Music for Video Games

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Ever played your favorite video game and felt the rush of excitement from the music? That’s the magic of game composers—crafting soundscapes that bring virtual worlds to life. In the Music for Video Games program, you’ll dive into this creative art form and develop the skills to launch a career in the gaming industry.

Experiential Learning

Gain real-world experience with Digital Audio Workstations, recording techniques, and sound design while building a professional portfolio of music for video games and media.

Students in this program will experience:

Collaboration with Bradley’s nationally ranked Game Design majors to develop original games
Partnership as part of a game design team to compose, produce, and publish new video game soundtracks
Showcasing your work at Bradley’s FUSE exhibition, where industry professionals and gamers experience student-created projects
Premiering your compositions at the Music for the Screens Concert each semester, giving your work the audience it deserves

Program Details

Required Courses 55 hrs.

APL 180: Applied Composition Lessons (repeated course) (8 hrs.)
APL 380: Applied Composition Lessons (repeated course) (8 hrs.)
MUS 102: The Music Business for Performing & Composing Professionals (3 hrs.)
MUS 109: Music Appreciation (BCC) (3 hrs.)
MUS 161: Music Theory I (2 hrs.)
MUS 162: Music Theory II (2 hrs.)
MUS 163: Ear Training/Sight Singing I (1 hr.)
MUS 164: Ear Training/Sight Singing II (1 hr.)
MUS 250: Music Technology (3 hrs.)
MUS 171: Survey of Game Music (2 hrs.)
MUS 172: Music and Sound for Games (2 hrs.)
MUS 371: Music and Sound for Video Games Projects (repeated course) (6 hrs.)
MUS 312: Music in Media (3 hrs.)
MUS 360: Introduction to Recording Arts and Sciences (3 hrs.)
MUS 401: Orchestration (2 hrs.)
IM 243: History of Animation (3 hrs.)
Or
IM 380: Critical Game Theories (3 hrs.)
CFA 250: Film History (3 hrs.)
CFA 320: Film Theory and Criticism (3 hrs.)
CFA 321: Topics in Film Genre (3 hrs.)
IM 458: Sound Design (3 hrs.)

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our program have launched exciting careers in video games, film and television, marketing and advertising, and animation—bringing stories to life through sound. From composing original scores and designing sound effects to supervising music for major media projects, their work helps shape the way audiences experience entertainment.

Minors

The 21-credit Jazz Studies Minor is open to all students, without audition. It will strengthen your understanding and performance of jazz through ensemble participation, music theory, jazz improvisation, jazz composition and arranging, and American music history.

This minor is easily paired with majors across campus.

The music minor, open to all students by audition, strengthens your understanding and performance of music through individual vocal or instrumental lessons in the area you select and courses in theory, history, keyboard skills, and ear-training.

You’ll also participate in one of the music department’s 15 ensembles. Designed for personal growth or career preparation, the minor can easily be paired with majors from across the university.

The 18-credit hour music industry minor is open to any student, regardless of major, with no audition requirement. You’ll be immersed in courses representing all facets of the music industry.

Electives allow you to focus on specific disciplines or you may complete the minor as part of the Hollywood Semester program.

This 20-hour minor, open to all students, includes courses in Acting, Piano, Music Theory, and Ear Training/Sight Singing. Acting the Song and History of American Musical Theatre. You’ll be involved in Theatre Arts productions through our Practicum program, and you’ll work closely with a Theatre Arts advisor, to keep you on track.

This minor pairs well with majors in Music, Theatre Arts, communication, TV arts, creative writing, and other majors within the fine arts, or the liberal arts and sciences.