Nov 22, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

Game Design and Development-Art, B.F.A.


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         Game Design and Development-Art, B.F.A.: 4-year sequence  

Introduction

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game Design and Development-Art prepares students to apply knowledge, techniques and methods necessary to become a successful artist and game designer. The student will have a balance of art, design, game design, art history, computer science, English, and psychology to help them become a vital part of the game design and development industry upon graduation. The industry has shown a steady increase in need for more game developers (which includes artists, designers, and programmers) over the last 10 years. The increase in jobs will continue.

The BFA in Game Design and Development provides outstanding opportunities to create art and games for a vast array of applications and industries, including entertainment, advertising, simulation and education. Students will develop a strong foundation from an award-winning art and design program while experiencing a hands-on approach to education that uses industry standard software and hardware.  Collaboration is the backbone of the major with multiple courses bringing art and computer science students together to form interdisciplinary teams.  BFA students will learn and use skills necessary for game development such as game design principles, foundations in drawing and design, 2D pixel art and animation, 3D modeling and animation, concept art in environment and character design, and graphic and user interface design.

A required mid-program portfolio review offers game design students an assessment of their progress in foundation art and design courses. A 2.0 overall grade point average and a 2.5 or better in Art and Design department courses (ART/ARTH/DES/GDD) is required to complete this Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  Game Design students must present a portfolio of their work in the final semester as part of a public exhibition hosted by the School of Art and Design. The BFA in Game Design program provides a specialized education and is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design.

Program Requirements

Total for Graduation 120 credits  
Stout Core 40 credits  
Major Requirements 80 credits  

Program Requirements


Stout Core (40 credits)


Analytic Reasoning and Natural Sciences (10-11 credits)


At least one math or statistics course and one natural science course with a lab is required

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)


Social Responsibility and Ethical Reasoning (3 credits)


Courses must be selected from the list of approved social responsibility and ethical reasoning courses.

Electives to reach 40 Stout Core credits


Students must also take courses with the following designations:


Racial and Ethnic Studies (6 credits*)


*Students can select courses that count for more than one requirement within General Education (GE), Racial and Ethnic Studies (RES), and Global Perspectives (GLP).

Global Perspective (6 credits*)


Complete 6 credits of global perspective (GLP) approved courses, including GLP-approved instructor-led study abroad courses, or complete a program of university-approved work or university-approved study abroad not led by UW-Stout instructors.

  • *Students can select courses that count for more than one requirement within General Education (GE), Racial and Ethnic Studies (RES), and Global Perspectives (GLP).

  • *Students can select courses that count for more than one requirement within General Education (GE), Racial and Ethnic Studies (RES), and Global Perspectives (GLP).

Major Requirements (80 credits)


Studio Selectives (18 credits)


Art Studio Selectives (3 credits)


Additional ART-XXX courses may be available; seek approval from Program Director prior to start of course to verify suitability.

Drawing Selective (3 credits)


Choose one of the following courses:

Media Selective (3 credits)


Choose one of the following courses:

Technical Selective (3 credits)


Choose one of the following courses:

Art and Design History Requirements (9 credits)