COURSE CURRICULUM

Game Design and Development program at Laurier, students start by building a solid foundation in game creation through first-year courses such as Critical Play, Critical Game Design, Games as Art, Visual Design for Games, and Playful Programming, which introduce core concepts in interactive storytelling, game mechanics, and programming while encouraging creativity and analytical thinking. Complementary first-year electives like Design Thinking, Leadership Foundations, Introduction to Psychology, UX Strategy, The Engaged Citizen: Social and Environmental Justice, and Graphic Design Studio allow students to explore interdisciplinary perspectives, developing both technical and soft skills. In upper years, students advance their knowledge with courses such as Environmental Storytelling, Web Game Design, Ethics in Game Design, Escape Room and Puzzle Design, and Business of Game Development, which focus on narrative design, interactive mechanics, and the professional and ethical dimensions of the industry. Project-based courses including Project Management, Solo Critical Game Development, and the Capstone in Critical Game Design provide hands-on experience managing real-world game projects from concept to prototype, helping students refine collaboration, technical, and problem-solving abilities. Together, the curriculum equips graduates with the creative, technical, and professional skills necessary to thrive in the evolving game industry, preparing them to design engaging, meaningful games across digital, board, and immersive formats while integrating innovation with practical expertise.