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Game Science and Design, MS

Focusing on the science of game development, students have an opportunity to learn the design and technological skills needed to build a game and develop a deep understanding of playability and analytics that make products successful in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Career Opportunities

  • Data Analyst
  • User Researcher
  • Game Designer
  • QA Tester
  • Game Scientist

Multidisciplinary Skills

  • Systems thinking
  • Teamwork
  • Entrepreneurial
  • Analytical skills
  • Time Management
  • Project Management

Co-op Opportunities

  • Splash Damage Games
  • Massachusetts Digital Games Institute
  • Hasbro
  • Harmonix
  • Greenbrier Games
  • Demiurge Studios

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The Master of Science (MS) in Game Science and Design is a program that seeks to give students a comprehensive understanding of how successful game products are created in a player-centric environment. Focusing on the science of game development, students have an opportunity to learn the design and technological skills needed to build a game and develop a deep understanding of playability and analytics that make products successful in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The game industry has expanded to include social and mobile gaming; games in health, education, and training; and innovations in play psychology, middleware, graphics tools, game mechanics, game evaluation methods, and advanced artificial intelligence and narrative techniques.  It has become an increasingly competitive space.

The selectiveness of the industry and the diversity of the skills required mean that students seeking entry need both broad and deep skills. As an emergent industry using diverse technology and collaborative practices, the game industry needs professionals with interdisciplinary skill sets who can meld knowledge about development with knowledge about evaluation methods and players’ behavior and psychology.

Jointly offered by Northeastern’s Colleges of Arts, Media and Design and Khoury College of Computer Sciences, the Master in Science in Game Science and Design is a one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary program that seeks to prepare students to meet this need by weaving together science and design. This is a two-year, 34-credit-hour program. The MS in Game Science and Design is a STEM-designated degree.

MS in Game Science and Design in Oakland

The MS in Game Science and Design program is also available at Northeastern University in Oakland.

Learning Outcomes

  • Concept/Expression Outcome: Conceptualize and create expressive and innovative games, playable experiences, and artifacts, developing a personal style via reflective design.
  • Craft Outcome: Hone craft and technical skills in a broad range of mediums, and justify the appropriate usage of techniques in the service of creating artifacts.
  • Research Outcome: Gather, organize, and articulate relevant research to inform design and analysis.
  • Process Outcome: Follow an iterative design process informed by user testing, external and self-critique for producing creative works.
  • Values/Context Outcome: Analyze the social, political, and cultural theories embedded in games, playable experiences, and artifacts, and articulate ethical reasoning during design and production.
  • Collaboration Outcome: Plan and manage the organization of people, timelines, tasks, repositories, and finances for multi-person creative projects, and constructively critique others’ work.

Additional resources

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