Game Studies Minor
The Game Studies minor gives students an understanding of how to communicate and understand the culture of gaming. It is one of the biggest entertainment industries and one with the most evolving technology industries and occupations from social media influencers to artificial intelligence. This minor will help prepare those who want to communicate about, or for, game companies. It is not a game development minor.
The minor requires 24 credits; 4 are required and 20 are chosen from a list of approved electives. Effectively Fall 2024, all minor courses must be taken graded and passed with a “C-” grade or higher. Prior to Fall 2024, the minimum passing grade was a “C.”
Required course (4 credits):
- JCOM 280 Intro to Studying Games (formerly offered as J 249)
Choose five courses (20 additional credits):
- JCOM 380 The Games Industry (offered in Winter 2025 as JCOM 399)
- JCOM 381 Theories of Play in Media and Communication
- JCOM 382 Game Design and Critique
- JCOM 383 Understanding E-Sports
- JCOM 480 Gamefication and the Media
- JCOM 481 Making the Virtual a Reality
- JCOM 482 Analog Games (offered in Fall 2024 as J 482)
- JCOM 483 Game Journalism and Newsgames
Students who meet the prerequisites for these ARTD courses may use them toward the 20 elective credits required above.
- ARTD 252 Interactive Digital Arts
- ARTD 361 Introduction to Animation
- ARTD 370 Digital Interactivity