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The UAE: a Gaming Hub
With massive initiatives like the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 and Abu Dhabi Gaming, the UAE is set to become the Gaming hub of the region. Major software and gaming companies worldwide are building headquarters in the UAE, and job opportunities in the gaming sector are rocketing. The diverse and multicultural vibe of studying in Dubai will place you in the middle of major gaming events. It will offer you the chance to connect with key industry players and be part of the gaming ecosystem.

Partnership with the School of Cinematic Arts at USC
The Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at AUD partnered with the leading School of Cinematic Arts, at the University of Southern California, one of the top-ranking in the US, to build a top-notch curriculum that competes with the best programs in the world. In addition to academics and experts from the field, you will have access to workshops and lectures by USC faculty members during your four-year studies.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development prepares students to pursue career opportunities in the gaming industry and to contribute to a quickly evolving gaming ecosystem in the UAE and the Gulf region. Gaming is widely recognized as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Entertainment and Media (E&M) industry worldwide, including notable developments in the UAE and wider Gulf. Graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to Dubai’s vision of becoming a global gaming hub, and they will be ready to seize career opportunities in a thriving industry. The program will provide students with the creative, entrepreneurial, collaborative, and technological skills needed to design and develop products that can serve as both entertainment and educational tools.

Consisting of two concentrations, Design, and Development, the program begins with fundamental courses in gaming in the first year and, starting the second year, evolves to more creative, practical, and technical courses encompassing concept creation, art, storytelling, character creation, virtual world-building, and production, for the Design concentration, and coding, programming, software and advanced game engine courses for the Development concentration.

Upon completion of the degree program, students will be able to:

1. Design Engaging Gameplay
   Apply game design principles to create immersive, interactive, and engaging player experiences.
2. Develop Games Using Industry-Standard Tools
   Utilize programming languages, game engines, and development frameworks to build functional and optimized games.
3. Apply Artistic and Narrative Techniques
   Integrate 2D/3D art, animation, sound design, and storytelling elements to enhance the visual and emotional appeal of games.
4. Collaborate in Game Development Teams
   Work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, applying agile development methodologies and best practices in game production.
5. Analyze and Improve Player Experience
   Evaluate user feedback, playtesting data, and player psychology to refine and improve game design.
6. Apply Software Engineering Principles
   Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code while utilizing software development methodologies and debugging techniques.
7. Understand Industry Trends and Ethics
   Demonstrate knowledge of current game industry trends, monetization strategies, legal considerations, and ethical implications in game development.
8. Create a Professional Portfolio
   Develop a compelling portfolio showcasing game projects, demonstrating technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities to potential employers.

Admissions Entry

All applying students must have:

• A high school/secondary school certificate or equivalent from an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education in the U.A.E. or by the relevant national or regional institutional accrediting body;
• International TOEFL®or Academic IELTSTM or the equivalent score on another internationally-recognized English exam. PBT is accepted from specific centers in the UAE.
• The University administers the ACCUPLACERTM Exam (Math) to place students at the appropriate mathematics level. Students may substitute the SAT for this, depending on the score.

Career

• Game Design
• Game Programming
• Animation
• Sound Design for Games
• Game Storytelling
• Virtual Production
• VR/AR
• Gamification for education, training, and healthcare
• Interactive Media
• Interactive Entertainment

Accreditations

Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

FACULTY

STAFF