This document summarizes a panel discussion on the history and future of game design and development curricula. The panel consisted of four experts from different universities who discussed the challenges of developing curricula as the field matures. They addressed the history of curriculum development at their institutions, efforts to document game-related curricula through research and guidelines, and how the field can grow while maintaining cohesion in the future. The panelists aimed to provide perspectives on curriculum comparisons and evaluations to benefit students.

1. Game Design & Development Curricula:
History & Future Directions
Roger Altizer (Utah) • Tracy Fullerton (USC)
Andy Phelps (RIT) • Constance Steinkuehler (UCI/HEVGA)
Liz Lawley (RIT), moderator

2. Why This Panel?
New challenges as our field(s) mature(s)
– Existing programs: Are the benefits of developing shared “core”
outweighed by the risks/disadvantages?
– New programs: What core concepts/classes we need to include?
– Students: How do I compare/contrast/evaluate programs?

3. Airey, D., & Johnson, S. (1999). The
content of tourism degree courses in
the UK. Tourism Management, 20(2),
229–235.
All of this has happened before…

4. Timing is Everything
• Three rounds of questions
–History of curricular development at different
programs?
–Documentation efforts to date?
–What does the future hold?
• Four panelists x three rounds / 50 minutes
= ~4 min per answer

5. Round One: History
Reflections on the development of game
design and development curriculum at
panelists’ institutions, including both
conceptual and organizational challenges.

6. Round Two: Documentation
What efforts have been made to
research and document games-
related curricula?
To publish histories, guidelines,
and/or standards?

7. Round Three: Moving Forward
Where do we go from here?
How do we change, grow, and
differentiate while still maintaining
cohesion as a field (or fields)?

9. Resources
Zotero Bibliography
links.lawley.net/curriculum-bib
These Slides
links.lawley.net/fdg17-slides
Panel Proposal
links.lawley.net/fdg17-panel