Charlotte Technical College

• Adobe Certified Professional in Visual Design (Requires Photoshop and Illustrator or InDesign)
• Unity Certified User: Artist
• Unity Certified User: VR Developer

No referrals

4 credits – 2 years (satisfies the Practical Arts credit required for graduation)

*Game/Simulation/Animation Visual Design and Game/Simulation/Animation Programming can be combined over 3 years for 6 credits.

• Federal CIP Code: 50.0411
• Program Number: 8208300/ 8208100

High School Application Process
• Complete the CTC High School Application online in the spring.
• Let your high school counselor know that you applied to CTC.
• Notification of acceptance/non-acceptance will be emailed.
• Attend mandatory Orientation at the CTC campus with a parent or guardian.

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

1. Demonstrate knowledge, skill, and application of information technology to accomplish job objectives and enhance workplace performance.   
2. Develop an awareness of microcomputers.   
3. Demonstrate an understanding of networks.   
4. Use word processing applications to enhance the effectiveness of various types of documents and communication.  
5. Use presentation applications to enhance communication skills.   
6. Use spreadsheet applications to enhance communication skills.  
7. Use database applications to store and organize data.  
8. Use electronic mail to enhance communication skills.  
9. Investigate individual assessment and job/career exploration and individual career planning that reflect the transition from school to work, lifelong learning, and personal and professional goals.   
10. Incorporate appropriate leadership and supervision techniques, customer service strategies, and standards of personal ethics to accomplish job objectives and enhance workplace performance.   
11. Demonstrate competence using computer networks, internet and online databases to facilitate collaborative or individual learning and communication.   
12. Develop awareness of computer languages, web-based and software applications, and emerging technologies.   
13. Demonstrate an understanding of basic html by creating a simple web page. 
14. Demonstrate comprehension and communication skills.   
15. Use social media to enhance online communication and develop an awareness of a digital footprint.  
16. Identify commonly used art and animation production tools in the game design industry.
17. Understand intellectual property rights, copyright laws and plagiarism as it applies to creative assets.
18. Explain the importance of employability skill and entrepreneurship skills as it relates to game/simulation development.
19. Identify tools and software commonly used in game development.
20. Investigate career opportunities in the game industry.
21. Demonstrate research and information fluency.
22. Demonstrate an understanding of the techniques used to evaluate game mechanics, game play, flow, and game design.
23. Explore the methods used to create and sustain player immersion.
24. Describe the game development life cycle.
25. Demonstrate the professional level of written and oral communication required in the game development industry.
26. Understand the core tasks and challenges that face a video game design team.
27. Demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills needed, as it relates to game/simulation development, to accomplish team goals and objectives.
28. Create a working game or simulation as part of a team.
29. Create a game design production plan that describes the game play, outcomes, controls, interface and artistic style of a video game.
30. Categorize the different gaming genres.
31. Identify popular games and identify commonality between them.
32. Understand the general procedure and requirements of game design.
33. Understand the general principles of storytelling for game design.
34. Understand character archetypes and character design.
35. Develop a game design document.
36. Understand the process of creating and designing player choice and other game designer strategy considerations.
37. Create and design the game flow as it relates to story and plot.
38. Assess common principles and procedures in game flow design.
39. Describe player challenge rule creation elements.
40. Understand the use of inventory systems in game design.
41. Understand the various job titles and responsibilities of a graphic artist as it relates to the game industry.
42. Develop the art direction for a game.
43. Determine and document the graphical needs of a game using design documents including art direction and reference materials.
44. Understand the fundamentals of drawing and painting techniques.
45. Demonstrate a working knowledge of vector and paint programs used to make graphics.
46. Demonstrate the effective use art input devices.
47. Demonstrate world building, making graphics and backgrounds for side scrolling, top down, and Isometric projection.
48. Understand the general concepts of environmental design.
49. Describe how environmental design is used in conjunction with game level design.
50. Demonstrate knowledge of basic lighting.
51. Demonstrate knowledge of basic materials and textures.
52. Demonstrate basic understanding of modeling principles.
53. Demonstrate knowledge of polygon modeling.
54. Demonstrate knowledge of non-uniform rational b-splines (NURBS) modeling.
55. Demonstrate advance texturing techniques.
56. Understand the various job titles and responsibilities of a 3D animator as it relates to the game industry.
57. Understand the principles of 2D and 3D animation as it relates to game graphics (walk, run, jump, idle).
58. Demonstrate a working knowledge of modeling and paint programs used to make 3D graphics and animation.
59. Demonstrate knowledge of basic animation.
60. Demonstrate knowledge of rigging.
61. Understand the fundamentals of facial animation.
62. Create a user interface.
63. Create visual effects.
64. Create particle system effects.
65. Individually design and create a playable game.