Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development
About This Programme
A 120-credit degree in the art, design and production of video games, from game history and applied design to character development, animation and studio production, with Design and Development tracks and an internship.
Course Highlights
- Taught at AUD, ranked #620 in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- US-accredited (SACSCOC) American credit degree taught in English
- AUD reports around 92% graduate employment
What You'll Study
Taught full time, in person, on an American credit-hour system, in English.
Summary of degree requirements
120 credit hours in total.
- Foundation21 credits
- Core courses27 credits
- Concentration Requirements15 credits
- Professional Electives12 credits
- General Electives9 credits
- Arts and Science Core36 credits
AUD publishes 2 variants of this degree in one table; each column reaches the same 120 credit hours, so they are alternatives, not additions. The credits shown are the first variant.
Foundation
21 credit hours required.
- BUSI 121 Entrepreneurship and Innovation3 credits
- COMM 103 Media, Culture and Society3 credits
- COMM 230 Video Editing and Sound Design3 credits
- VCCC 101 Basic Principles of 2D Design3 credits
- VCCC 105 Computer Graphics l3 credits
- VCCC 205 Computer Graphics II3 credits
- VCDM 210 Computer Animation l3 credits
Core Courses
27 credit hours required.
- GAME 101 History of Game Art3 credits
- GAME 120 Game Design Fundamentals4 credits
- GAME 210 Applied Game Design3 credits
- GAME 220 Introduction to Game Engines3 credits
- GAME 310 Intermediate Game Design and Production3 credits
- GAME 410 Advanced Game Project l4 credits
- GAME 420 Advanced Game Project II4 credits
- GAME 461 Internship3 credits
Concentration Requirements: Game Design
- GDES 200 Character Development and Storytelling for Games3 credits
- GDES 230 Art Foundation for Games3 credits
- GDES 300 Video Game Expressions Studio3 credits
- GDES 330 Game Art Production3 credits
- GDES 340 Pre-production for Creative Directors3 credits
One of 2 alternatives published for this degree; the summary table above counts this block once, so they are choices rather than additional credits.
Concentration Requirements: Game Development
- EECE 250 Intermediate Programming3 credits
- EECE 355 Software Engineering3 credits
- GDEV 320 Programming Game Engines3 credits
- GDEV 400 Game Engine Architecture and Design3 credits
- MATH 250 Discrete Mathematics3 credits
One of 2 alternatives published for this degree; the summary table above counts this block once, so they are choices rather than additional credits.
BUSI 251* Startup Entrepreneurship Project 3
- DDFT 373 Virtual Designs3 credits
- EECE 350 Data Structures and Algorithms3 credits
- EECE 453 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence3 credits
- EECE 454 Introduction to Machine Learning3 credits
- EECE 480 Special Topics in Electrical & Computer Engineering3 credits
ENGG 300* Probability and Random Variables 3
12 credit hours required.
Choose 12 credit hours from:
- VCCC 102 Basic Principles of 3D Designs3 credits
- VCCC 104 Freehand Drawing l3 credits
- VCDM 230 Introduction to Interactive Media3 credits
- VCDM 250 Motion Graphics3 credits
- VCDM 310 Animation II3 credits
- VCDM 322 Advanced Sound Design Studio3 credits
- VCDM 410 Animation III3 credits
Entry Requirements
US-style credit system; non-UAE curricula require Ministry of Education equivalency. Architecture requires a portfolio.
Careers
Graduates pursue careers in game design and development, interactive media, animation and the creative-technology industries.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
AUD is institutionally accredited in the United States by SACSCOC and licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Science
Start Date
September (Fall intake)
Typical Offer
An official attested high-school transcript covering the last three years in good academic standing, with UAE Ministry of Education equivalency for non-UAE curricula. Mathematics proficiency is established by the AUD placement test; the catalog's SAT table does not list this programme.
Duration
4 years
Qualification
Bachelors
Subject Area
Art & Design
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Bachelor of Science
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 106,050/yr
Undergraduate applicants apply online at aud.edu, submit attested transcripts with a UAE Ministry of Education Certificate of Equivalency for non-UAE curricula, and provide an English score (IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 or TOEFL ITP 550) and an SAT Mathematics score, or sit AUD's English and mathematics placement tests. A non-refundable AED 420 application fee applies, with an AED 5,000 reservation deposit on acceptance that is credited to tuition.