Game Design & Production
Major: Game Design and Production
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 191.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 11.0899
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-1014; 25-1199
About the Program
Drexel's Game Design & Production undergraduate major, nationally ranked as a top program by multiple organizations including the Princeton Review (#8 in 2022), provides students with a strong, broad-based foundation in digital design and content creation skills in a team project environment. Students try on a wide variety of roles in game development—from idea to reality in art and code—discovering the skill areas that they want to pursue, focusing their minors, elective courses, and team experiences as they progress through the program.
The major supports careers in any industry that wants to speak the language of real-time interactive games. Beyond the obvious entertainment sector of PC, mixed-reality, mobile, or console games, graduates from the program are able to move into any industry in any geographic area in support of simulation, training, marketing, communications, and education.
The focus on project-based teamwork prepares students for cross-disciplinary work in any scale company. This includes large-budget AAA blockbuster game development with teams of hundreds in complex leadership hierarchies and focused, skilled technicians and artists, as well as small- and medium-size companies that require employees to wear multiple hats throughout development or independent studios that challenge individuals to juggle multiple responsibilities. Drexel Dragons can be specialists with a strong foundation that allows them to adapt, to be flexible bridge-builders and liaisons across art and technical teams, and rugged entrepreneurs wearing all the hats.
All industries evolve, and digital content creation of any type is particularly dynamic. Processes and job titles that exist today are likely to be automated in five years. Companies small to large will use established and newly developed commercially available tools, but also build and maintain their own in-house tools and pipelines.
Courses in Drexel’s program evolve in response to industry trends and on-demand special topic courses are utilized to rapidly respond to student and industry developments. Gaining familiarity with rapidly changing industry-standard tools is important but it’s equally important to be prepared to transfer skills in one tool into a different tool of the same type – to be able to move from a 3D modeling tool like Blender, to 3DS Max, to Maya, or to a proprietary in-house tool you can’t touch until you’re hired by that specific company. Drexel’s program encourages students to become comfortable as tool-agnostic creators.
While courses are predominantly offered face-to-face on campus, we also offer a variety of virtual courses taught by a diverse range of professionals from across the nation, exposing students to a wider network of industry professionals and to the evolving climate of industry work as a significant number of studios have permanently moved to be partially or completely remote, even prior to 2020.
Students begin making game assets and games in their first terms as freshmen and continue making team-based game projects both small and large throughout their plan of study. Interdisciplinary teamwork is a core skill developed in teams of two to over eighteen, often spanning multiple programs including Computer Science, Music Industry, Animation, and more. Every project enables students to experiment and refine their experience in the many roles required to produce a finished game. Drexel University offers multiple opportunities to support the entrepreneurial minded student, from Drexel’s on-campus indie incubator, the Entrepreneurial Game Studio, to the Close School of Entrepreneurship and the Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Career building begins inside the classroom with team projects and networking, and outside the classroom with six or eighteen months of co-op experiences.
To complement the creative focus of the Game Design & Production major, a minor in Computer Science is popular, and in many cases an ideal supplement for Game Design & Production students. The CS minor increases programming knowledge while maintaining a creative design and production focus in the Game Design & Production major. This or any of the over 120 minors available at Drexel would be easy to achieve within a plan of study using free electives.
Additional Information
To find out more about this major, visit the Westphal College’s Game Design & Production Major page.
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements | ||
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
MATH 101 | Introduction to Analysis I | 4.0 |
PHYS 170 | Electricity and Motion | 3.0 |
PHYS 171 | Computational Lab for Electricity and Motion | 1.0 |
PHYS 175 | Light and Sound | 3.0 |
PHYS 176 | Computational Lab for Light and Sound | 1.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 2.0 |
Arts and humanities elective ** | 3.0 | |
History (HIST) elective (100-499) | 4.0 | |
Literature (ENGL) elective (100-499) | 3.0 | |
Social sciences electives *** | 9.0 | |
Free electives | 23.0 | |
Art and Art History Requirements | ||
ARTH 102 | History of Art II | 3.0 |
ARTH 103 | History of Art III | 3.0 |
ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
VSST 108 | Design I for Media | 3.0 |
VSST 109 | Design II for Media | 3.0 |
VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | 3.0 |
VSST 111 | Figure Drawing I | 3.0 |
Media and Computer Science Requirements | ||
CS 171 | Computer Programming I | 3.0 |
FMTV 110 | Basic Cinematography | 3.0 |
FMTV 206 | Audio Production and Post | 3.0 |
GMAP 231 | Scripting for Game Design | 3.0 |
SCRP 270 [WI] | Screenwriting I | 3.0 |
Digital Media Core Requirements | ||
ANIM 140 | Computer Graphics Imagery I | 3.0 |
ANIM 145 | Realtime Visualization | 3.0 |
ANIM 211 | Animation I | 3.0 |
DIGM 105 | Overview of Digital Media | 3.0 |
DIGM 350 [WI] | Digital Storytelling | 3.0 |
DIGM 451 [WI] | Explorations in New Media | 3.0 |
DIGM 475 [WI] | Seminar: The Future of Digital Media | 3.0 |
DIGM 490 | Digital Media Senior Project † | 9.0 |
DIGM 491 | Digital Media Senior Project Studio † | 3.0 |
GMAP 260 | Overview of Computer Gaming | 3.0 |
PROD 215 | Design Thinking in Product Design | 4.0 |
Gaming Requirements | ||
GMAP 101 | Game Design Lab I | 3.0 |
GMAP 102 | Game Design Lab II | 3.0 |
GMAP 121 | Game Playtesting (Taken two times.) | 2.0 |
GMAP 123 | Basic Portfolio | 1.0 |
GMAP 211 | Game User Interface Design | 3.0 |
GMAP 246 | Advanced Portfolio (Taken three times.) | 3.0 |
GMAP 301 | Game History | 3.0 |
GMAP 345 | Game Development Foundations | 3.0 |
GMAP 367 | Character Animation for Gaming | 3.0 |
GMAP 377 | Game Development: Workshop I | 3.0 |
GMAP 378 | Game Development: Workshop II | 3.0 |
GMAP 395 | Advanced Game Design and Production | 3.0 |
Select four of the following Gaming electives | 12.0 | |
Animation II | ||
Spatial Data Capture | ||
Entrepreneurial Thinking | ||
Serious Games | ||
Experimental Games | ||
Game Design from the Player’s Perspective | ||
Artificial Intelligence in Gaming | ||
Mobile Game Development | ||
Special Topics in Game Art and Production | ||
Special Topics in Game Art and Production | ||
Special Topics in Game Art and Production | ||
Special Topics in Game Art and Production | ||
Game: Universe & Story | ||
Future of Narrative Games | ||
Total Credits | 191.0 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
- **
Select from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480 in AFAS, ARCH, ARTH, COM, DANC, ENGL, FMST, GST, HIST, INTR, IST, JWST, LANG, LING, MENA, MUSC, PHIL, PHTO, PPE, PBHL, RELS, SCRP, THTR, TVST, VSCM, WGST, WRIT.
- ***
Select from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480, in AFAS, ANTH, CJS, CS, ECON, ENSS, ENVS, PSCI, PSY, PBHL, SOC, WGST.
- †
DIGM 490 and DIGM 491 are repeated three times each to complete the DIGM Capstone Senior Project sequence.
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
4 year, 1 co-op (Fall/Winter)
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 145 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
GMAP 101 | 3.0 | GMAP 102 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 170 | 3.0 | GMAP 123 | 1.0 | FMTV 110 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 171 | 1.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||
UNIV A101 (Department Specific) | 1.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | UNIV A101 (Program Specific) | 1.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||
VSST 108 | 3.0 | ||||||
17 | 18 | 18 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 211 | 3.0 | ARTH 102 | 3.0 | COM 230 | 3.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 |
CS 171 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | GMAP 246 | 1.0 | DIGM 350 | 3.0 |
GMAP 211 | 3.0 | GMAP 231 | 3.0 | GMAP 345 | 3.0 | FMTV 206 | 3.0 |
GMAP 260 | 3.0 | GMAP 367 | 3.0 | SCRP 270 | 3.0 | GMAP 395 | 3.0 |
GMAP 301 | 3.0 | PROD 215 | 4.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 |
VSST 111 | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ARTH 300 | 3.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | ||
DIGM 451 | 3.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||||
GMAP 246 | 1.0 | GMAP 378 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 377 | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Gaming Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
0 | 0 | 16 | 16 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
Free Electives | 6.0 | GMAP 246 | 1.0 | Free Electives | 5.0 | ||
Literature (ENGL) Elective | 3.0 | Free Electives | 6.0 | History (HIST) Elective | 4.0 | ||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
16 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 191 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
4 year, 1 co-op (Spring/Summer)
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 145 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
GMAP 101 | 3.0 | GMAP 102 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 170 | 3.0 | GMAP 123 | 1.0 | FMTV 110 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 171 | 1.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||
UNIV A101 (Department Specific) | 1.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | UNIV A101 (Program Specific) | 1.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||
VSST 108 | 3.0 | ||||||
17 | 18 | 18 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 211 | 3.0 | ARTH 102 | 3.0 | COM 230 | 3.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 |
CS 171 | 3.0 | GMAP 231 | 3.0 | GMAP 246 | 1.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 |
GMAP 211 | 3.0 | GMAP 367 | 3.0 | GMAP 345 | 3.0 | DIGM 350 | 3.0 |
GMAP 260 | 3.0 | PROD 215 | 4.0 | SCRP 270 | 3.0 | FMTV 206 | 3.0 |
GMAP 301 | 3.0 | VSST 111 | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | GMAP 395 | 3.0 |
Gaming Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 300 | 3.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
DIGM 451 | 3.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||||
GMAP 246 | 1.0 | GMAP 378 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 377 | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Gaming Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
Free Electives | 6.0 | GMAP 246 | 1.0 | Free Electives | 5.0 | ||
Literature (ENGL) Elective | 3.0 | Free Electives | 6.0 | History (HIST) Elective | 4.0 | ||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
16 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 191 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
5 year, 3 co-op (Fall/Winter)
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 145 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
GMAP 101 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 170 | 3.0 | GMAP 102 | 3.0 | FMTV 110 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 171 | 1.0 | GMAP 123 | 1.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||
UNIV A101 (Department Specific) | 1.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||
UNIV A101 (Program Specific) | 1.0 | ||||||
VSST 108 | 3.0 | ||||||
17 | 19 | 18 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ANIM 211 | 3.0 | ARTH 102 | 3.0 | ||
CS 171 | 3.0 | GMAP 231 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 211 | 3.0 | GMAP 367 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 260 | 3.0 | PROD 215 | 4.0 | ||||
GMAP 301 | 3.0 | VSST 111 | 3.0 | ||||
0 | 0 | 15 | 16 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | COM 230 | 3.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 | ||
GMAP 246 | 1.0 | DIGM 350 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 345 | 3.0 | FMTV 206 | 3.0 | ||||
SCRP 270 | 3.0 | GMAP 395 | 3.0 | ||||
Free Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 16 | 15 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ARTH 300 | 3.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | ||
DIGM 451 | 3.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||||
GMAP 246 | 1.0 | GMAP 378 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 377 | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Gaming Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
0 | 0 | 16 | 16 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
Free Electives | 6.0 | GMAP 246 | 1.0 | Free Electives | 5.0 | ||
Literature (ENGL) Elective | 3.0 | Free Electives | 6.0 | History (HIST) Elective | 4.0 | ||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
16 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 191 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
5 year, 3 co-op (Spring/Summer)
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DIGM 105 | 3.0 | ANIM 140 | 3.0 | ANIM 145 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ||
GMAP 101 | 3.0 | GMAP 102 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | ||
PHYS 170 | 3.0 | GMAP 123 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PHYS 171 | 1.0 | PHYS 175 | 3.0 | FMTV 110 | 3.0 | ||
UNIV A101 (Department Specific) | 1.0 | PHYS 176 | 1.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | UNIV A101 (Program Specific) | 1.0 | MATH 101 | 4.0 | ||
VSST 108 | 3.0 | VSST 109 | 3.0 | ||||
17 | 18 | 19 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ANIM 211 | 3.0 | ARTH 102 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CS 171 | 3.0 | GMAP 231 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 211 | 3.0 | GMAP 367 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 260 | 3.0 | PROD 215 | 4.0 | ||||
GMAP 301 | 3.0 | VSST 111 | 3.0 | ||||
15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COM 230 | 3.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
GMAP 246 | 1.0 | DIGM 350 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 345 | 3.0 | FMTV 206 | 3.0 | ||||
SCRP 270 | 3.0 | GMAP 395 | 3.0 | ||||
Free Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 300 | 3.0 | DIGM 475 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
DIGM 451 | 3.0 | GMAP 121 | 1.0 | ||||
GMAP 246 | 1.0 | GMAP 378 | 3.0 | ||||
GMAP 377 | 3.0 | Free Electives | 3.0 | ||||
Arts and Humanities Elective | 3.0 | Gaming Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Gaming Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | DIGM 490 | 3.0 | ||
DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | DIGM 491 | 1.0 | ||
Free Electives | 6.0 | GMAP 246 | 1.0 | Free Electives | 5.0 | ||
Literature (ENGL) Elective | 3.0 | Free Electives | 6.0 | History (HIST) Elective | 4.0 | ||
Social Science Elective | 3.0 | Social Science Elective | 3.0 | ||||
16 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 191 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
Co-op/Career Opportunities
Drexel students have broad training in all areas of game design and production, and our students have career opportunities in both entertainment gaming and broader simulation/training industries, and anywhere interactive gaming technology is applied - a growing segment in all industries.
Co-op Experiences
Building a career often begins with a few key contacts - especially through alums already working professionally - and the co-op program gives Drexel students the chance to meet professionals, make their skills known, and build their personal network.
In addition to small and large entertainment companies, students have opportunities to explore how game design is applicable to many local and international industries ranging from aerospace to pharmaceuticals to home and yacht design.
Recent co-op opportunities include game and digital media jobs in Philadelphia region companies like Art Sphere, Big Moxi Games, Comcast, DVNC Tech, eNable Games, Entrepreneurial Game Studio, GLIDE Lab, Gossamer Games, iD Tech Game Design & Development Academy, IDEA, Night Kitchen Interactive, Penn Medicine, PHL Collective, QuadraTron Games, Skyless Game Studios, Tipping Point Media, and Virtual Health.
Students also secured game and digital media co-ops at national and international companies, like Activision in Los Angeles, Amazon Robotics remotely, EA Games remotely, Infinity Ward remotely Rockstar Games in San Diego, Treyarch remotely, Twisted Ark in Helsinki, and Inter Media Japan in Tokyo.
Career Experiences
Our network of successful game development alum work in leading entertainment companies including 343 Industries, Activision, Blizzard, Disney, EA Games, Epic Games, Filament Games, Firaxis Games, Gearbox Software, Ghost Story Games, Industrial Light & Magic, Infinity Ward, Irrational Games, Level Ex, Magic Fuel Games, Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Xbox, Midway, Mojang, NCsoft, NeatherRealm Studios, Nexon, Oculus VR, Raven Software, Riot Games, Rockstar Games, Rovio, Running With Scissors, Schell Games, Sony SCEA, Spry Fox, The Coalition, Turn 10 Studios, Volition, and Zynga.
Other students chose small-to-mid-size studios or launch their own digital media enterprises, like Tom Fulp (BS '02), founder of Newgrounds.com, or indie game companies, like Dan Fornace (BS '11), creator of Rivals of Aether, Greg Lobanov (BS '14), creator of Wandersong & Chicory, or Tom Sharpe (BS '16), director of Gossamer Games and their award-winning title, Sole. Students also chose to work outside of entertainment by applying their game production skills to training, simulation, marketing, or education endeavors with companies including Comcast, Lockheed Martin, and Vanguard.
Jobs titles include Art Director, Animator, Associate Producer, Character Animator, Cinematic Lead, Cinematics Animator, Community Manager, Digital Project Coordinator, Director of Virtual Production, Facial Capture Artist, Game Designer, Lead Cinematic Animator, Lead Technical Director, Lead Virtual Production Manager, Marketing Manager, Motion Capture Technician, Previsualization Supervisor, Program Manager, Programmer, Senior Animator, Senior Artist, Senior Community Manager, Simulation Developer, Technical Artist, and Virtual Production Engineer.
Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.
Dual Accelerated Degrees
BS/MS in Digital Media
The accelerated degree programs enable academically qualified students to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years instead of six — graduating sooner than they would in traditional programs. In addition, the graduate-level courses students take in their junior and senior years are included in their undergraduate tuition, which saves almost a year's worth of their MS tuition.
Current Drexel students in the 4-year/1-Co-Op and 5-year/3-Co-Op programs may apply for an accelerated degree programs through the Graduate College of Drexel University after completing 70.0 credits, but no more than 120.0 credits. Many of our accelerated students have gone on to careers at leading companies including Pixar, Netflix, Microsoft Studios, Dreamworks, NCSoft, and Disney.