Specialization in Sound Design for Video Games
The Sound Design for Video Games Specialization equips Electronic Production and Design students with the creative and technical skills needed for professional careers as audio designers, implementation specialists, or audio leads in the game industry. With instruction in industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine, Unity, and Wwise, students gain hands-on experience designing, building, and integrating interactive audio systems for real-time media.
This specialization emphasizes advanced techniques in sound design, synthesis, sampling, and procedural audio, along with field and studio recording for dialogue, Foley, and music editing. Students learn to create layered, immersive soundscapes and to mix audio for stereo and surround formats across dynamic, nonlinear environments.
Key topics include adaptive music systems, interactive sound triggering, spatial audio, and environmental modeling. Students also explore the collaborative nature of game development, learning the project management strategies, milestone planning techniques, and communication skills that are necessary to succeed in fast-paced, interdisciplinary production settings.
Designed for EPD majors who wish to focus on the fast-evolving world of interactive audio, this specialization provides a comprehensive foundation for entering the game audio industry at a professional level.
This specialization is open to electronic production and design majors only.
Students must complete the following coursework before beginning the specialization and follow the regular declaration of minor/specialization procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide. This specialization is managed by the Electronic Production and Design Department.
- EP-220 Studio Technologies (2 credits)
- EP-223 Modular Functions and Signal Flow (2 credits)
- EP-225 Control Systems in Electronic Production (2 credits)
- EP-320 Digital Mix Techniques (2 credits)
- EP-321 Control Systems in Advanced Production (2 credits)
- EP-322 Advanced Sound Design Techniques (2 credits)
- LMSC-261 Introduction to Computer Programming (3 credits)
Upon completion of the program, students will:
record, design, edit, and mix all sound elements—including sound effects, dialogue, Foley, and music cues—for integration into interactive game environments;
collaborate effectively within creative, interdisciplinary teams, demonstrating strong communication, flexibility, and responsiveness throughout the game development process;
plan and manage project workflows using milestone-based strategies to meet production deadlines in professional, team-based environments;
develop sound-driven gameplay strategies by designing interactive audio systems that enhance player immersion, emotional impact, and narrative engagement;
analyze gameplay and visual events to provide compelling and contextually appropriate audio solutions that support player experience; and
design and implement simple interactive systems that connect audio assets to gameplay mechanics through real-time parameter control and audio middleware.
Fourteen credits are required for the specialization.
Required Courses (10 credits):
- EP-295 Sound Design for Visual Media (2 credits)
- EP-432 Procedural Sound Design (2 credits)
- MTEC-305 The Art of Foley Lab (1 credit)
- MTEC-321 Music and Sound Production for Games (3 credits)
- MTEC-421 Audio Implementation for Video Games (2 credits)
Elective Courses (4 credits; choose two from the following):