Bachelor of Science in Game Development and Design Online

Prepare for roles in game development, digital production, media, and related fields as you level up your technical and creative skills through industry-aligned, project-based curriculum.

Apply by: 1/4/27
Start class: 1/19/27
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Program Overview

Press start and learn more about this career-ready B.S. in Game Development and Design

This B.S. in Game Development and Design online program provides foundational and advanced expertise in digital art, game design, and software programming, so you won’t have to choose between art and code. You’ll learn in a collaborative, studio-style environment that mirrors real production pipelines, developing games with the same game engines, version control systems, and project management workflows used by industry professionals.

Throughout the 100% online course work, you’ll complete portfolio-ready projects while developing skills in 2D and 3D asset creation, user experience (UX) design, storytelling, game logic, and programming concepts, including C++ and AI. Through project-based learning, you’ll prepare to design, prototype, and create compelling game experiences while learning to communicate effectively and contribute to creative teams.

As a student of this game development online degree, you will learn how to:

  • Apply programming principles and logic to develop functional game mechanics, user interfaces, and systems in a high-level game engine
  • Master the visual pipeline by producing and managing 2D and 3D assets, textures, and lighting for the purpose of integrating them into a real-time engine to build immersive virtual worlds
  • Use principles of game design, level design, and storytelling to create engaging and coherent player experiences
  • Collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team, utilizing project management software, version control, and agile development methodologies to deliver a complete project
  • Assemble a portfolio of high-quality projects that showcases specialized proficiency in art, programming, or design to potential employers
As a student of this game development online degree, you will learn how to:
  • Apply programming principles and logic to develop functional game mechanics, user interfaces, and systems in a high-level game engine
  • Master the visual pipeline by producing and managing 2D and 3D assets, textures, and lighting for the purpose of integrating them into a real-time engine to build immersive virtual worlds
  • Use principles of game design, level design, and storytelling to create engaging and coherent player experiences
  • Collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team, utilizing project management software, version control, and agile development methodologies to deliver a complete project
  • Assemble a portfolio of high-quality projects that showcases specialized proficiency in art, programming, or design to potential employers

Also available:

We offer a variety of student-centered online degrees that can help you advance. Explore other undergraduate programs.

Per credit hour $407*
Transfer Credits Up to 90**
Credit Hours 120

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Texas State University is ranked among the “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans” by U.S. News & World Report for 2026, reflecting a strong commitment to accessibility, student support, and academic quality.

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Tuition

See how Texas State’s pay-as-you-go tuition benefits you

Tuition for the online bachelor's in game design and development is affordable and paid by the course, so you can achieve your academic goals while remaining within your budget.

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Program Per Credit Hour Per Course
B.S. Game Dev and Design $407* $1,215

*Students in Accelerated Online Programs are not eligible for payment plans or emergency loans. Tuition and fees are subject to change by legislative or Board of Regents action; changes become effective on the date of enactment. BookSmart fees are automatically added each semester but are not included in program costs; students may opt out by the start of each term. Registrations after the tuition deadline require full payment at registration. Cost of Attendance details are available through TXST One Stop.

Tuition breakdown

Per course $1,215
Per Credit Hour $407*

Transfer your credits for lower tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

**Texas State will apply to an undergraduate degree up to 72 semester credit hours from an accredited junior or community college. Students transferring more than 72 hours must consult with their academic advisor to determine how degree requirements will be satisfied.


0
90
Transfer Credits: 0
Your Estimated Tuition: $Your Estimated Tuition:
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Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's Texas State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

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Calendar

Stay on track with our academic calendar

The Texas State game design and development degree program is delivered in a convenient online learning format that offers maximum flexibility for working adults like you. Choose the start date that fits your goals.

View Full Calendar +

TermStart DateApp DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineClass End DateTerm Length
Spring 1 20271/19/271/4/271/11/271/19/271/14/273/8/278 Weeks
Spring 2 20273/9/272/23/273/2/273/9/273/4/245/12/278 Weeks
Summer 1 20276/1/275/17/275/24/276/1/275/27/277/19/278 Weeks
Fall 1 20278/25/278/11/278/18/278/25/278/19/2710/13/278 Weeks
Fall 2 202710/18/2710/4/2710/11/2710/18/2710/14/2712/16/268 Weeks

Now Enrolling

Apply by 1/4/27
Start Class 1/19/27

Admissions

How to apply to this B.S. in Game Development and Design

Apply to the online game design bachelor's degree program quickly and easily with our streamlined admission process. Review the admission requirements below and take the next step toward your professional goals.

View all admission requirements

To be eligible to earn your B.S. in Game Development and Design online from Texas State University, you must:

  • Submit a completed application and all supporting documents—including official transcripts from your high school and any postsecondary institutions attended—to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the stated document deadline
  • Pay the nonrefundable application fee of $75 ($90 for international*)
  • Be eligible to re-enter all colleges and/or universities previously attended

High school graduates who plan to attend Texas State the semester after high school graduation (not including summer sessions) regardless of how many dual credit or transferable college credits earned, are considered an entering freshman.

Freshmen must do the following to qualify for admission to Texas State University:

  • Receive a diploma from an accredited high school or GED equivalent
    • We recommend students complete the following curriculum:
      • 4 credits of English, 4 credits of mathematics, 4 credits of science, 3 credits of social studies and 2 credits of a language other than English
  • ACT and SAT test scores are not required for applicants ranked in the top 75% of their graduating class.
  • Applicants who do not meet assured admission, or do not submit test scores, will be reviewed holistically. All students ranked in the fourth quartile of their class must submit scores that meet assured admission standards for admission.
  • Submit your high school transcripts by mail or via Parchment, Naviance, National Student Clearinghouse.

Transfer students must meet these requirements:

  • 14 or fewer credit hours: minimum 2.0 GPA in all transferable course work plus meet freshman admission standards
  • 15-29 credit hours: minimum 2.5 GPA in all transferable course work
  • 30 or more credit hours: minimum 2.25 GPA in all transferable course work
  • Be at least one full semester out of high school and eligible to return to all postsecondary institutions previously attended

For applicants without a U.S. bachelor’s degree or high school diploma (or equivalent)**:
You must submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements.

  • Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall and minimum individual module scores of
    • 19 listening
    • 19 reading
    • 19 speaking
    • 18 writing
  • Official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
  • Official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
  • Official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
  • Official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

**Exemption: Applicants who have earned a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a country on our exempt countries list are not required to submit an English proficiency exam score.Transcripts may be sent electronically to [email protected] or mailed to:

TXST One Stop
Texas State University – Undergraduate Admissions
601 University Dr.
San Marcos, TX 78666

*Texas State defines an on-campus international student as anyone with a nonimmigrant visa status, including H-1B visa holders, or those seeking a visa to enroll. If you are not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, you will be classified as an international applicant.

An online international student is someone who holds citizenship in another country, is not a U.S. permanent resident, and resides outside the U.S. while enrolling in an online program.

Students who are not on a visa but are graduating from a Texas high school after three years in residence are considered domestic applicants.

If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, you are considered a domestic applicant.

Admission Requirements

  • High school diploma
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts

Courses

Preview your online game design courses

To graduate from the online game design and development degree program, you must complete a total of 120 credit hours, including 56 credit hours of core courses and 21 credit hours of elective courses. Additional required elective credit hours are selected with an advisor as needed to meet university graduation requirements.

Expand All
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
This course provides a foundational orientation to the B.S. in Game Development and Design, establishing academic expectations and introducing strategies for success in an online environment. Students examine the structure of the game industry and various career pathways including design, programming, art, and production. The curriculum emphasizes the core principles of collaborative development, time management, and professional communication. Through an exploration of the field, students investigate essential teamwork dynamics and the specific professional requirements for entry-level positions in the industry.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides essential context for the modern game industry by examining the history of technology, studios, and production methods. Hardware evolution and its influence on design are explored alongside the development of a professional vocabulary. The curriculum covers the standard development pipeline and specialized roles within a production team. By reviewing historical shifts in technology and studio culture, these modules provide a practical framework for multi-disciplinary structures. This preparation highlights the milestones and professional responsibilities required for students entering the field.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course serves as the foundational introduction to game design theory and practice, focusing on the principles of creating engaging interactive systems. Topics include the deconstruction of existing games to review design patterns and the study of core terminology such as mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics. The curriculum covers the iterative process of designing and prototyping non-digital games. Case studies and playtesting methodologies provide the basis for creating balanced tabletop projects and formal Game Design Documents that detail specific rules, mechanics, and systems.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the foundational principles and technical skills for creating 2D art assets for games, covering the end-to-end pipeline from initial concept to final implementation. Students learn the fundamentals of pixel art, vector art, and digital painting using both raster and vector-based software. The focus is on creating optimized character sprite sheets, modular tilesets, and repeating textures. By applying core design principles like color and value, students organize assets into atlases and sprite sheets ready for efficient performance in a modern engine.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course studies the principles, theories, and language of visual communication, emphasizing the evaluation and use of images in mass media. It is designed to help you integrate words and pictures in mass communication and to gain a greater appreciation of our visual world.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides a two-part foundation for technical production, beginning with a broad architectural overview of modern game engines. The curriculum includes a comparative analysis of major engines and their specific features to determine optimal tools for various genres. The second part covers the principles of professional source control and centralized workflows within the game industry. Technical topics include the mechanics of check-ins, branching, and merging for shared projects. This instruction also examines the differences between centralized and distributed systems while emphasizing logical folder organization.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the methodologies, tools, and practices of professional game project management. Students learn production fundamentals, including Waterfall, Agile, and Scrum methodologies, task tracking, and scope management. The curriculum emphasizes "soft skills" such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. Students learn how to plan project schedules with key milestones, facilitate scrum ceremonies like daily stand-ups, and run effective meetings. By estimating task durations and tracking progress with industry-standard software, students learn to manage a team-based workflow and resolve conflicts in development.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the complete pipeline for creating 3D, game-ready assets. Students learn the fundamentals of polygonal modeling, UV unwrapping, and PBR (Physically Based Rendering) texturing. The course covers applying topology and silhouette principles to create optimized, low-poly models from high-poly sculpts. Students produce efficient UV layouts and generate a complete set of textures, including albedo and normal maps. The curriculum focuses on exporting optimized assets and importing them correctly into a modern game engine, ensuring assets are ready for professional-grade implementation and performance.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the theory and practice of level design, focusing on creating immersive player experiences. Students learn how spatial design guides the player, dictates pacing, and supports core mechanics through affordance and guidance. Topics include player psychology, flow, composition, and environmental storytelling. Students apply these principles by deconstructing commercial games and creating their own 2D maps and 3D level blockouts. These projects document player flow and combat encounters, which are then refined through playtesting sessions to gather feedback and iterate on spatial design.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is the first full-pipeline studio experience simulating a professional development environment. Collaborative structures facilitate the development of a single game project from concept to a polished "vertical slice." The curriculum focuses on applying Scrum methodologies, version control, and interdisciplinary collaboration to manage a 16-week project. Instruction covers the management of project scopes and schedules using professional tools within a team-based, multi-asset environment. The experience prepares students for the final capstone sequence by examining progress and project states through a series of formal reviews.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course simulates the high-energy, fast-paced environment of a game jam, where small teams design and deliver multiple small-scope digital games. The focus is on rapid prototyping, scoping, and the practical application of multidisciplinary teamwork. Students develop game concepts from specific themes under strict time limits, applying an iterative process to produce functional prototypes. Using version control and task management, teams collaborate to manage an accelerated timeline. The course culminates in the presentation of a "vertical slice" or complete small game created in this format.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a focused examination of the most disruptive modern technology in game development: Artificial Intelligence (AI). It explores the practical application and critical impact of AI on game design and production. The curriculum covers two main areas: generative AI for asset and code creation (e.g., textures, concepts, scripts) and runtime AI for systems (e.g., NPC behavior, procedural content). Students analyze the pros and cons of these tools and apply them in a hands-on project.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is the first semester of a two-semester senior capstone sequence. Students work in medium- to large-scale, multidisciplinary teams to conceive, plan, and develop a single, substantial game project. The curriculum emphasizes advanced pre-production practices, collaborative team management, and the development of a playable “vertical slice.” Students work in teams to establish a complete production pipeline, define project scope, and produce a polished, functional demonstration of the game’s core mechanics and experience, which serves as the foundation for the second semester.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is the final, summative experience of the degree program. Teams take their polished "vertical slice" from Capstone I and complete the project to a public release standard. The curriculum focuses on full production, content integration, and rigorous quality assurance (QA). Students manage a full-semester production cycle, meeting internal sprint goals and external deadlines while fixing bugs to create a stable build. The course includes preparing marketing materials, such as trailers and press kits, for a public launch or exhibition, culminating in a final project postmortem.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides the essential final preparation for the job market, focusing on professional documentation and self-presentation. Students curate their best work, including Capstone projects, into a polished, discipline-specific online portfolio. Topics include digital presentation, resume and cover letter writing, networking, and interview techniques. Students learn to articulate the design and technical decisions behind their projects in a compelling manner. By practicing strategies for technical and behavioral interviews, students prepare to enter the industry with a body of work that effectively showcases their specialization and technical skills.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Introductory course for computer science majors, minors and others desiring technical introduction to computer science. Contains overview of history and structure of the digital computer, including binary data representation. Problem solving, algorithm development, structured programming, good coding style, and control structures of C++ are emphasized. Prerequisite: [MATH 1315 or MATH 1317 or MATH 1319 or MATH 1329 or MATH 2417 or MATH 2471 with a grade of "C" or better] or [ACT Mathematics score of 24 or better] or [New ACT Mathematics score of 25 or better] or [SAT Mathematics score of 520 or better] or [SAT Math Section score of 550 or better] or [Accuplacer College Mathematics score of 86 or better] or [Compass College Algebra score of 46 or better] or [Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions Test of 263 or better].
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an in-depth introduction to the principles and techniques used in artificial intelligence (AI). It covers both foundational and advanced principles underlying AI. It explains the differences between AI, machine learning, and deep learning. It explores critical topics such as neural networks, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and robotics. Students will gain experience with generative AI tools and prompt engineering. Ethical considerations and potential biases associated with AI are covered, ensuring students are prepared to wield AI tools with integrity and concern for societal impacts. This course will not satisfy CS major or minor requirements.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
In this course students will explore clothing, accessories, and customs of a variety of historical periods and cultures as an approach to period costume productions.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
In this course students will be equipped with practical and conceptual tools to enhance their enjoyment and understanding of indigenous, folk, classical and popular music traditions around the globe, in their historical, social, political, and spiritual contexts. This course engenders respect for a diversity of cultures through the lens of music. (MULT) (WI).
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces students to digital tools and basic principles of Communication Design in print and screen environments including typography, composition, hierarchy and grid systems. Basics of User Experience Design will also be introduced along with practical application of these concepts.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of management functions in modern organizations, the internal and external environmental factors affecting organizational efficiency, and the application of quantitative and behavioral science to management study. Prerequisite: A minimum 2.0 Overall GPA.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course concerns writing in technical professions. It emphasizes planning, writing, revising, editing, and proofreading proposals, reports, instructions, and other forms of professional communication for a variety of audiences. (WI) Prerequisite: ENG 1310 or ENG 1320 or ENG 1321 any with a grade of "D" or better.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A critical seminar for writers of fiction, poetry, and articles. Creativity, criticism, and revision are emphasized. (WI).
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course surveys movements in the history of design from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. Graphic design is situated within the contexts of architecture, media, and other design disciplines. The course is organized chronologically and examines stylistic, national, and international trends. A main focus is the impact of ideology on design and the way design generates or reinforces social, political, and cultural values in particular places and times. Topics include the significance of the European avant-garde; the development of the New Typography; the rise of mass-market magazines; propaganda, war, and revolution; Olympic design; postmodernism; and more.

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Texas State is also ranked among the “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” by U.S. News & World Report for 2026, recognizing the university’s ability to deliver flexible, high-quality education.

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