About the Certificate
Develop hands-on experience in the world of game design with industry-standard game engine tools, basic scripting, and technical processes in this certificate program from Otis Extension. Learn from visiting industry professionals, acquire insights into business best practices central to the game design profession, and develop a professional resume and portfolio.
After completing the program, you will be prepared to begin a career or enhance your skills in the field of game design. Learn from experienced professionals, connect with a network of creatives, and receive career support, including career counseling, career assessment, internship advising, and employer networking opportunities. Ultimately, you will create a professional-quality portfolio demonstrating conceptual, design, and technical proficiency for entry-level positions in the game industry.
This is a non-credit certificate program.
Otis Extension is an Unreal Academic Partner!
Our certificate program is recognized by Epic Games, providing high-quality educational opportunities with knowledgeable and experienced faculty. This helps students establish positive outcomes as well as higher career opportunities and ensure students' preparation for a rapidly evolving and extremely competitive job market.
What You Will Learn:
- Essential knowledge about the gaming industry, workflows, and work environments
- Universal fundamental programming skills in conjunction with game components
- How to model and animate 3D assets for games
- Effective communication skills to articulate concepts and information within a team workflow
- Skills in interactive storytelling and writing for games with topics, including visual prototyping, narrative, and environmental storytelling
- Designing, documenting, and creating a game concept that employs level design and narrative strategies
- Industry-standard tools, including Unreal, Autodesk Maya, Blender, Pixologic Zbrush, Marmoset Toolbag, Substance Painter, and more.
Prospective Student Resources
- Attend an Info Session for certificate details and a registration discount
- View a course planning document to learn more about course sequence and timelines
- Submit materials to waive a required course
- Review our policies and FAQs for answers to common questions, including refund schedules, information for international students, and details about various certificate processes
- Chat with us during drop-in hours: Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Schedule an appointment with an Extension Advisor
- Email certificates@otis.edu with any questions
Program Costs
- Approximate Course Cost: $357*
- Total Number of Courses: 8
- Estimated Total Tuition: $3,052**
*Cost for an online course after certificate tuition discount. Upon submitting the
certificate application and fee, students qualify for a 15% tuition discount per course
at the time of enrollment.
**Cost after certificate tuition discount. Courses are individually priced. Tuition
and course fees are paid at the time of enrollment in each course. Total tuition is
not paid in advance or in a lump sum. Additional course fees or materials costs may
apply.
Eligibility and Requirements
Students must be 18+ years of age to enroll. No portfolio or prior experience is required.
Individuals interested in this certificate program can take up to two courses before committing to the program. Before beginning their third course, students are required to submit a Certificate Program Enrollment Application with a non-refundable $185 application fee.
Students are notified of their certificate application results three times per year according to the following dates:
- Between 8/6/2026 - 9/26/2026 for Fall 2026 start
Computer and Technology Requirements
Note: please refer to each individual course page for additional supplies, materials, and software requirements.
- Computer with camera and sound capabilities; reliable internet connection
- A second device with screen such as iPad, tablet, or second computer with working audio, built-in webcam, and microphone
- Camera (smart phone or DSLR camera) with the ability to transfer files to your computer
- Hard drive with at least 250 GB of storage
- Optional: external web camera and USB microphone headset
Required Courses
Acquire the skills to build and animate 3D assets which can be used for your future video game. Students develop foundational knowledge and skills for basic character modeling and animation; environmental prop/asset design; and texture and material creation. They will be introduced to industry standard tools including Autodesk Maya, Blender, Pixologic Zbrush, Marmoset Toolbag, and Substance Painter as they create 3D projects. This course is open to beginners, while giving students with prior knowledge the opportunity to advance their skills.
A strong concept and story can determine the success of good game design. Students will develop skills in interactive storytelling and writing for games with topics including visual prototyping, narrative, and environmental storytelling. Through lecture, discussion, and critiques, students will be led through the process of creating a written proposal for a final game. They will propose and pitch their own individual concepts and execution plans for a game. Game Design certificate students will bring their proposals developed in this class to Production I for consideration for execution as a student team thesis project.
Students translate their concepts developed in Concept/Storytelling for Game Design to produce a game using Unreal. Students create a game that employs level design, pacing, and platforms. Topics include developing world design components, navigation, level design strategies, and level metrics by genre. The project built in Game Design Production I will advance as students continue in Game Design Production II. This is one of a two-part series where students achieve production of a finished game, which is prepared for professional presentation in the Game Design Capstone course.
Students advance their level design games developed in Game Design Production I to finalize their games using Unreal. Students create a game that employs level design, pacing, and platforms. Topics include preparing a game for delivery formats: Steam, sharable for various devices and platforms. This completes a two-part series where students achieve production of a finished game, which is prepared for professional presentation in the Game Level Design Capstone course.
Teamwork is key when working on a digital game with all participants contributing to the final product throughout the production process. In this 20-hour course, students will work together to create a single digital game while learning primary concepts of gaming and interactivity. No previous technical experience required.
Students prepare a professional presentation of their final games, and present to visiting industry professionals for critical review and feedback. Students learn business practices central to the game design profession, including resume, portfolio, correspondence, and professional presentation.
Introduction to Game Design explores the fundamentals of the game design industry including production workflows, industry trends, hardware demands, and existing and emerging technologies. Students gain insights into a typical studio, career options, and skills needed for working in a team environment. The course will include opportunities to learn about the field through exposure to game design studios, contemporary and historical case studies, and industry guest/studio spotlights.
Visual scripting is what drives the magic behind graphics and ultimately the story and experience of a video game. Students will program in a variety of game development environments; Gameplay, UI, Animation, Audio, and more by using the Unreal 4 Game Engine. Students will gain accessible experience for the technical expectations/skills to be a video game studio's Level Designer by gaining universal fundamental programming skills in conjunction with game components. Through lectures, demonstration, discussion, and assignments, students will be led through the process of developing concepts, problem-solving, and methods of computer programming. At the end of this course students create a 3D interactive experience by using the Unreal 4 Editor through Blueprint Visual Scripting.