A student working on a large gaming computer monitor.

Master of Science  in
Strategic Game Design and Applied Development
Online or On Campus

Hone Skills and Knowledge for Building Sophisticated Game Worlds

Expand your expertise or start a new career in the fast-growing, high-demand gaming industry by earning a Master of Science in Strategic Game Design and Applied Development (MS-SGDAD) at UAlbany.

From game production technical skills to a deeper understanding of special topics related to leadership, diversity, innovation and more, in this program you’ll develop an array of proficiencies. Our interdisciplinary approach and six concentrations to choose from allow you to shape your degree to the skills you need most for your future in game design and development.

You’ll prepare to work in entertainment-related gaming fields or other disciplines such as government, education or business where demand for games and game-based applications continues to grow.

Additional Program Information

Graduate Bulletin   |   Course Catalog   |   Contact: Mike Baumgardner

Program of Study

programofstudy

In this program you’ll engage with multidisciplinary learning and hands-on experiences to explore both the theoretical and practical levels of your interest in game design.

Courses cover core areas traditionally associated with game production such as 2D and 3D digital art, narrative and programing, as well as specialized topics relevant to your concentration including cybersecurity, management, serious games and UX/UI design.

You’ll also benefit from learning best practices in diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion as they relate to the mainstream gaming industry and other industries seeking game design experts.

 

Core Courses

  • Introduction to Game Research Methods
  • Creativity and Innovation Management
  • Game Development Foundations: From Concept to Creation
  • Diversity and Access in Game Design
  • Project Management in Game Development


Culminating Experience

Choose one:

  • Graduate Capstone in Game Design and Development
  • Graduate Internship in Game Design and Development
  • Master’s Thesis in Game Design and Development

Concentration Courses

Choose from one of the concentrations listed below.

 

Electives

Sample courses:

  • Organizational Behavior & Managerial Skills
  • Leadership and Managerial Skills
  • Creativity and Entrepreneurship
  • Small Business Management
  • Services Marketing
  • Information Security Compliance Auditing
  • Principles and Practices of Cybersecurity
  • Introduction to Games for Learning: Theory and Practice
  • Introduction to Game Design for Educators
  • Systematic Design of Instruction
Concentrations
Cybersecurity in Games

This concentration addresses the critical need for security in gaming. You’ll engage with secure game design, threat detection and the establishment of safeguards to ensure integrity and fairness in gameplay.
 

Required courses:

  • Principles and Practices of Cybersecurity
  • Modelling and Simulation for Cybersecurity


Choose one:

  • Prevention and Protection Strategies in Cybersecurity
  • Information Security Compliance Auditing
Games & Learning

If you’re interested in the pedagogical aspect of games, this concentration investigates the design of educational games, learning psychology in interactive media and the use of gaming in educational reform.
 

Required course:

  • Introduction to Game Design for Educators
     

Choose one:

  • Introduction to Games for Learning: Theory and Practice
  • Systematic Design of Instruction
  • Teaching and Learning in Immersive Environments
     

Choose one:

  • AI in Gaming: From Algorithms to Immersive Experiences
  • Serious Games: The Intersection of Play and Purpose
  • Game Scripting Mastery: Unleashing the Power of Code in Game Development
  • UX Testing for Games: Optimizing Player Experiences
  • Game Theory Unleashed: Strategies, Decisions and Applications
     
Leadership and Management in Game Production

Aimed at future game industry leaders, this concentration offers insights into production management, team leadership and the economic aspects of game development.
 

Required course:

  • Organizational Behavior and Managerial Skills
     

Choose two:

  • Leadership and Managerial Skills
  • Creativity and Entrepreneurship
  • Services Marketing
  • The Gaming Industry and the Monetization of Games (Gacha Games)
  • Special Topics in Game Design and Development as advised
Game Design

Tailored for those who seek to excel in the art of crafting compelling stories and engaging game worlds, blending creativity with interactive design.


Required course:

  • Game Development Through Time: A Historical Journey
     

Choose two:

  • Narrative Craftsmanship: Storytelling in Game Design 2
  • Maker Movement and Game Development: From Creation to Play
  • Serious Games: The Intersection of Play and Purpose
  • Games for Change: Exploring Social Justice in Game Design
  • Narrative Worlds: Intermediate Interactive Storytelling in Game Design
  • Game Scripting Mastery: Unleashing the Power of Code in Game Development
  • Game Theory Unleashed: Strategies, Decisions, and Applications
  • Plot Progression and Level Design: Crafting Game Worlds
  • Minds in Play: Exploring the Psychology of Gaming
  • Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality
  • Gaming Culture, Diversity and Engagement: Beyond the Screen
  • Special Topics in Game Design and Development as advised
User Experience

Ideal if you’re aspiring to create games that offer not only engaging gameplay but also intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and interactions.
 

Required courses:

  • UX Testing for Games: Optimizing Player Experiences
  • Minds in Play: Exploring the Psychology of Gaming
     

Choose one:

  • AI in Gaming: From Algorithms to Immersive Experiences
  • Special Topics in Game Design and Development as advised
  • Human Information Behavior
Self-Designed

This unique path allows you to tailor your studies to your specific interests related to game design and development. You can draw from a broad range of topics such as advanced graphics, user experience, narrative design or any niche area of your choosing.

Propose, in conjunction with your academic advisor, a topic tailored to your research and/or career goals. You must provide a proposal of courses to take to support the proposed self-designed concentration that includes at least three courses. At least six credits of a self-designed concentration should be taken while enrolled in the MS in Strategic Game Design and Applied Development program. A proposal must be approved by program faculty before you can declare it.

Research and Experiential Learning


In this program you’ll have the chance to work side by side with faculty to conduct meaningful research that drives innovation within the gaming industry through opportunities in our high-tech facilities and with local gaming studios, industry leaders and agencies seeking simulations for training exercises. You’ll also gain ample hands-on experience in coursework and internships that help you develop in-depth game design and development skills.

The College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity partners with various offices, agencies and centers that provide research and training opportunities for students, academics and professionals.

 


 

Students looking at a video game on a computer monitor while holding a game controller.
experiential

Career Outlook


The gaming industry is a high-demand, growing field that is projected to stay on the rise. With an MS-SGDAD, you’ll be equipped to design entertainment games, develop serious games for law enforcement and military simulations, enact cybersecurity for games, refine user experiences and more.

As a graduate of this program, you’ll have significant potential to obtain a high-paying job in an array of fields, or to start your own game development studio or business.

Potential job titles with a master’s in strategic game design and applied development include:

  • Game Designer
  • Technical Director
  • Technical Support Specialist
  • Project Manager
  • Software Engineer
  • VFX Artist
  • Data Scientist
  • Rendering Engineer
  • 3D Modeler

 


 

A student holds a gaming controller while another looks on at the monitor.
career

Admissions Requirements

admissions
Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1
Summer: Not Available
 

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: August 1
Spring: January 1
Summer: April 1

Required Application Materials
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Statement of Goals - The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program.  It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals. 

Students are expected to have an appropriate undergraduate degree such as BA or BS in Game Design and Development OR a BA or BS in related field including, but not limited to, Informatics, Business, Cybersecurity, Education, Computer Engineering, Digital Arts, Animation, Interactive Media Design and Game Art, Computer Animation, Computer Networking, Art, Music, Computer Science, among other disciplines positioning undergraduate students for success in this field.

Available information for International Applicants.

Special Notes

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  If applicants have concerns about this matter, please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.



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Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Master of Science

Students who successfully complete the Master of Science in Strategic Game Design and Applied Development (MS-SGDAD) are able to:

  • Identify the role of programming and become familiar with leading development environments.
  • Build a strategic plan for game distribution.
  • Develop and prepare a plan for beta testing a game.
  • Demonstrate a mastery of the gaming lifecycle from creative ideation to final product.
  • Create a game world, developing variables, fields and methods needed to construct the game environment.
  • Demonstrate the capacity to design a game for numerous purposes, such as education, law enforcement, military, entertainment, health and well-being.
  • Identify game design and development terminology.
  • Incorporate creative thinking and technical skills in the development of original gaming concepts.
  • Use best practices related to diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion in all areas related to the gaming industry.
  • Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration skills in individual and interdisciplinary team interactions.
  • Utilize problem solving skills in all stages of a game design.
  • Conduct research about and for game design and development.
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