Junior year in Drexel’s Game Design & Production (GDAP) program is a defining moment, as students transition from academic learning to hands-on industry experience through co-op placements. This year is all about applying game development, programming, and design skills in real-world settings while working on advanced coursework. Whether working at a game studio, software company, or indie development team, junior year is the time to gain industry insights, refine portfolios, and build professional connections.
While some students spend half of the year in co-op roles, coursework continues to focus on polishing game development skills and preparing for senior capstone projects. With junior year and real-world experience under their belt, GDAP students head into senior year ready to tackle their capstone project and industry showcase. The next step? Building an impressive final game project and preparing for full-time job opportunities.
Core Classes
While some students spend half of the year in co-op roles, coursework continues to focus on polishing game development skills and preparing for senior capstone projects. Some key classes include Game Development: Workshop I (GMAP377) which examines the roles of the executive producer and the development team in taking a computer game from concept to design document through production. Students will work in small teams to research andplan a production effort that results in a pre-production prototype. Advanced Game Playtesting (GMAP321) is a course where students will play the role of a game user researcher (GUR) and learn how to conduct more advanced and rigorous playtests and how to run professional-quality studies that support a better understanding of player behavior and identify usability issues. Students will develop and run a study using an existing game project. Game Development: Workshop II (GMAP378) provides an environment in which the pre-production of GMAP 377 Game Development: Workshop I can be taken through a full production effort. Students work in small teams to bring a selected prototype to completion. Many students also explore GMAP Electives to focus on building their skills in the area of GDAP that they want to pursue after graduation.
Skills You’ll Develop
Junior year is focused on industry-ready skills, workflow efficiency, and professional development, including Industry Production Pipelines – Working within structured teams using Scrum, Agile, and version control (Git), AI & Advanced Game Systems – Implementing dynamic enemy behavior, pathfinding, and game logic, Project & Time Management – Juggling coursework, portfolio updates, and professional responsibilities, and Professional Communication & Collaboration – Learning to present ideas, receive feedback, and work with cross-disciplinary teams.
Co-op Experience: Learning in the Industry
Many GDAP students spend six months working in professional game studios, indie teams, or software companies. These co-ops provide real-world experience in Game Programming – Developing gameplay mechanics, physics simulations, and AI behavior, Game Art & Animation – Creating 3D assets, animations, and textures optimized for real-time rendering, Game Design & Narrative – Crafting engaging player experiences, level design, and interactive storytelling, and Technical Art & Optimization – Implementing shaders, VFX, and performance enhancements for games. Between coursework and co-op, students work on more complex and industry-focused projects, including Full Game Prototypes – Creating market-ready game experiences with polished mechanics and UI/UX, Cinematic Cutscene Development – Integrating animation, motion capture, and storytelling into game engines, Game AI & Physics Systems – Implementing sophisticated behaviors and interactive environments, and Portfolio & Resume Refinement – Preparing demo reels and case studies for job applications. One of the biggest challenges this year is balancing co-op responsibilities with coursework and personal projects. Time management becomes essential!
Tips for Success: Take full advantage of co-op. Ask questions, network, and treat it like an extended job interview. Refine your demo reel. Showcase work that aligns with your desired job role—whether in design, programming, or art. Experiment with new tools. Learn advanced techniques in real-time rendering, procedural generation, or AI-driven game design. Engage with the game dev community. Attend game jams, networking events, and industry talks to build connections.