Game Studies Minor
Game Studies at Ohio State brings together perspectives from design, storytelling, communication, technology, art, and culture. Students can explore games from multiple viewpoints, learning not only how games are created, but also how they shape society and human experience.
In this 15 credit hour undergraduate minor program, students develop a broad understanding of the ideas, methods, and critical questions that define the study of games and interactive media. Through coursework spanning multiple disciplines, they learn to analyze games as creative works, cultural artifacts, technological systems, and forms of human expression. Each course invites students to engage with games through new perspectives, building skills in critical thinking, research, collaboration, and creative problem solving while exploring the ways games influence communication, learning, community, and culture.
No permissions or approvals are required to pursue the Game Studies Minor, but students pursuing the minor should alert their college or school academic advisors of their intent, so that the correct plan (GAMESTUD-MN) can be assigned to their records and tracked in their Buckeye Degree Planner.
Courses
Required Prerequisites (1 course; 3 CH)
- ENGLISH 1110.xx (H) -OR- any GEN Foundation: Writing and Information Literacy course
Required Core Courses (3 courses; 9 CH)
- ENGLISH 2463: Introduction to Video Games Analysis (3)
- COMM 3513: Video Games and Society (3)
- DESIGN 3104: Introduction to Game Design (3)
Elective Courses (2 courses; 6 CH)
In addition, students will select two more courses (6 credits) listed below. Students wishing to concentrate their minor on one of the four focus areas should choose courses from the same group. Some of the courses listed below may have prerequisites. Please consult the Course Catalog before enrolling.
Group A: Critique/Interpretation
- ENGLISH 2367.08: The U.S. Experience: Writing About Video Games (3)
- ENGLISH 3364: Special Topics in Popular Culture (when focused on games)* (3)
- MUSIC 2254: Video Game Music (3)
- PHILOS 2455: Philosophy and Video Games (3)
Group B: Social Analysis
- COMM 3545: Human-Computer Interaction & User Experience (3)
- COMM 3554: Social Implications of Communication Technology (3)
- COMM 4555: Computer Interface and Human Identity (3)
Group C: Create/Engagement
- DESIGN 4104: Intermediate Game Design I (3)
- DESIGN 4154: Intermediate Game Design II (3)
- ART 5001: Aspects of Art and Technology 1 (when focused on video game creation)* (3)
Group D: Technical/Coding
- CSE 3541: Computer Game and Animation Techniques (3)
- CSE 5912: Capstone Design: Game Design and Development (3)
*Students should consult with advisors before selecting any courses marked with *, as only specific sections can be used toward the minor.
Additional requirements can be found on the Game Studies Minor Advising Sheet found on the College of Arts and Sciences website.