Game Development, B.S.

Creative Media Industries Institute

dcheshier@gsu.edu
404-413-5649

The B.S. in Game Development trains students for coding, programming and software-intensive game development careers. The program is for students aspiring to gain the background and technical skill necessary for a career in game development or science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related areas in computational media and connects students to the region’s game design companies and to the industrial ecosystem for games development in the region.

The major, while mainly preparing students for careers in the videogame companies and start-up enterprises, can also prepare students for careers in game production, animation, motion graphics, postproduction and wider software development industries, including social media analytics, Web and application development.

The Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) is partnered with the Georgia Film Academy and collaborates with the Georgia Film Academy on related certifications in esports management for students who want to work in that and associated sectors.

Work with the World’s Most
Advanced Motion Capture System

We have the world’s most advanced motion capture system, a new technology called volumetric capture, where no special devices or suits are needed -- just yourself and 32 cameras that capture you in a 3D environment.

The cameras are set up to capture a performance in 360 degrees. This is achieved through a system called 4D Views. The Creative Media Industry Institute (CMII) is home to one of only nine of these systems in the world, and the first commercial installation.

We believe volumetric capture will provide the tools and content for the next generation of experiential content creators.

Learn in the No. 1 City for
``Gaming Environment``

With the global esports economy having crossed the billion-dollar threshold in 2021, the market is on track to exceed $3.5 billion by 2027. Atlanta is recognized as one of the top cities in the U.S. for gamers and is broadly recognized as a national esports capital. Skillshot, a leading esports event provider, plans to build a 47-acre esports campus in Atlanta.

A report prepared for the Georgia Department of Economic Development noted that Atlanta ranks as the No. 1 city “for gaming environment, No. 5 for gamers and the No. 5 city for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) gaming jobs.”

Program Details

High School Seniors and Recent Graduates
If you’re a senior in high school or if you graduated from high school within the last two years, you’ll apply to begin your bachelor’s degree program using Georgia State’s Common Application.

Find out more about applying

International students
International applicants are those students who are in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa (B-1, H-1, J-1, etc.), students who are living outside the U.S. and who will require an F-1 visa to study in the United States, students who are in the process of applying for Permanent Residency status, but have not yet received the Permanent Residency card or students who have been educated outside the U.S.

Learn more about the application process

Transfer students
If you’re already in college but need a change, transferring to Georgia State can provide you with the opportunities you need to succeed — in school and after graduation.

View the details

In addition to the general criteria for undergraduate admissions at Georgia State, to be eligible for the Bachelor of Science in Game Development and to enroll in major-level CMIS courses, students must fulfill the following requirements:

Students must earn an average of 2.5 grade points, with no grade lower than a C, across:

MATH 1113 or MATH 2211 or MATH 2212 or MATH 2215 and
CMIS 1301

Coursework in this major introduces students to programming for games (with a focus on design languages most used in the game industry, including C#/C++, Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, etc.), the development of sophisticated industry-level game engines and in associated technologies such as animation, virtual and augmented reality applications, and immersive design.

For more details, see the course catalog.

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

Key goals of the major include:

Development of an industry-ready and career preparatory project portfolio;
CMII-supported senior year internship opportunities; and
Senior year involvement in a collaborative design team that takes a full year’s time to create a launch-ready game.

The program's overarching goal is to help students acquire the computational skills needed to succeed early in their career, while learning how to work in team and project environments. Students will also develop the soft skills needed for game industry success: collaboration, communication, the ability to engage productively with a client, to respond to feedback and critique, to work always in a thoughtful and ethical manner.