Games and Simulation
The Bachelor of Science in Games + Simulation provides students with an interdisciplinary plan of study covering all aspects of creating and interpreting games. Games are the liberal arts of the 21st century: the fusion of coding and design, writing and mechanics, usability and creativity. With a focus on making and praxis, the BS in Games + Simulation prepares students for a career or graduate study in game design, development, 3D modeling, creative development, writing or designing, esports, and games in other industries, all while encouraging students to take creative risks, to build things, and to think critically about audiences, narratives, and aesthetics.
The Miami University Bulletin series is the official source of information about the programs and courses of study offered by Miami University.
Admission to the games major and minor is competitive, as there are a limited number of slots, and acceptance is based on a number of criteria.
IMPORTANT: If you began your first year at Miami before August 2019, your DAR will reflect the older version of the degree. You should follow your DAR, in consultation with your advisor. If you want to use these new requirements (on this page) instead, talk to your advisor about shifting your DAR to the new degree program.
Program Requirements
The 2022-23 Miami University General Bulletin describes complete academic requirements for the Games + Simulation major.
Sample Four-Year Plans of Study
Here are matriculation plans for each focus area in Games + Simulations. Note that these are samples, and that the arrangement and sequence of courses may be unique for each student. A student should consult their advisor to devise a custom plan.
Games Major with a focus on Game Art
Contains Art Minor
Semester 1
IMS 111 - Game Careers and First Year Experience (1)
IMS 211 - MP/Foundation 2.2 Humanities, Intro to Game Studies (3)
ENG 111 - MP/Foundation 1, English Comp (3)
IMS 213 - Intro to Game Development (3)
IMS 222 - MP/Foundation 5, Introduction to Interaction Design and Development (3)
IMS 254 - MP/Foundation 2.1, Creative Arts, Humanities, Social Science (3)
Semester 2
IMS 212 - Intro to Game Design (3)
IMS 322 - Intermediate Interaction Design and Development (3)
ART 102 - Color Theory and Practice (1.5)
ART 121 - Observational Drawing (3)
MP/Foundation 4, Natural Science (3)
MP/Global Perspectives (3)
Semester 3
IMS 317 - MP/Advanced Writing/Writing for Games (3)
CSE 251 - Introduction to Game Programming (3)
IMS 215 - Focus/3D Digital Sculpting (3)
ART 231 - Painting I (3)
MP/Foundation 4, Natural Science (3)
MP/Foundation 4, Natural Science (1) (1)
Semester 4
IMS 319 - Foundations in 3D Design (3)
IMS 453 - Indie Game Development (3)
IMS 218 - Focus/3D Shading and Texturing (3)
ART 106 - Focus/Intro to Figure Drawing (1.5)
Elective or IMS 253 Arcade Interface Design (3)
Semester 5
IMS 314 - Games and Human Factors (3)
IMS 465 - Game Engine Scripting (prerequisite: CSE 251) (3)
IMS 305 - Focus/3D Character Design (3)
IMS 391 - Focus/3D Character Animation (prerequisite:IMS 319) (3)
MP/Intercultural Perspectives (3)
MP/Global Perspectives (3)
Semester 6
IMS 487 - Game Pipeline and Production (3)
IMS 445 - Advanced Game Design (prerequisite: IMS 212) (3)
IMS 461 - Virtual Reality (prerequisite: CSE 251) (3)
MP/Foundation 2, Creative Arts, Humanities, Social Science (3)
Elective or Games and Digital Narrative (3)
IMS 102 - Game Jam (1)
Semester 7
IMS 488 - Game Capstone (Preproduction) (3)
IMS 454 - Indie Game Development (3)
Elective or IMS 287/IMS 288 Streaming/e-Sports (3)
Elective (3)
Semester 8
IMS 489 - MP/Experiential Learning/Game Capstone (Production) (6)
Elective or CSE 486 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (prerequisites: CSE 274, MTH 231) (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Games Major with a focus on Game Development
Contains Computer Science Minor
Semester 1
IMS 111 - Game Careers and First Year Experience (1)
IMS 211 - MP/Foundation 2.2 Humanities, Intro to Game Studies (3)
ENG 111 - MP/Foundation 1, English Comp (3)
IMS 213 - Intro to Game Development (3)
IMS 222 - MP/Foundation 5, Introduction to Interaction Design and Development (3)
IMS 254 - MP/Foundation 2.1, Creative Arts, Humanities, Social Science (3)
Semester 2
IMS 212 - Intro to Game Design (3)
MTH 151 - MP/Foundation 5, (prerequisite for CSE courses) (5)
IMS 322 - Intermediate Interaction Design and Development (3)
PHY 191 - MP/Foundation 4.2a, Physical Science, General Physics (5)
MP/Foundation 4.2b, Physical Science (1)
Semester 3
IMS 317 - MP/Advanced Writing/Writing for Games (3)
CSE 251 - Introduction to Game Programming (3)
CSE 174 - Focus/Fundamentals of Programming and Problem Solving (prerequisite: MTH 151/153) (3)
MP/Foundation 2.3, Social Science (3)
MP/Foundation 3.1, Global Perspectives (3)
Elective or IMS 253 Arcade Interface Design (3)
Semester 4
IMS 319 - Foundations in 3D Design (3)
IMS 453 - Indie Game Development (3)
CSE 271 - Focus/Object Oriented Programming (prerequisite: C- or better on CSE174) (3)
MP/Foundation 4.1, Biological Science (3)
Elective or MTH 231 Elements of Discrete Mathematics (3)
Semester 5
IMS 314 - Games and Human Factors (3)
IMS 465 - Game Engine Scripting (prereq CSE 251) (3)
CSE 287 - Focus/Foundations of Computer Graphics and Games (prerequisite: CSE271, MTH151) (3)
CSE 274 - Focus/Data Abstraction and Data Structures (prerequisite: C- on CSE 271) (3)
CSE 201 - Focus/Introduction to Software Engineering (prerequisite: CSE 271) (3)
MP/Cultures Requirement (3)
Semester 6
IMS 487 - Game Pipeline and Production (3)
IMS 445 - Advanced Game Design (prerequisite: IMS 212) (3)
CSE 387 - Focus/Advanced Graphics and Game Engine Design (prerequisite: CSE 287) (3)
Elective or CSE 464 Algorithms (prerequisite: CSE 274 and MTH 231) (3)
Elective or CSE 211 Software Construction (prerequisites: CSE 201, CSE 274 and MTH 231) (3)
Semester 7
IMS 488 - Game Capstone (Preproduction) (3)
IMS 454 - Indie Game Development (3)
CSE 487 - Focus/Game Design and Implementation (prerequisite: CSE 287) (3)
MP/Foundation 2.1, Creative Arts, Humanities, Social Science (3)
Semester 8
IMS 489 - Game Capstone (Production) (6)
IMS 461 - Focus/Virtual Reality (prerequisite: CSE 251) (3)
MP/Foundation 3.2, Global Perspectives (3)
Games Major with a focus on Game Studies
Contains Interdisciplinary Studies Minor
Semester 1
IMS 111 - Game Careers and First Year Experience (1)
IMS 211 - MP/Foundation 2.2 Humanities, Intro to Game Studies (3)
ENG 111 - MP/Foundation 1, English Comp (3)
IMS 213 - Intro to Game Development (3)
IMS 222 - MP/Foundation 5, Introduction to Interaction Design and Development (3)
IMS 254 - MP/Foundation 2.1, Creative Arts, Humanities, Social Science (3)
Semester 2
IMS 212 - Intro to Game Design (3)
IMS 322 - Intermediate Interaction Design and Development (3)
MP/Foundation 2.3 Social Science (3)
WST 201 - MP/Foundation 2.2, Creative Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Self and Place (3)
Elective (3)
IMS 102 - Game Jam (1)
Semester 3
IMS 317 - MP/Advanced Writing/Writing for Games (3)
CSE 251 - Introduction to Game Programming (3)
IMS 225 - Games and Learning (3)
WST 301 - Interdisciplinary questions and problems (3)
Games Elective (recommend IMS 253, IMS 238, IMS 287, IMS 288) (3)
Semester 4
IMS 319 - Foundations in 3D Design (3)
IMS 454 - Indie Game Development (3)
IMS 384 - Rhetoric of Games (proposed for MP intercultural) (3)
IMS 443 - Research Methods in Games (3)
MP3 Global II (3)
IMS 102 - Game Jam (1)
Semester 5
IMS 314 - Usability & Human Factors in Games (3)
IMS 465 - Game Engine Scripting (prerequisite: CSE 251) (3)
Focus/Game Studies focus course I (Outside of IMS) (3)
MP/Foundation 4 Science (3)
MP/Foundation 4 Science (lab) (1)
MP3 Global I (3)
Semester 6
IMS 487 - Game Pipeline and Production (3)
IMS 445 - Advanced Game Design (prerequisite: IMS 212) (3)
Focus/Game Studies focus course II (outside IMS) (3)
MP/Foundation 4 Science (3)
Elective (Recommend IMS 253, IMS 238, IMS 380) (3)
IMS 102 - Game Jam (1)
Semester 7
IMS 488 - Game Capstone (Preproduction) (3)
IMS 453 - Indie Game Development (3)
MP/Foundation 4, Natural Science (3)
Elective or IMS 287/IMS 288 Streaming/e-Sports (3)
Elective (3)
Semester 8
IMS 489 - Game Capstone (Production) (6)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
IMS 102 - Game Jam (1)
