University of Arizona Launches Online Bachelor’s in Game Design and Development

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Female game design and development student

 
Game design is no longer confined to a single genre, a single platform or a single location—and neither is the education behind it. Beginning this fall, the University of Arizona’s acclaimed Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development (BSGDD) is available fully online, making its interactive curriculum accessible to students anywhere in the world.

Offered through the College of Information Science via Arizona Online, the new online degree delivers the same robust, STEM-designated program that has propelled the University of Arizona into the Top 25 Game Design Schools nationally, as ranked by Animation Career Review.

“Our online Bachelor’s in Game Design and Development reflects what game design itself represents today: global, adaptive, boundary-pushing,” says Catherine Brooks, interim dean of the College of Information Science. “We’re thrilled to bring this cutting-edge education to students wherever they are, helping them turn passion into expertise and creativity into careers.”

A Curriculum Designed for Industry—and Impact

The BSGDD curriculum offers a potent blend of creativity, technology and engagement. Students learn to design games applicable to an array of industries, including entertainment, education, healthcare and training—building experiences that inform, immerse and inspire.

From gamification principles and narrative mechanics to interaction design and platform optimization, the program spans the full production lifecycle of a game. Students gain technical fluency in areas such as:

  • Programming and game engine use
  • 3D modeling and animation
  • Virtual reality and human-computer interaction
  • Digital storytelling and sound design
  • Project management and version control systems
  • User testing and analytics

But it doesn’t stop at skills. The program also places emphasis on teamwork, cross-cultural communication and ethical technology use. Students engage with complex questions such as: How do you design responsibly for diverse audiences? What are the implications of gamification in health or education? How do emerging technologies like machine learning and neural networks shape future design?

What Students Learn

Courses are designed to build both foundational and advanced competencies. Core major courses include:

  • Introduction to Game Design
  • Game Development
  • Statistical Foundations of the Information Age
  • Computational Thinking and Doing
  • Ethics in a Digital World

Students then specialize through technical electives such as:

  • Game Programming
  • 3D Modeling for Games
  • Virtual Reality
  • Advanced Game Development

Electives allow students to tailor their education to specific interests—from eSports development to simulation design and AI in gaming. Options include:

  • Diversity and Bias in Games
  • Gamification in Society
  • Digital Storytelling and Culture
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Serious STEM Games

Across their coursework, students will:

  • Design games not just for entertainment, but for other industries like education, training and healthcare
  • Apply industry-standard tools and platforms in real-world projects
  • Analyze user needs and metrics to improve game design
  • Understand the legal and ethical dimensions of digital media
  • Complete a capstone game design and development project working with other students

Prepared for What’s Next

Upon graduation, students will be equipped not only to enter but ultimately to lead in game-related fields. Career pathways include:

  • Game designer
  • 3D artist
  • Software developer
  • Concept artist
  • Mobile app developer
  • eSports producer
  • Quality assurance analyst
  • Website developer

Graduates will also carry with them an understanding of ethical decision-making, intercultural collaboration and the policy challenges raised by emergent technologies—broad skills increasingly vital in today’s digitally complex world.

Applications Now Open

Admissions for the Fall 2025 semester are now live, with two online start options:

  • Session I application deadline is August 1 for August 25 start
  • Session II application deadline is September 15 for October 16 start

Whether students are looking to break into the entertainment gaming industry or bring gaming innovation into education, healthcare, business or beyond, the online BSGDD offers the tools and training to make it happen.

“Games are shaping how we learn, train, connect and solve real-world problems,” says Brooks. “By bringing this program online, we’re ensuring more students can build the skills and gain the insights they need to lead in this rapidly evolving industry—wherever they are.”
 

Learn more about the online Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development, or apply now.