Game Studies & Design Undergraduate Minor Requirements
The Core Courses
The three required core courses provide a general and solid foundation in game studies. All three are introductory in nature and meet the university’s General Education requirements.
- GSD 101-Introduction to Game Studies–This broad survey course will provide students across campus an introduction to interdisciplinary game studies, covering both historical/social perspectives and game design. It will explore humanities, social science understandings of play, and the social contexts from which our games and gaming practices arise, as well as the development and consequences of gaming cultures.
- A minimum of one 100-200 level historical/social perspectives course. Choose from the following:
Elective Requirements
In addition, students must complete a minimum of three elective courses, at least 2 at the 300-400 level, totaling at least 9 credit hours. Please see the approved list of Games Studies electives.
There are 10 suggested pathways to help focus the minor in an area of interest: Design, Programming, Education & Research, Film & Media, Music, Sound & Dance, Narrative, Play Studies, Theater, and Visual Arts. These pathways are suggestions; students may choose any combination of classes on the approved list.
How to Declare the Minor
The Game Studies & Design minor program is open to undergraduates from all colleges and majors. It complements the backgrounds of those majoring in any field, whether your college is liberal arts and sciences, engineering, fine arts, applied health sciences, information science or any other! It is recommended, but not required, that you apply before the end of your sophomore year so that you will receive proper advice, and notifications about new courses.
- Complete the Minor Declaration form online
- Once Game Studies & Design approves, the form will be routed to your college for their approval. Your college will add the minor to your degree audit
- Email game-studies@illinois.edu with any questions