3D Animation and Immersive Game Design
Bachelor of Arts
Our 3D Animation and Immersive Game Design program empowers you to create impactful, immersive digital experiences through 3D animation, game development and virtual reality. This program officially launches in the Fall 2026 semester. Students can begin taking the required foundation classes starting Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 and then declare the major once it officially launches.
Fall Semester
- ARTS 100: Freshman Seminar............ 1cr.
- ARTS 101: 2D Design............ 3cr.
- ARTS 102: Drawing I............ 3cr.
- ARTS 110: Intro to Game Design & Game Theory............ 3cr.
- ENGL 101 or 115: English Composition or Rhetoric............ 3cr.
- CORE 100: First Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- CORE 101: First Year Co-Curricular Program............ 0cr.
Spring Semester
- ARTS 105: 3D Design............ 3cr.
- ARTS 210: 3D Modeling and Animation............ 3cr.
- Historical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- THEO 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- Second Language I............ 3cr.
- CORE 102: First Year Co-Curricular Program............ 0cr.
Fall Semester
- GDST 351/SOCI 351: Video Games and Virtual Worlds............ 3cr.
- CSCI 170: Computer Science I............ 3cr.
- Scientific Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- ENGL 205: Literature and the Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- PHIL 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy............ 3cr.
Spring Semester
- ARTS 310: 3D Animation and Game Design............ 3cr.
- Major Elective............ 3cr.
- ARTS 341: Sophomore Review............ 1cr.
- Second Language II............ 3cr.
- PHIL 200+: Philosophical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- THEO 200+: Theological Perspectives............ 3cr.
Fall Semester
- ARTS 441: Junior Seminar............ 3cr.
- ARTS 410: VR, Mobile and Software Development............ 3cr.
- Major Elective............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
- Natural Sciences Elective............ 3cr.
Spring Semester
- ENGR 120: Emerging and Future Technology............ 3cr.
- ARTS 214: Technology for Artists............ 3cr.
- CSCI 170: Mathematical Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- DCR Flag Elective............ 3cr.
- Social Sciences Elective............ 3cr.
Fall Semester
- ARTS 490: Senior Capstone............ 3cr.
- ARTS 493: Internship/Practicum............ 3cr.
- E/RS Flag............ 3cr.
- Quantitative Reasoning Flag............ 3cr.
- Writing Intensive Flag............ 3cr.
Spring Semester
- ARTS 490: Senior Capstone............ 3cr.
- Oral Communications Flag............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- CORE 499............ 0cr.
ARTS 110: Introduction to Game Design & Game Theory
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of game design and game theory, exploring the principles of interactive storytelling, player engagement, mechanics, and ethics in game development. Students will analyze and deconstruct existing games while designing their own prototypes. The course covers core design frameworks such as MDA (Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics) and introduces software like Unity and Unreal Engine for rapid prototyping. Students begin to learn to build both 2D and 3D games and experiences.
ARTS 210: 3D Modeling & Animation
Students learn the foundations of 3D modeling and animation, focusing on industry-standard tools and workflows. Topics include polygonal modeling, UV mapping, texturing, rigging, and basic animation techniques. The course emphasizes creating assets for games, virtual reality, interactive digital experiences, and animated films using Blender and other 3D software.
ARTS 310: Advanced 3D Animation and Game Design
This course advances students’ knowledge of 3D animation, interactive storytelling, and game mechanics while introducing motion capture, version control, project management, and ethical issues in game development. Students will create high-quality, interactive projects with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration. Students will learn industry-standard development pipelines and use professional production strategies to build their projects. Topics also include performance optimization and ethical considerations in game design. By the end of the course, students will have a fully developed game or animation project.
ARTS 410 – VR, Mobile, & Software Development
This course explores the development of immersive digital experiences across virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mobile platforms. Students will learn to design interactive applications for VR headsets, mobile devices, and emerging platforms, emphasizing usability, optimization, and ethical considerations in immersive design.
Computer Science Club
From game nights to hackathons and coding classes, these technology enthusiasts love all things digital. Members meet to discuss the latest in computer science and connect with each other.
Xavier University Gaming Club
Members of this club meet weekly to hang out and play games together. The club holds tournaments, gaming sessions and charity livestreams.
Xavier Art Society
Art students visit exhibits and organize group art programs like bookbinding, figure drawing and framing. Trips include visits to the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center and the Taft Museum of Art. Field trips are organized outside of Cincinnati to art collections in places such as Louisville, Lexington (KY), Columbus, Cleveland (OH) and Chicago (IL). Members also brainstorm ideas, mentor underclassmen, network, promote community and exhibit their art in numerous locations.
Program Features
Master industry-standard tools and technologies (like Adobe Creative Suite, Blender, Unity and Unreal Engine) to design and develop innovative animations and games.
Explore 3D modeling, animation, game mechanics, VR/AR development and ethical game design in our comprehensive curriculum designed to equip you with the skills to succeed.
Learn to design socially responsible and ethical digital experiences, focusing on representation, player well-being, and the impact of games on society.
Housed in the Department of Art, students are trained in foundational art principles and visual storytelling to enable them to craft meaningful design solutions.
At Xavier, our Jesuit values guide us in teaching ethical storytelling and design, so your work makes a positive global contribution.
Connect directly with professionals in 3D animation and video game design fields via the Xavier Mentor Program, preparing you for real-world success.
FAQ
A BA in 3D Animation and Immersive Game Design from Xavier University equips you for a thriving career in digital media and entertainment. You'll blend artistic talent with technical skill, opening doors to diverse roles like:
- Game Designer: Shape game mechanics, stories, and player experiences.
- 3D Artist / Modeler: Create characters, environments, and props for games and animation.
- Animator: Bring digital characters and objects to life through movement.
- Technical Artist: Bridge art and code, optimizing assets for game engines.
- VR/AR Developer: Design and build cutting-edge immersive experiences.
- Ethical Game Designer: Focus on creating socially responsible and impactful digital content.
- Motion Graphics Designer: Animate graphics for film, TV, and advertising.
Your skills in Unity, Unreal Engine, and Blender are highly transferable, preparing you for roles across the video game, animation, and emerging immersive technology industries.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) program in 3D Animation and Immersive Game Design at Xavier University emphasizes proficiency in a range of industry-standard tools and software. Students will learn to use:
- Blender
- Unreal Engine
- Unity
- GitHub
- Plastic SCM
- Motion capture technology
- Adobe Creative Suite (for foundational art and design principles)
3D Animation and Immersive Game Design Program at Xavier University
Whether you aspire to be a character animator, game designer or VR developer, Xavier's BA in 3D Animation and Immersive Game Design will empower you to turn your passion into a fulfilling career. This cutting-edge program blends artistic vision with technical expertise, providing you with the comprehensive skillset needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving landscape of 3D animation and game design.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."