Game Design and Production B.S. / B.A. / Minor
Design, code, and launch original video games in one of the world's largest creative industries.
Study the history, theory, and practice of game design while building real skills in design, interactive storytelling, and AI-driven coding. Work in small classes led by professors, specialize in the area that fits your goals, and graduate having produced and launched an original game with your team.
This program is part of Communication, Sound & Media Arts
The Manhattan Advantage
Why Study Why Study Game Design and Production at Manhattan University?
At Manhattan University, you learn every step of developing and producing interactive digital video games to work in an industry now worth more than $200 billion. The program blends design, storytelling, and coding so you graduate with a versatile, in-demand skill set, supported by personalized instruction and close faculty mentorship in small classes.
You graduate ready to design, build, and launch games, with hands-on skills across three connected areas:
- Design - UI/UX design, graphic design fundamentals, 3D modeling, and animation, plus fluency in standard game engines like Unity and Unreal.
- Storytelling - Narrative structures, interactive storytelling, and compelling characters and plots, alongside traditional video production and editing, virtual production and CGI, and immersive storytelling, including VR.
- Coding - Coding fundamentals, including modular design, data structures, object-oriented design, and building artificial intelligence (AI) models.
These skills are highly transferable. While the program prepares you for careers in the video game industry, the same abilities open doors in related fields such as AI, software development, instructional design, scientific visualization, digital simulation and engineering, and the visual effects and animation studios behind film, video, and online content.
Degree Program Options
Choose the Degree That Fits Your Goals
Game Design and Production offers a major with three concentrations and a minor, so you can shape your studies around the area of game development that fits your goals. The major requires 30 credits in the program, and your concentration determines whether you earn a B.A. or a B.S.
Bachelor of Science — Coding Concentration
The Coding concentration leads to a B.S. and is built for students who want to focus on the technical foundations of game development. Coursework moves from computer science fundamentals into data structures, discrete structures, object-oriented design, and artificial intelligence. This is a 125-credit path.
Bachelor of Arts — Design Concentration
The Design concentration leads to a B.A. and centers on the visual and interactive craft of games, with work in digital drawing, 3D design and modeling, and animation. This is a 120-credit path.
Bachelor of Arts — Narrative Concentration
The Narrative concentration leads to a B.A. and focuses on interactive storytelling, with work in digital storytelling, interactive narratives, and VR perception and production. This is a 120-credit path.
Academics
Curriculum & Courses
The curriculum builds practical skills across design, storytelling, and coding, beginning with the history and culture of games and culminating in a team-built, launched video game. All majors complete a shared core, then specialize through one of three concentrations.
To view the whole curriculum, please visit Manhattan University's academic catalog.
- The Culture of Games
- Computer Science I & II
- Game Design & Development
- Senior Game Seminar
- Data Structures and Algorithms I
- Discrete Structures
- Object Oriented Design with Java
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Drawing
- 3D Design, Modeling and Visualization
- Animation
- Digital Storytelling
- Interactive Narratives
- VR: Perception & Production
- Senior Game Seminar
Minor in Game Design and Production
A 15-credit minor introduces the history, culture, and core skills of game design and development, pairing foundational coursework in The Culture of Games and Game Design & Development with 9 elective credits approved by the program director. A strong complement to majors across computer science, communication, art, and beyond.
To view the full curriculum, please visit Manhattan University's academic catalog.
Real World Experience
Internships and Industry Partnerships
Manhattan University's location and industry connections give Game Design and Production students direct access to the studios shaping the field. As an official educational partner for the prestigious Rockstar Games internship, a closed program based in New York City and open only to a select few universities, the program connects students to opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Rockstar Games: An Official Rockstar Games Educational Partner, Manhattan University is one of a small number of universities invited into Rockstar Games' selective, NYC-based internship program, placing our students in direct reach of one of the industry's most influential studios.
Where students intern: As a Game Design and Production major, you are well-positioned for internships at studios and companies, including:
- Avalanche Studios
- Defiant Studios
- Epic Games
- E-Sports League
- Mobile Games
- Quytech
- Riot Games
- Rockstar Games
- Unity Technologies
- Virtual Production
Majors may apply 3 internship credits in the gaming industry toward their degree, turning real studio experience into academic progress.
Meet Our Faculty
Study the history, theory, and practice of game design while building real skills in design, interactive storytelling, and AI-driven coding. An interdisciplinary program shared by the Computer Science and Communication, Sound, and Media Arts departments, Game Design and Production lets you specialize in the area that fits your goals, learn in small classes led by professors, and graduate having produced and launched an original game with your team.
Why Study in New York City
New York City is one of the world's great hubs for games, media, and technology, home to major studios, independent developers, and the artists, engineers, and storytellers who power them. Game Design and Production students study at the center of this ecosystem, with access to internships, industry partnerships, and the professional networks that turn classroom skills into careers. From Rockstar Games to emerging independent studios, the companies defining interactive entertainment are within reach, and the city's overlapping worlds of film, animation, advertising, and software give students a uniquely broad view of where their skills can take them. This real-world context strengthens both your technical confidence and the professional network you need to launch a career in one of the most competitive and creative markets anywhere.
The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences
The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences is the largest of Manhattan University's three schools, offering 33 undergraduate majors, six graduate programs, and six combined degrees across the humanities, natural and social sciences, and professional fields. Grounded in the University's Lasallian Catholic mission and located near the heart of New York City, the School pairs rigorous academics with small classes, close faculty mentorship, and real-world experience throughout the five boroughs and beyond. That foundation delivers: Manhattan University ranks in the top 3% nationally for salary impact (Wall Street Journal, 2026), a measure of how strongly a degree here translates into graduates' career earnings.
Potential Careers in Game Design and Production
Game Design and Production prepares graduates for a wide range of roles across the games industry and the many fields shaped by interactive media. Because the program builds transferable skills in design, storytelling, and coding, graduates are equipped for careers well beyond gaming, including AI, software development, animation, and visual effects.
- Art Director
- Computer Programmer
- Craft and Fine Artist
- Film and Video Editor
- Graphic Designer
- Producer and Director
- Special Effects Artist and Animator
- Web Developer
- Digital Designer
Program Costs & Financial Aid
Manhattan University is committed to making a high-quality, career-focused education accessible and affordable. Through a combination of competitive tuition, robust financial aid, and our Jasper Guarantee, students and families can plan their education with confidence. The Jasper Guarantee locks your tuition rate for all four years—ensuring financial stability and eliminating unexpected increases as you work toward your degree.
More than 90% of Manhattan University students receive some form of financial assistance, including merit scholarships, grants, and need-based aid, significantly reducing the overall cost of attendance.
- View Tuition & Fees
- Explore Financial Aid
- Learn More About Scholarships
- Learn About the Jasper Guarantee
A Manhattan University education is an investment in your future, and we are dedicated to helping you access the resources that make it possible.
A Smarter Investment in Your Future
Jasper Guarantee
At Manhattan University, every undergraduate student is protected by the Jasper Guarantee, which locks your tuition rate for all four years, ensuring clarity, stability, and peace of mind as you plan your education. This promise reflects our commitment to affordability and to supporting students and families throughout their academic journey.
Admissions Information for Manhattan University
Start Your Journey in Game Design and Production
Applying to Manhattan University is designed to be clear and accessible. Review the requirements below to take the next step toward your degree.
Requirements:
- Application & transcript
- SAT/ACT optional
- Personal statement
- Letter(s) of recommendation
Deadlines:
- Early Action: November 15
- Regular Decision: February 1
Admission and Application Process
International Students:
Support available for visas, documentation, and English-language assessments.
Prepare for the Real World
At Manhattan University, your education is built around who you are and where you want to go. Whether you’re ready to apply or just starting to explore, take the next step when you’re ready — we’re here to help.