Master's Degree Project in Game Design

15 credits

Syllabus, Master's level, 5SD307

Code
5SD307
Education cycle
Second cycle
Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
Game Design A1E
Grading system
Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G), Fail (U)
Finalised by
The Department Board, 4 September 2024
Responsible department
Department of Game Design

General provisions

The course is part of the Master's Programme in Game Design (60 and 120 cr.) and the Master´s Programme in Transformative Game Design (60 cr). 

Entry requirements

30 credits in game design at Master's level, including Introduction to Game Design Research, 15 credits, or Introduction to Transformative Game Design, 7.5 credits. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the master's degree project (15cr), students will be able to:

  • identify and clearly articulate a scientific and/or creative issue in the field of game design
  • develop a sound theoretical framework from which to investigate the issue
  • choose and use appropriate scientific methods for the investigation
  • contribute to a deeper understanding of the game design in order to advance games as an expressive medium
  • position themselves in the field and its broader socio-cultural context
  • effectively communicate their motivations for and perspectives on game design to diverse audiences.

In addition, if the thesis revolves around a design project, students will be able to:

  • create a playable game prototype
  • conduct an evaluation of the game through playtesting and player study
  • provide a soundly argued reflection on any creative work.

Content

The students will produce a thesis individually or in groups, under instructor supervision.  Students choose one of the following two ways to implement their degree project:

  1. A research project that combines theory and practice. Students develop a theoretical framework that is applied to the design and implementation of an analogue or digital game project, which is accompanied by a reflective text that discusses the design process and its outcomes.
  2. A research project that utilizes an understanding of games and game design to approach an existing issue in contemporary culture or society.

Students plan their research project, using previous research and theoretical frameworks, collect data according to an appropriate method to address their research question, and perform a critical analysis. In either form (1 or 2 above), students are expected to draw on existing research from the game design discourse and the field of game studies, but are encouraged to go beyond this domain and bring in theories, methods and inspiration from whatever academic field or area of practice that makes sense for their particular thesis topic.

Instruction

Instruction will be in the form of supervision, discussions, seminars and lectures. Instructors will guide students through supervised research and the thesis writing process, in group seminars and individual meetings. At the end of the course instructors will hold a ventilation seminar in which students will defend their own thesis and provide peer commentary on another thesis.

Assessment

The course is assessed via the thesis, the public defense of the thesis (oral presentation and discussion) in a seminar setting and as an opponent (critical reader) to another student's thesis.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

No reading list found.

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