Note: The "Video Game Design and Management" minor is being updated effective Fall 2022. The new minor is called "Video Game Production", and will have adjusted requirements. If you have declared a Video Game Design and Management minor prior to Fall 2022, please reach out to itpadvising@usc.edu for your remaining requirements, or if you have any questions or concerns.

Video Game Production

Get a hands-on understanding of the process of developing video games, with an emphasis on the production and project management skills that lead to jobs in interactive entertainment.

Skills

Production
Project Management
Development
Testing
Business of Games

Careers

Game Producer
QA Manager
Live Ops Management
Game Analytics
Automated QA Engineer

Requirements

All minors at USC need 16 units that only meet minor requirements and do not meet any other major, minor, or GE requirement.
All courses completed for your minor or specialization must be completed for a letter grade.
You must earn a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA in the courses completed for your minor or specialization.

Minor (16 units)

Core Requirements (10 units):

ITP-180 “Video Game Production” (2 units)
ITP-181 “Video Game QA Management” (2 units)
ITP-393 “Video Game Project Management” (4 units) [prerequisite: ITP-180]
CTIN-409 “Producing Interactive Projects” (2 units)

Electives (6 units):

BUAD-304 "Organizational Behavior and Leadership" (2 units)
BUAD-315 "Basics of Project and Operations Management for Non-Majors" (2 units)
COMM-320 "Small Group and Team Communication" (4 units)
CTIN-190 "Introduction to Interactive Entertainment" (4 units)
CTIN-291 "Crew for Advanced Game Project" (2 units)
CTIN-482 "Designing Social Games" (2 units)
CTIN-458 "Business and Management of Games" (2 units)
ISE-315 "Engineering Project Management" (4 units)
ITP-249 "Introduction to Data Analytics" (4 units)
MOR-473 "Design and Leading Teams" (4 units)

Specialization (10 units)

Core Requirements (8 units):

ITP-180 “Video Game Production” (2 units)
ITP-181 “Video Game QA Management” (2 units)
ITP-393 “Video Game Project Management” (4 units) [prerequisite: ITP-180]

Electives (2 units):

CTIN-409 “Producing Interactive Projects” (2 units)
BUAD-304 "Organizational Behavior and Leadership" (2 units)
BUAD-315 "Basics of Project and Operations Management for Non-Majors" (2 units)
CTIN-291 "Crew for Advanced Game Project" (2 units)
CTIN-482 "Designing Social Games" (2 units)

Course Plan

Use the chart below to plan your course schedule to complete your minor. Pay careful attention to prerequisites. Make sure you consult with your major advisor about how best to incorporate the requirements for your minor with your major and general education requirements.

Please contact our academic advisors with questions about course sequencing, departmental clearance and course substitutions.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

"Through the VGDM minor, I was able to learn from esteemed faculty who have had valuable years in the industry. Under them, I learned how to apply my personal love for games in the professional fields. "

-Kobe Huang, Business Administration

Class of 2021

What our students and alumni say

Next steps

How can I add this program?

Apply online

Current USC students can use our online application to declare a minor or specialization. Your application will be processed within 4 to 9 business days, and you will be notified at your official USC email address of your admission to the program of your choice.

Complete your application >

Contact us with questions

If you have a question about the program, you're welcome to write to us or schedule an advisement appointment. We can help you navigate our program requirements and resources and refer you to other offices as needed.

Contact our advisors >