Program Overview

---

Game – Art

Credential

Ontario College Advanced Diploma

Location

Oshawa

OCAS Code

GART

Next Intake

September 2025

Faculty

Faculty of Media, Art and Design (MAD)

Length

Six semesters

Delivery

In person

Program Overview

This program offers a well-balanced education in every aspect of the game development process, with a focus towards training artists for the game industry. There is an enormous difference between playing games and creating them, and this program is designed to teach you how to convert your love of gameplay and artistry into a lucrative career. The experience and knowledge gained in the Game-Art program at Durham College have given graduates the edge in landing careers in industry-leading game studios.

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2025	Open	Open

Program Highlights

• Success Stories
• Resources

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)
• Portfolio of work

Recommended

• Senior-level visual arts credits

Additional Requirements

In addition to the academic requirements, admission to this program requires the submission of a portfolio of artwork. The purpose of the portfolio is to allow students to demonstrate their drawing and creative ability.

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $6,821 (CAD)
• Year one international: $19,407 (CAD)

Semester 1 Courses

• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Pre-Production 1 (DESG 1100)
• Traditional Art 1 (FINE 1100)
• Animating I - Games (GAME 1103)
• Modelling 1 (GAME 1104)
• Real Time Engines (GAME 1105)
• Surfacing 1 (GAME 1106)

Career Options

• Environment artist
• Surfacing artist
• Technical artist
• Animator for games
• Motion capture clean-up artist
• Lighting artist
• 3D modeller
• Game developer
• Concept artist

Program Details

This program was developed with input from veterans in the digital entertainment industry and continues to garner enthusiastic support from studios and professional artists across the country. Our industry-trained professors are ready to share their knowledge and experience with you. The focus of this hands-on program is to develop and hone your skills as a digital artist through project-based learning and instruction.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze the differences in game genres in order to develop games that meet the needs of specific markets
2. Analyze the history of video games to compare various approaches to game development
3. Support the development of games by identifying and relating concepts from a range of industry roles—programming, design, and art
4. Contribute as an individual and a member of a game development team to the effective completion of a game development project
5. Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the games industry
6. Perform all work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations, legislation, industry standards and codes of ethics
7. Develop pre-production and conceptual art for games and gaming through the selection and application of relevant design tools and drawing techniques
8. Create original game assets to meet requirements outlined in game design documents and/or creative briefs
9. Engage in original world building and level design within a range of game engines to meet industry and marketplace requirements
10. Generate user interface design in alignment with Game Design Documents to optimize both the aesthetics and function of gameplay

Courses

Semester 1

• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Pre-Production 1 (DESG 1100)
• Traditional Art 1 (FINE 1100)
• Animating I - Games (GAME 1103)
• Modelling 1 (GAME 1104)
• Real Time Engines (GAME 1105)
• Surfacing 1 (GAME 1106)

Semester 2

• Pre-Production 2 (DESG 1200)
• Traditional Art 2 (FINE 1200)
• Animating 2 (GAME 1204)
• Real Time Engines 2 (GAME 1205)
• Modelling 2 (GAME 1206)
• Surfacing 2 (GAME 1207)
• Indigenous Elective (INDG 0000)

Semester 3

• Pre-Production 3 (DESG 2100)
• Animating 3 (GAME 2100)
• Environment Art 1 (GAME 2101)
• Modelling 3 (GAME 2102)
• Surfacing 3 (GAME 2103)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• Asset Production Workshop 1 (PJMT 2100)

Semester 4

• Pre-Production 4 (DESG 2200)
• Animating 4 (GAME 2200)
• Environment Art 2 (GAME 2201)
• Modelling 4 (GAME 2202)
• Surfacing 4 (GAME 2203)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• Asset Production Workshop 2 (PJMT 2201)

Semester 5

• Animating 5 (GAME 3100)
• Environment Art 3 (GAME 3101)
• Modelling 5 (GAME 3102)
• Surfacing 5 (GAME 3103)
• Technical Artistry (GAME 3104)
• Game Proposals (GART 3100)
• Asset Production Workshop 3 (PJMT 3100)

Semester 6

• Portfolio Development (GAME 3200)
• Post-Production Studio (GAME 3201)
• Game Design Studio (GART 3200)
• Applied Projects and Research (GART 3201)
• Asset Production Studio (PJMT 3200)

Course Delivery

In person

Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

Costs

The fees below are estimates only based on information available at the time of publication, and do not include the cost of textbooks. There may be additional costs; however, not all courses require textbooks.

Game - Art Year 1 Costs

Semester 1		Tuition:	$3,410.37
	Program Fee:	$300
	Ancillary Fee:	$493.77
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$430
	Total:	$4,634.14

Semester 2		Tuition:	$3,410.37
	Program Fee:	$0
	Ancillary Fee:	$493.77
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$120
	Total:	$4,024.14

Game - Art Year 2 Costs

Semester 3		Tuition:	$3,410.37
	Program Fee:	$150
	Ancillary Fee:	$474.19
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$430
	Total:	$4,464.56

Semester 4		Tuition:	$3,410.37
	Program Fee:	$0
	Ancillary Fee:	$474.19
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$120
	Total:	$4,004.56

Game - Art Year 3 Costs

Semester 5		Tuition:	$3,410.37
	Program Fee:	$0
	Ancillary Fee:	$474.19
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$430
	Total:	$4,314.56

Semester 6		Tuition:	$3,410.37
	Program Fee:	$0
	Ancillary Fee:	$474.19
	DCSA Ancillary Fee:	$120
	Total:	$4,004.56

Career Options

• Environment artist
• Surfacing artist
• Technical artist
• Animator for games
• Motion capture clean-up artist
• Lighting artist
• 3D modeller
• Game developer
• Concept artist

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Educational Studies and Digital Technology – Ontario Tech University
• Bachelor of Science - Technology Project Management – Davenport University
• Bachelor of Games Design - Art Direction – Griffith University

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.