Jul 03, 2025  
Rensselaer Catalog 2025-2026 
    
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Rensselaer Catalog 2025-2026

Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences B.S.

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First Year

Fall

Spring

Second Year

Fall

Spring

Third Year

Please note: The third year of the program varies depending upon which semester the student chooses to take away following The Arch Summer Semester classes. Please note the following differences in curriculum:

  • If students are going to be away during the Fall semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Fall Away Track for year three of their program.
     
  • If students are going to be away during the Spring semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Spring Away Track for year three of their program.

The Arch Summer Semester*

*For more information on the ARCH process, please click here: The Arch 

​

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • GSAS Elective Credit Hours: 4  (any course with GSAS prefix) 
  • Science Core Elective Credit Hours: 4

  •  

  • Credit Hours: 4

  • or

    Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Fall or Spring

  • GSAS Concentration Course​ Credit Hours: 4
    or
  • Science Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
     
  • GSAS Concentration Course​ Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4

  •  

  • Credit Hours: 4

  • or

    Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Fall or Spring

Fourth Year

Fall

  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • GSAS Concentration Course​ Credit Hours: 4
  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Credit Hours: 4

  • or

    Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

    (Note: GSAS 4990 may be repeated for credit, for capstone projects extending beyond one semester)

Spring

  • GSAS Concentration Course Credit Hours: 4
  • GSAS Concentration Course Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4

  •  

  • Credit Hours: 4

  • or

    Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

    (Note: GSAS 4990 may be repeated for credit, for capstone projects extending beyond one semester)

Concentrations

Cognitive Science

Take the following required courses:

Choose one of the following:

Choose two of the following:

Computer Science

Take the following required courses:

Choose Three Courses

Visual Art and Animation

Foundations

Studio Art Breadth Electives

Choose two courses from the following:

Depth Electives

Choose three courses from the following:

Management

Take the following required courses:

Writing

Take the following required courses:

select four courses:

Music

Required: 

select one course:

select one course:

Footnotes

1 Students with sufficient programming background may substitute any other Computer Science course

2 MATH 1010  is required for all concentrations with the exception of EART, MUSC, WRIT, and MGMT.

3 GSAS Majors should choose the “Game Studies” pathway to satisfy their HASS Pathway. Their required coursework will automatically satisfy this pathway.

4 GSAS 1600  will satisfy GSAS Students’ HASS Inquiry Course. This class does not have to be taken in the first semester

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