Sheridan College

SLATE

Access Sheridan

ASK.Sheridan

Quick Links
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Apply your artistic skills and training to a career as a game level designer

Long recognized as a world-class training ground for animators, Sheridan is now leading the way in the training of industry-ready game design professionals.

If you already have a degree or diploma in an art-related discipline, and love gaming, this graduate level program could be your entry into an exciting field. The game level designer is responsible for designing the game spaces in which the player competes. The new Sheridan graduate program in Game Level Design offers unmatched preparation for that niche, focusing on the specific skills employers seek in game level designers. 

Developed in response to industry need, the Sheridan three-semester Game Level Design Program simulates a realistic work environment in which artists and programmers integrate their skills. You'll use the computer screen to express and communicate game level design concepts and gain practical skills for applying knowledge in work situations. In your final semester, you'll collaborate with graduate-level programmers from the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology (FAST) to develop a quality video game capstone project.

A Well-Rounded Skill Set

The Sheridan game level design courses focus on offering applied, real-world skill development. Assignments and class work focus on case studies, simulations and lab projects. You'll learn both 2D and 3D game design, while gaining industry-specific skills in:

  • Story and scripting
  • Cinematography and sound
  • Multi-player systems
  • Game documentation
  • Play testing
  • Project management

Ontario's digital game industry is poised for growth, and so is the demand for game level designers. With the Game Level Design Graduate Certificate program from Sheridan, you'll be ready to step right into an exciting game design career.

The Game Level Design Program is offered at the Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville, Ontario.

Overview of the Program Outcomes for Game Level Design 

By the end of this program, students will be able to:

  • Create and combine pre-existing and original game components in the construction of game levels;
  • Design, develop and test functional prototypes of game levels that are consistent with predetermined rules, mechanics, characters and narrative structures;
  • Integrate increasingly more complex graphics, models, animation, sound and cinematography into game levels;
  • Create game documents for communication and record keeping that are consistent with industry standards;
  • Determine appropriate scripting techniques for game level development;
  • Work effectively in a collaborative, team-based environment providing guidance to others in resolving issues;
  • Manage projects and specific job role activities, using effective project and personal time management;
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of game level design by applying the principles of design theory;
  • Evaluate the role of historical trends to situate contemporary designs;
  • Analyze new trends in game level design in order to keep pace with changing markets and technology; and,
  • Adapt to the requirements and limitations of specific hardware platforms and software environments to create progressively more difficult game levels.
CODE TITLE CREDITS
SEMESTER 1
PROG 50004 Programming and Scripting for Games 3
GAME 55586 Cinematography, Sound, Story and Character Integration 3
GAME 54579 Level Design 1 6
HIST 56529 History and Theory of Games 3
GAME 53921 Modelling and Animation for Games 1 3
Total: 18
SEMESTER 2
GAME 56859 Modelling and Animation for Games 2 3
GAME 58823 Artificial Intelligence for Game Level Design 3
GAME 58448 Game Mechanics 3
GAME 50036 Level Design 2 6
MGMT 50036 Game Project Management 3
Total: 18
SEMESTER 3
RPRJ 50036 Capstone Project
(In collaboration with the graduate certificate program in Game Development offered by the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology.)		 18
Total: 18

Note: Courses subject to change.

Canada is a major player in the digital games development market. Game level designers occupy a unique niche in the computer gaming industry, focusing on the detailed design of player experience and interaction. Graduates of the Sheridan Game Level Design Program will attract strong interest from employers in the digital game industry. Our integrated approach with game programming and emphasis on applied problem-solving are unique in the field, offering the type of preparation employers seek in game level designers.

The highly marketable Game Level Design certificate will lead to excellent opportunities in:

  • Game level design
  • Project management
  • Digital graphics

Program Eligibility

• Postsecondary diploma or degree
or 
• Demonstrated competence through related work, and/or educational experience

Applicant Selection


Eligible applicants are selected on the basis of previous academic achievement and the results of a portfolio submission.

Postsecondary transcripts indicating courses completed to date must be submitted to ontariocolleges.ca at the time of application. 

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program will be assessed and advised individually and may be considered for other, related programs.

Program Offerings

Program Details

Faculty:
Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design
Program Code:
PGLDS
Duration:
1 Year (PGLDS)
Designation:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Campus:
Trafalgar Road Campus
Start:
January 2012, September 2012