OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024
[Archived Catalog]
Virtual Reality and Game Development (B.S.C.) |
Major code BC5384
Scripps College of Communication
J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies
360 Schoonover Center
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4890
www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/mcclure
Charles P. (“Chip”) Linscott, contact person
linscoc2@ohio.edu
Program Overview
The VR and Game Development (VRGD) program is a flexible major allowing students to choose exciting courses to match their career goals. In addition to a core set of virtual reality and game development classes, VRGD electives within the McClure School introduce our students to the information networking systems and coding required to solve problems and implement VR and game systems within a larger context. Within the 120 total credit hours needed to complete their undergraduate degree, the students’ business or communication courses (two minors from which they must choose) prepare our students to become effective leaders, entrepreneurs, and/or creative problem solvers in a wide variety of industries.
Our VRGD major is designed to teach students to use emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and digital games specifically for communication purposes – to inform, to persuade, to entertain, and to educate an audience. Students in this major pride themselves on the use of emerging technologies for social improvement in educational, governmental, corporate, entrepreneurial, and/or entertainment venues. Our program’s emphasis on ethical applications and social improvement goes hand-in-hand with our cutting-edge production approach. Students in the McClure School learn to create innovative immersive content that also makes a difference in the world. Many of our majors also choose to pursue additional credentials such as a certificate in esports, entrepreneurship, or social media.
Admissions Information
F reshman/First-Year Admission
No Requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
GPA of 2.5 is required. Transfers may be limited due to capacity constraints.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
- Demand for future workers with experience in virtual reality & game development is growing according to grandviewresearch.com.
- The United States games market is the world’s second largest and is valued between $25.1 billion & $43.4 billion depending on sources.
- According to Hired.com , 75% of software engineers predict that their own companies will feel the effects of virtual reality and augmented reality, with nearly half saying it would be a skill they would like to learn.
- GRID Lab Director John Bowditch has noted that alumni of the program have found employment at top companies such as Walt Disney Company & Imagineering, EA, Ubisoft, Unity, Bungie, Apple, Sony Santa Monica, Google and Activision/Blizzard.
Requirements
Universitywide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other universitywide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – Universitywide page.
College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication
View the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication .
VR and Game Development GPA Requirement
Students in the VR and Game Development program are required to maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 from courses in the major (excludes the Public Speaking Requirement, the Statistics and Reasoning Requirement, and the Required Minor.)
VR and Game Development Core Requirements
Complete the following courses:
- ECT 1210 - Understanding Virtual Reality Technology Credit Hours: 4
- ECT 1700 - Foundations of Virtual Reality and Game Design Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 1710 - Digital Tools for Virtual Reality and Game Development Credit Hours: 2
- ECT 2210 - Introduction to VR Production Credit Hours: 4
- ECT 2401 - Digital Game Design: Concepts Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 2750 - New Media Storytelling Credit Hours: 3
VR and Game Development Core Subgroup I
Complete three of the following courses:
- ECT 3260J - Virtual Reality Critical Analysis and Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
-
or
- FILM 3440J - The Practice of Film Criticism Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 3401 - Game Development I Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 2140 - Introduction to Information and Telecommunication Systems Credit Hours: 3
VR and Game Development Core Subgroup II
Complete 3 of the following courses:
- ECT 3210 - Virtual Reality Production: Immersive Audio Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 3220 - Virtual Reality Production: cineVR Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 3230 - Virtual Reality Production: Interactive Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 4401 - Game Development II Credit Hours: 3
VR and Game Development Programming Requirement
Complete one of the following courses:
- CS 2300 - Computer Programming in JAVA Credit Hours: 4
- CS 2400 - Introduction to Computer Science I Credit Hours: 4
- CTCH 1330 - Introduction to Computer Programming Credit Hours: 3
- ET 2100 - Engineering Programming Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 2801 - Scripting Projects Credit Hours: 3
Electives
Complete a total of 9 hours from the following courses (courses used to meet other major requirements cannot be used here):
- COMS 3200 - Communication and New Technology Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4110 - Communicating with People with Disabilities Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4510 - Instructional Training and Development in Communication Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 2411 - Digital Game Design: World Creation Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 2900 - Special Topics in VR and Game Development Credit Hours: 1 - 6
- ECT 3210 - Virtual Reality Production: Immersive Audio Credit Hours: 3
-
or
- ECT 3220 - Virtual Reality Production: cineVR Credit Hours: 3
-
or
- ECT 3230 - Virtual Reality Production: Interactive Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 4110 - Augmented Reality Development Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 4250 - Transmedia Storytelling Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 4900 - Topical Seminar Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 4910 - Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 12
- ECT 4920 - Practicum Credit Hours: 1 - 6
- ENG 3860 - Composing in New Media Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 2010 - Understanding Internet Technology Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 2300 - Data Networking Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 3100 - Internet Applications and Network Systems Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 3110 - Technical Foundations for Communications Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 4020 - Strategic Decision Making in Information and Telecommunication Industries Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 4310 - Privacy in the Internet Age Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 1350 - Animation Foundation Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 2500 - Animation I Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 3500 - Animation II Credit Hours: 3
Public Speaking Requirement
Complete the following course:
- COMS 1030 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
Statistics and Reasoning Requirement
Complete 1 of the following courses:
- PHIL 1200 - Principles of Reasoning Credit Hours: 3
- PSY 1110 - Elementary Statistical Reasoning Credit Hours: 3
- PSY 2110 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: 4
Required Minor
Virtual Reality and Game Development students are required to declare a minor in either Business or Communication Studies. Please find the details for those programs below.
Business Minor
Complete the following courses:
- ACCT 1000 - Financial Accounting for Entrepreneurs Credit Hours: 3
- FIN 3000 - Introduction to Corporate Finance Credit Hours: 3
- MGT 2000 - Introduction to Management Credit Hours: 3
- MIS 2021 - Business Information Systems Nonmajor Credit Hours: 3
- MKT 2020 - Marketing Principles Credit Hours: 3
Communication Studies Minor Required Course
Complete the following course (already included in VR and Game Development Major requirements):
- COMS 1030 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
Communication Studies Minor Core Requirements
Complete two of the following courses:
- COMS 1100 - Communication Among Cultures Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 2050 - Techniques of Group Discussion Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 2060 - Communication in Interpersonal Relationships Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 2150 - Argumentative Analysis and Advocacy Credit Hours: 3
Communication Studies Minor Electives
Complete 9 credits from any of the following COMS courses:
- COMS 2020 - Communication and Persuasion Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 2040 - Principles and Techniques of Interviewing Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 2400 - Communication for Innovation Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3060 - Interpersonal Conflict Management Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3200 - Communication and New Technology Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3300 - Environmental Communication Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3410 - Women and Health Communication Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3420 - Qualitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3520 - Quantitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3602 - Political Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3603 - Contemporary Culture and Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3610 - Advanced Argument and Debate Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4050 - Meeting and Conference Planning Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4100 - Cross-Cultural Communication Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4110 - Communicating with People with Disabilities Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4200 - Gender and Communication Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4410 - Communication in the Family Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4630 - Rhetoric and Electronic Media Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 4900 - Topics in Communication Studies Credit Hours: 3