Certificate of Achievement in Game Design

The Certificate of Achievement in Game Design provides opportunities for career preparation by providing courses that meet workforce needs. Game design skills are highly desirable not only in the video game and mobile game industry but also in the fields of social media and education. Students enrolled in this program develop basic and advanced skills in the integral processes of game design while learning industry standard game design and development software. The outcomes of the program align with professional game design standards and are designed to produce a well-rounded, highly-trained graduate with sufficient expertise to be employable in an ever-expanding job market. Furthermore, the courses in this certificate will scale up to the Certificate of Achievement and AA degree in Graphic and Interactive Design.

The courses are expected to average 40 students per course. The number of projected completers per year is 20. These figures are based on casual surveys conducted in the 2017-18 academic year. There is a high demand for professionals with game design skills in the local job market, as well as in other regions of California.

The Certificate of Achievement in Game Design prepares students to be competent designers of games, game art, and assets while providing the opportunity to gain skills necessary to advance their careers.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Apply basic principles of game design to create games, game art, and related assets for video games and mobile games

• Create and produce professional quality original game designs, game art, and assets

• Create game, game art, and assets with industry standard digital devices and software

Students are required to take 4 courses for a total of 14 quarter units

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
GID 49	Game Art and Design	4	Y1Fall
GID 60	Careers in the Visual Arts	2	Y1 Winter
GID 67	Mobile Game Design	4	Y1 Winter
GID 68B	Virtual Reality Game Design	4	Y1 Spring

The Certificate of Achievement in Game Design aligns with the planned goals for Foothill College because the program serves the regional area in support of workforce development and economic growth. The program is unique and does not duplicate any existing program within the Foothill-De Anza District or the surrounding colleges. The program is also unique in that it can be achieved completely online. Local references in support of the program include advisory committee members who strongly support the partnership between Foothill College and the local game design and development profession. The advisory board members have regular contact with the Graphic and Interactive Design department, providing a realistic understanding of the short-term and long-term educational needs of the profession.

The closest college with Game Design as a program is Santa Rosa Junior College. There is relatively no impact at this time.