design program. Our devoted faculty provide the one-on-one attention and hands-on training you need to succeed as a professional game designer and developer.

What will I learn as a game design & development major?

Sacred Heart game design students combine programming and creative skills. While you will learn how to create a video game from start to finish, you will also have the opportunity to specialize in the particular game development area that most interests you. You will learn both the Unity and Unreal platforms, C# programming and Blender for creating 3D objects. In addition to the computer science courses, you will also have the opportunity to take classes in music for games, art for games and game story writing, as well as a specialized course in Physics for Game Design. The University completely subsidizes training for the Unity Certification Exam.

Learning outcomes

• Work on a published game
• Be prepared for Unity Certification
• Develop a game from concept through publication
• Participate in hands-on lab experience

In the game design & development program, you will also:

• Learn to analyze problems, then identify and design solutions
• Develop the communication skills to convey complex technical information to a range of audiences
• Take courses in gaming, 3D object creation, algorithms, operating systems and game programming
• Study the fundamentals of game play theory, computer graphics and animation
• Learn to use Unity3D, Blender, Maya, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
• Gain experience working with teams to establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, manage risk and produce deliverables
• Learn to thrive as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Work in the motion capture laboratory and learn to animate 3D characters

Be prepared for a career in game design

As part of the program’s focus on hands-on laboratory experience, students can acquire paid internships in the motion capture lab, the VR/AR lab and a lab devoted to artificial intelligence. Because our program lives in the computer science department, potential employers know that Sacred Heart game design students have rigorous training in the technical aspects of game development. 

Graduates have accepted jobs ranging from AAA studios to small indie shops. Recently students have also joined research and corporate development teams. One recent grad specializes in developing games for returning veterans with war disabilities. 

With a game design & development degree, you’ll be prepared for a career as a:

• Computer animator
• Game designer
• Programmer
• Level designer
• Digital game artist

What makes SHU’s game design & development program different?

Cross-disciplinary major & minor options

Graduates become more attractive candidates on the job market with a cross-disciplinary skill-set, and many Sacred Heart students choose to double major or take on a minor for this reason. Some may choose a computer science double major, while others may pursue a double major in music. An emerging trend is combining a game design degree with a minor on the business side of games such as cybersecurity through the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology.

Sacred Heart game design awards & recognitions

Sacred Heart University’s game design program ranks as one of the best in Connecticut and on the East Coast, according to Animation Career Review, an online resource for aspiring animation and game design professionals. Additionally, the program is regularly ranked by The Princeton Review, has won over 20 awards at Global Game Jam and was named one of the top three game design programs in Connecticut in 2020.

Dual Degree Program Options for Game Design & Development Majors

Sacred Heart University’s dual degree programs provide a defined pathway for incoming freshmen to move seamlessly from an undergraduate to a graduate degree.

While some of our dual degree programs require specific undergraduate majors, others are open to almost all undergraduate disciplines. Apply to a dual degree program as an incoming freshman and you’ll have the opportunity to be admitted directly into the graduate program of your choice at the same time as your admission as an undergraduate student. Students are encouraged to reach out to your admissions counselor to discuss dual degree options.