Take IGMD-110
Upcoming Start Dates
Fall term A begins. Apply by Aug. 21.
Fall term B begins. Apply by Oct. 16.
Create Interactive Games with Professional Design Skills
Develop the foundational skills to design and build engaging games with Champlain College Online's (CCO) Undergraduate Certificate in Interactive Game Design. This 18-credit program introduces you to the principles of player engagement, narrative development, and technical implementation that drive successful game creation. Through hands-on projects using industry-standard tools, you'll build a portfolio of game prototypes while learning the collaborative and iterative processes used by professional game developers.
Learn Essential Game Design Fundamentals
- Game Design Principles: Explore player engagement mechanics, systems design, and narrative structure—the core elements that create compelling interactive experiences.
- Rapid Prototyping Techniques: Master the iterative process of quickly developing playable prototypes, gathering feedback, and refining designs to improve gameplay.
- Technical Implementation Skills: Gain hands-on experience with game engines and development tools professionals use to bring your creative concepts to life.
- Visual Design Foundations: Develop an understanding of visual communication principles that enhance player experience through effective interface and asset design.
- Logic and Probability: Apply mathematical concepts essential to game balance, randomization systems, and player progression mechanics.
- Portfolio Development: Create a collection of game prototypes and design assets demonstrating your skills to potential employers or educational programs.
Program Curriculum
Champlain's online interactive game design courses encompass the top skills needed by today's game design professionals.
In this course, students will study key concepts such as player engagement, narrative development, and systems design and learn how to apply the principles of game design to narrative content in the development of engaging game experiences. By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate these design principles, showcasing their creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to evolving industry standards.
Building computer game levels, objects, and even characters requires numerous tools and techniques for systems design. In this course, students will gain hands-on experience with content creation and manipulation software for 3D modeling, level creation, and asset management. Students will iteratively refine and improve game designs. By the end of the course, students should be able to apply interactive design principles to combine digital assets for presentation in their portfolio.
Prerequisites
In this course, students will practice rapid prototyping to generate diverse game treatments and genres based on the narratives they create. Students will practice ideation and iteration based on small-group feedback. As a result of this process, students will produce computer game functional parameters. By the end of the course, students will have authored game design documentation.
Prerequisites
Take IGMD-125
In this course, students will explore the world of interactive storytelling using a game design integrated development environment (IDE). Through hands-on projects, students will gain experience with techniques of implementing narrative elements into games. Students will learn how to engage players, create branching narratives, and design characters. Students will develop fundamental programming logic skills and by the end of this course, students will have created a game demo.
Prerequisites
Take IGMD-125 and MATH-160
This course introduces students to the fundamental language of visual form and basic skills including the industry-standard software applications used to create, acquire, and manipulate digital images. Students will learn about two-dimensional composition and design, color theory and terminology, and will apply these principles to a variety of basic design projects. Color, form and content will be explored in terms of cultural, psychological, physiological, and historical aspects.
Mathematical reasoning, when applied to everyday and professional lives, has two dimensions: logic for deterministic situations and probabilities for non-deterministic situations. This course aims to help students develop these mathematical reasoning skills.
Additional Program Details
- Apply foundational game design concepts, including player engagement, narrative development, and systems design, to create game prototypes.
- Use foundational skills in communication, iteration, and peer feedback to collaborate and iterate on and improve game prototypes.
- Analyze ethical principles in game design and evaluate their impact on game content and mechanics.
- Use entry-level industry tools, such as 2D and 3D content creation software, game engines, and digital design applications to build game prototypes and assets.
- Develop a beginning-level game design portfolio, showcasing game prototypes, narrative structures, and asset development to demonstrate their foundational skills in game design and digital media.
Champlain College Online's interactive game design faculty, led by Program Director John Selig, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s game professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the world of gaming, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.
Tuition & Costs
Online Undergraduate Tuition Fall '24 - Summer '26
$335
per credit
$290
per credit for Champlain alumni, associate degree graduates, veterans**, and family members of veterans and servicemembers
$250
per credit for military servicemembers
$150
One-time graduation fee
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Veteran rate effective Spring 2025, not retroactive
See the undergraduate cost of attendance and fees here
Affordability and Paying For Your Education
We provide a number of options to make your online education affordable, including preferred tuition for alumni, associate degree graduates, community college graduates, and military.
Why Get an Undergraduate Certificate in Interactive Game Design?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, web developers and digital designers can expect job growth of 8% from 2023 to 2033—nearly double the national average for all occupations. The game industry continues robust growth, with the global gaming market projected to reach $522.5 billion by 2025.
*Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Web Developers and Digital Designers | Statista Gaming Market Insights
Top Reasons to Pursue this Certificate:
- Transform ideas into playable experiences
- Develop critical thinking through systems design
- Master the collaborative design process
- Gain hands-on experience with professional tools
- Explore ethical considerations in interactive media
Academic Excellence and Recognition
Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community
Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science
Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
Meet the Program Director
John Selig
Program Director
Oversees
- Interactive Game Design
- Game Development
About
John Selig is a multi-disciplinary creative and engineer, whose career walks the line between the artistic and the technical. He studied Animation and Computer Science at Harvard, working on a variety of creative projects since. As someone with multiple interests, Games and Interactive Media are a natural fit, bringing together so many separate disciplines: art, programming, storytelling, experience design, and more.
It's no surprise John ended up working in games: he beat Mega Man 2 before he could ride a bike, and his friends used to tease him for running like Sonic on the playground. His childhood notebooks are filled with game ideas, drawings, and maps. At age 9, he even pitched an unsolicited idea to Nintendo (receiving a kind and encouraging rejection letter).
After a long career in technology leadership, John is excited to return to education as Program Director for CCO Gaming. Teaching has always been a major passion, and he specializes in introducing technical concepts to beginners, and getting students excited about the creative potential of technology.
Additionally, John has traveled the world studying mythology and ancient religion, and these themes often find a way into his various creative projects, including games. In addition to programming and design, he’s a lifelong rock musician, and has taught at Harvard, Boston University, UCLA, and more.
FAQs: Game Design Certificate
If you love video games and creating art, video game design offers you a chance to do both in your career. Champlain College Online’s undergraduate Interactive Game Design Certificate can help you develop fundamental skills in game design, development, and digital media. This program is perfect for students with artistic or natural design skills who want creative careers in gaming.
No, you do not need programming experience to qualify for this interactive game design program. In fact, this can be an opportunity to move into the workforce quickly, without earning a degree. You can also apply your credits from this program to our associate and bachelor’s degree programs in interactive game design.
You will use a variety of entry-level tools, such as 2D and 3D content creation software, game engines, and digital design applications. Throughout the program, you will use these tools to build game prototypes and assets. If you aren’t sure if this program teaches the tools you need, let’s talk to make sure we answer all your questions.
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