Coming in Fall 2024!
The United States and global gaming industry remains a thriving and diverse field with promising career opportunities. In the United States alone, the gaming industry employs more than 32,000 people across 34 states, reaching a total compensation of over $3 billion annually.
As one of a growing number of interdisciplinary programs at Penn State, students can now opt to enroll in a minor in Game Development.
Game Development is the craft of transforming a concept into an engaging interactive form. This craft is highly interdisciplinary, requiring students to answer questions about:
- the human condition (what makes a game fun)
- psychology (what makes an interface engaging)
- aesthetics (what makes something pleasing)
- and technical considerations (how to implement a game).
Students pursuing the Game Development minor are required to explore diverse disciplines in the breadth component, with some of these courses fulfilling general education requirements. Disciplinary depth in selected areas is achieved in the depth component. Finally, students complete a capstone design class, working in teams to complete a project from concept to implementation.
The Game Development minor is thoughtfully designed to complement any major, seamlessly integrating into a typical four-year schedule. It enhances the student’s educational experience, bolsters their marketability, and assists in fulfilling general education requirements.