GAMEDSGN 503: Pre-Program Bootcamp (Optional for Fall 2026)

• GAMEDSGN 510: Programming for Game Development
• GAMEDSGN 511: Software Engineering & Systems for Game Development
• GAMEDSGN 520: Fundamentals of Game Development
• GAMEDSGN 521: Advanced Game Development
• GAMEDSGN 530: Critical Analysis of Video Games
• GAMEDSGN 589: Game Development Capstone

• MENG 540: Management of High Tech Industries
• MENG 570: Business Fundamentals for Engineers

• MENG 550: Master of Engineering Internship/Project
• MENG 551: Master of Engineering Internship/Project Assessment

EGR 490: Career Strategy and Design

Students are encouraged to take as many GAMEDSGN electives as possible during the fall term of their second year. Elective options change each year but may include:

• Game Engine & Tools Development
• Artificial Intelligence in Games
• 3D Animation & MoCap
• Networking & Multiplayer
• Virtual & Augmented Reality
• Designing Immersive Experiences
• UX & UI Development
• Serious Games: Leveraging Game Technology to Address Real-World Issues
• Mobile Game Development

Qualified students also have access to a wide range of graduate electives across Duke’s Institute for Enterprise Engineering and the wider Pratt School of Engineering, including:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Design Technology & Innovation
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Financial Technology

First Year – Core Courses in C++ & Unreal Engine

Second Year – Technical Electives & Capstone

• Programming fundamentals and implementation skills, including C# and C++ 
• How to build with leading game engines like Unreal and Unity 
• Core development and design principles that guide great gameplay and systems 
• How to integrate art and storytelling into a cohesive user experience
• How to collaborate within and lead dynamic design and development teams

Duke replicates a real game studio, emphasizing hands-on, project-based work that helps you graduate with playable builds, design artifacts and a stronger professional portfolio. Work on industry-sponsored projects and practice how teams scope, iterate, test and launch.

At Duke, game development doesn’t live in a bubble. Collaborate with students and faculty from history, art, medicine, business, psychology, policy, physical education, engineering and more. You can explore how interactive experiences support meaningful outcomes and help address societal challenges.

Duke’s masters in Game Development, Design & Innovation faculty take innovation seriously, and mentorship is part of the experience. You’ll learn with guidance from leaders who understand both the craft and the career landscape. You’ll also interact with AAA and indie studios in the growing Research Triangle Region such as Epic Games, Insomniac Games, Red Storm Entertainment (Ubisoft), Virtual Heroes, Squanch, Funcom, Elephant Mouse, BitMonster, Prologue, Puny Human, Spark Plug, iMagic, Mighty Rabbit, Imangi Studios and more.

You can pursue a wide range of roles across game studios and adjacent industries that use interactive technology. Many graduates move into positions like gameplay engineering, tools/engine development, technical design, systems design, production and player experience (UX).

GDDI also prepares you for opportunities beyond entertainment. Because the program supports “serious games” applications, you can apply your skills in areas like education, health care and training, building interactive experiences that teach, simulate or improve real-world outcomes.

Game design focuses on what the player experiences (mechanics, systems, pacing and UX) and how the game feels moment to moment. Game development focuses on building the experience (programming, implementation, performance and tools) and the technical pipeline that makes the game run.

With our masters in Game Development, Design & Innovation, you won’t have to choose one focus. The program is built to connect design decisions to real builds. You graduate with the ability to collaborate across disciplines, communicate trade-offs and launch unique games that hold up in production.

Yes. Students come from a variety of STEM backgrounds, and the program is designed to support motivated learners at different starting points. What matters most is your willingness to learn quickly, collaborate and iterate, because that’s how game teams work in the real world.

If you’re transitioning into game development, GDDI can help you build the technical foundation, design fluency and portfolio-ready work that employers look for when hiring. Our masters in video Game Development, Design & Innovation also offers an optional bootcamp to help get you up to speed the summer before your program starts.

You’ll learn programming skills that support modern game production, including languages like C# and C++, and you’ll work with a variety of leading game engines. Beyond tools, the program emphasizes principles that transfer across platforms, like systems thinking, iteration, performance awareness and how to design with the player experience in mind.

That way, you graduate ready to adapt as engines and platforms evolve.

Yes. You’ll complete a capstone project that takes your game from idea to execution. You’ll also complete an intensive internship experience with one of the many leading companies who want to work with Duke students.

There are diverse AAA and indie studios in the growing Research Triangle Region such as Epic Games, Insomniac Games, Red Storm Entertainment (Ubisoft), Virtual Heroes, Squanch, Funcom, Elephant Mouse, BitMonster, Prologue, Puny Human, Spark Plug, iMagic, Mighty Rabbit, Imangi Studios and more.

Together, those components help you graduate with proof of what you can build, plus real-world experience you can bring up in interviews.