GDIAC - Info for Graduate Students

What is GDIAC?

The Game Design Initiative at Cornell (GDIAC) allows interested students at Cornell to be involved with game design through course work and hands on experience.

As a graduate student, how can I be involved?

Students pursuing graduate degrees in computer science or information science can study and research game design alongside graduate courses in their primary field. Computing and Information Science offers areas of study connected at various points to game design. Graduate students, historically through the Masters of Engineering (MEng) in Computer Science wishing to access GDAIC through their graduate program enroll in either CIS 790 or COM S 790.

Where do I start?

First start with Cornell University's Graduate School. Identify your fields of interest. We suggest looking into the following areas:

Computer Science with specialized study in artificial intelligence, software engineering, networking, and graphics.
The Program of Computer Graphics
Information Science with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). See also SIGCHI.
Communication with a selection of information science courses.

Please consult each department and college's requirements and course listing to get a feel for what suits you best. Note that we encourage tours and interviews when possible. Please contact gdiac@cornell.edu to meet with GDIAC representatives while arranging your Cornell visit.

If you are already a graduate student at Cornell and want to get involved in game design, contact gdiac@cornell.edu to talk to a GDIAC representative. We can help direct you to relevant courses and offer advice on projects/research. Be sure to check with one of us before signing up for one of the graduate course offerings, listed below.

Should I pursue a Masters or Ph.D.?

Cornell University offers either a Masters of Engineering (MEng) in Computer Science or Ph.D in Computer Science or Ph.D. in Information Science. For game design, we recommend pursing an MEng, which focuses on projects more than research. If you are interested in research and education, we recommend the Ph.D. The field is growing rapidly and the need for researchers in formal game design will soon follow. Some colleges and universities sponsor specific Masters programs in game design and entertainment technology. Check out the education links at Gamasutra (e.g., CMU's Entertainment Technology Center, RIT's MS in Game Development, and SMU's Guildhall.

What are GDIAC's graduate courses?

Graduate students have three primary opportunities for GDIAC course enrollment:

CIS 400: Advanced Projects in Game Design and Development
Working along with experienced undergraduates, you can design and develop an original computer game in any aspect of the development process. You will need to consult with your graduate program concerning the maximum number of allowed 400-level courses.
CIS 790: Independent Research
We use this course to provide two further opportunities:
- Students wishing to research or develop non-technical aspects of games. For example, a student could research cultural critique of games.
- Individuals and teams of graduate students who have already taken CIS 400 and wish to continue making games. For example, an Art graduate student wants to join a team of students.
CS 790: Independent Research
We use this course for Computer Science MEng students who wish to fulfill their project requirement. The MEng student will pitch a technical project that involves game technology. To demonstrate concepts and work, the MEng students do a small demo, which usually is a game, though the game cannot be the primary project focus. Often, CS 790 students will join undergraduate teams (CS 490/CIS 790/CIS 790/INFO 490), whereby the CS 790 student will concentrate on technology development that the other students implement for their game(s).