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The Master of Science Program in Games for Learning (G4L) is a 36-credit program that prepares you to create, use, and evaluate digital games specifically designed for learning in both formal and informal settings. 

Core Course Sequence & Specialization 

You’ll take classes in learning foundations and design foundations, culminating in a final capstone project. You also have the option to participate in a 3-credit internship. Beyond the required foundation courses, you can specialize in one of four areas of study:

Game Design: You’ll focus on design principles and challenges, as well as historical factors, related to commercial and educational game design.

Game Development: You’ll concentrate on game development skills, including programming, graphic design, 3-D development, and audio design.

Game Research: You’ll emphasize research approaches and methods (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) related to game and media evaluation and development.

Other Areas of Study: With special permission from program faculty, you can choose another area of study through independent study, by selecting courses from multiple areas of study or by choosing other courses offered at the university.

Culminating Experience

Working under the supervision of the program director and a faculty mentor, you will apply the knowledge and skills acquired in core courses and design electives to an independent learning game design project. This work culminates in a final integrative project (e.g., a publishable quality research thesis, learning game design document and game prototype, learning game usability, playtesting, or evaluation study).

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
Learning Foundation
EDCT-GE 2174Foundations of Cognitive Sciences3
EDCT-GE 2175Foundations of the Learning Sciences3
Design Foundation
EDCT-GE 2500Games and Play in Education3
EDCT-GE 2505Designing Simulations/Games for Learning3
EDCT-GE 2510Narrative, Digital Media, and Learning3
EDCT-GE 2520User Research Methods3
Capstone Thesis Project
EDCT-GE 2095Capstone Thesis 16
Electives
Students complete 12 elective credits by advisement, which may include EDCT-GE 2197 Media Practicum: Field Internships for 1-3 credits.12
Total Credits36
1

Students take this 3 credit course two times for a total of 6 credits.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
EDCT-GE 2174 Foundations of Cognitive Sciences 3
EDCT-GE 2175 Foundations of the Learning Sciences 3
EDCT-GE 2505 Designing Simulations/Games for Learning 3
 Credits9
2nd Semester/Term
EDCT-GE 2500 Games and Play in Education 3
EDCT-GE 2510 Narrative, Digital Media, and Learning 3
EDCT-GE 2520 User Research Methods 3
 Credits9
3rd Semester/Term
EDCT-GE 2095 Capstone Thesis 1 3
Internship 3
Elective 3
 Credits9
4th Semester/Term
EDCT-GE 2095 Capstone Thesis 1 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits36
1

Taken twice in two consecutive semesters.

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