BS in Game Design & Development

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

As a game design & development major, you’ll build a strong foundation in programming, 3D object creation, creative writing, virtual reality and computer ethics. You'll explore every step of the game creation process, from drafting a game design document to launching a published game, such as these student projects.

Choosing to major in game design & development at SHU means you'll be joining a top-ranked program. Our devoted and expert faculty offer personalized guidance and hands-on training, which will equip you with the skills to succeed as a professional game designer and developer.

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

Sacred Heart’s game design program empowers students to blend programming expertise with creativity. You’ll gain hands-on experience as you create a video game from start to finish. You’ll also have the opportunity to specialize in the areas of game development that most interest you. The program covers Unity and Unreal platforms, C# programming and Blender and Maya for 3D modeling.

Alongside computer science courses, where you’ll study gaming, 3D object creation, algorithms, operating systems and game programming, you can explore elective courses in music, art, filmmaking and writing to broaden your skills. Additionally, Sacred Heart fully covers the cost of training for the Unity certification exams.

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

• Learn to analyze problems, design solutions and develop communication skills to convey complex technical information to a range of audiences
• Learn the fundamentals of game play theory, computer graphics and animation through hands-on experience with game development software, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
• Establish goals, plan tasks, manage risk and produce deliverables as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Access the resources of the Motion Capture Lab and NeXReality Lab to work on and advance research on game design and virtual reality, augmented reality and extended reality projects

Be prepared for a career in game design

The program emphasizes hands-on lab experience, providing students with opportunities for paid internships in the Motion Capture Lab, NexReality Lab and the Artificial Intelligence Lab. Housed within the School of Computer Science & Engineering, our game design program is recognized by employers for its rigorous technical foundation in game development. 

Graduates have secured jobs across a range of companies, from AAA studios to indie teams, as well as research and corporate development groups. One recent graduate created games that support veterans returning with combat-related disabilities. 

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

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 make it easy for first-year students to move from an undergraduate degree to a graduate degree.

Some programs need specific majors, but others are open to most fields of study. Apply as an incoming first-year student, and you can be accepted into both programs at once. Reach out to your admissions counselor to learn about your options.