Design. Build. Play. Create.
San Jacinto College’s Simulation and Game Design pathway prepares students to design, develop, and program interactive digital experiences for entertainment, education, and simulation industries. The program blends creativity with technical skill, emphasizing hands-on learning through real-world projects.
Students gain experience using industry-standard game engines, programming languages, and design tools while exploring game programming, simulation development, level design, multimedia integration, and interactive storytelling. Coursework emphasizes both individual and collaborative projects, culminating in a capstone experience where students bring original games or simulations from concept to completion.
This stackable pathway offers a Certificate of Technology and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, preparing graduates for careers in game and simulation programming, multimedia design, and related interactive technology fields, or for continued study in computer science or digital media.
Career Opportunities and Income
Visit sanjac.edu for information regarding career opportunities and potential earnings in the Greater Houston region.
Learning & Career Pathway
This learning pathway - a series of related and “stacked” certificates and degrees - includes the following awards. You can start at any point on the path and earn certificates on your way to completing the degree.
- CIT, Introductory Game Design and Development, Occupational Certificate (3 months)
- CIT, Simulation and Game Design, Level 2 Certificate (2 years)
- CIT, Simulation and Game Design, Associate of Applied Science (2 years)
Learning Outcomes and Career Skills
A student completing the last award in the pathway will be able to:
- Collaborate with management, team members, coworkers, and/or clients to analyze and identify potential solutions to problems.
- Implement solutions using structured, event driven, Object Oriented Programming languages or systems.
- Identify ethical, social, and security issues related to computer simulation and game design development.
- Produce effective infrastructure systems (backend / fullstack) using industry design philosophies.
- Meet client needs using effective industry user interface (front-end/UX) strategies.
External Learning Experiences
Students enrolled in San Jacinto College programs that include external learning experiences—such as clinicals, practicums, externships, or cooperative education—must comply with the immunization requirements and policies established by the respective clinical or external learning sites.
These vaccination requirements are determined and enforced by the external facilities under their independent authority and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet a site’s immunization requirements may prevent a student from participating in required learning experiences, which could delay or prevent program completion and graduation.
San Jacinto College does not process vaccination exemptions. Students seeking an exemption must contact the clinical or external learning site directly to discuss applicable procedures or accommodations.
Locations
College Admission
San Jacinto College is an open admission institution. All students are welcome to apply and will be admitted to the College. You may begin the process on the College’s “How to Apply” webpage.
Program Admission
In addition to being admitted to the College, students must also be admitted to the Simulation and Game Design program which has additional requirements and/or steps.
Students seeking admission to this program must contact the Department Chair to apply and confirm that they possess the interest, commitment, and motivation necessary to successfully complete the program’s certificate requirements.
Plan of Study
3IT-SGD
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Term | Credits | |
| GAME 1303 | Introduction to Game Design and Development | 3 |
| ITSC 1319 | Internet/Web Page Development | 3 |
| ITSE 1329 | Programming Logic and Design | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning) | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Programming | ||
| 3-D Modeling and Rendering | ||
| GAME 2332 | Project Development I | 3 |
| IMED 1341 | Interface Design with Photoshop | 3 |
| GAME 1304 | Level Design | 3 |
| ITSE 1311 | Beginning Web Programming | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Term | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Computer Programming | ||
| 3-D Animation I | ||
| ITSE 1333 | Mobile Applications Development | 3 |
| ITSE 2313 or ITSE 2321 | Web Authoring or Object-Oriented Programming | 3 |
| GAME 2341 | Game Scripting | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Speech Communication | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| GAME 1343 or ARTV 2351 | Game and Simulation Programming I or 3-D Animation II | 3 |
| GAME 2359 | Game & Simulation Group Project | 3 |
| INEW 2340 | Object-Oriented Design - Game Design | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Capstone Experience: GAME 2359 Game & Simulation Group Project