Certificate in Basic Game Design (Online at your own pace)
This Certificate offers you an introduction to the use of games for business purposes. Learn the basics of designing both video and analog games, with a focus on games beyond entertainment. In the first course, Explore game design resources, mechanics, and verbs used in different games. Develop game ideas and understand how to work with game developers. In the second course, discover the basics of the video game design process, main video game genres, and use a game development application to start creating games. Completing this Certificate in Basic Game Design will equip you with knowledge and skills to create games and understand game design.
Courses must be taken in order:
- Introduction to Game Design
-
Intermediate Video Game Design
Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ
Class details:
| Introduction to Game Design | ||
Unit 1: What Makes a Game?
The Anatomy of a Game Games and Play Different Types of Games |
Unit 2: Essentials of Design
Game Verbs and Game Mechanics Documentation Test Early, Test Often |
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Unit 3: Game Design: Solo and in Teams
Roles in Game Design Finding Design and Development Partners |
Unit 4: Serious Games & Gamification
Designing "Serious" Games Gamification Designing Gamification Systems |
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| Intermediate Video Game Design | ||
Unit 1: A brief history of Video Game Development
From PCs to Multiplayer Play a Game -Game Analysis Game Maker Introduction |
Unit 2: Player Motivation
Who Plays Why We Play Game Maker Making Art: About Sprites, Objects, Rooms |
|
Unit 3: Platforms, Genres and Story Elements
Platforms & Player Modes Story Elements: Premise, Backstory, Synopsis, Theme, & Setting Character Archetypes & Character Development Game Maker: Programming Events & Actions |
Unit 4: The Production Process
Creating the Team Production Phases Marketing Game Maker: Your First Game |
Jean Haefner
Jean Haefner holds degrees in Graphic Design and Photography, and a MFA in Web Designand Interactive Media; MS Haefner has taught in these areas, and worked professionally as a Content Artist, Web Designer, and Online Course Developer for over 20 years. More recently, she helped to develop the award winning interdisciplinary Game Design and Development program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and provided instruction in art and design for games there. She currently works at UW-Madison.
Sections
OE-62100b-ugc-S26
Starts Mon, Apr 6th 2026
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM
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Price: $395.00
Min Age 18 yr.
Instructors:
- Jean Haefner
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Apr 6th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Apr 7th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Apr 8th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Apr 9th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Apr 10th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Apr 11th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Apr 12th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Apr 13th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Apr 14th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Apr 15th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Apr 16th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Apr 17th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Apr 18th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Apr 19th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Apr 20th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Apr 21st 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Apr 22nd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Apr 23rd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Apr 24th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Apr 25th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Wed, May 27th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, May 28th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, May 29th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
OE-62100c-ugc-SU26
Starts Mon, Jun 1st 2026
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM
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Price: $395.00
Min Age 18 yr.
Instructors:
- Jean Haefner
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jun 1st 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Jun 2nd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Jun 3rd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Jun 4th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Mon, Jun 15th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Sat, Jun 27th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Jun 28th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Jun 29th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Jun 30th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Tue, Jul 21st 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Jul 22nd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Jul 23rd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Jul 24th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Jul 25th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Jul 26th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Jul 27th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Jul 28th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Jul 29th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Jul 30th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Jul 31st 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
OE-62100a-ugc-W26
Online registration is over
Next Sun, Mar 29th 2026
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM
No class Mar 28
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Price: $395.00
Min Age 18 yr.
Instructors:
- Jean Haefner
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Feb 2nd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Feb 3rd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Feb 4th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Feb 5th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Feb 6th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Feb 7th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Tue, Feb 10th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Feb 11th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Fri, Feb 13th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Feb 14th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Feb 15th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Feb 16th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Feb 17th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Feb 18th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Feb 19th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Feb 20th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Feb 21st 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Feb 22nd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Mon, Mar 2nd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Mar 3rd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Mon, Mar 9th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Wed, Mar 11th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Mar 12th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Mar 13th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Mar 14th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Mar 15th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Mar 16th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Mar 17th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Mar 18th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Mar 19th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Mar 20th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Mar 21st 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Mar 22nd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Mar 23rd 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Mar 24th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Mar 25th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Mar 26th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Mar 27th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Mar 29th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Mar 30th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Mar 31st 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
OE-62100d-ugc-F26
Registration begins Aug 26th at 9:00 AM
Starts Tue, Sep 8th 2026
12:01 AM - 11:59 PM
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Price: $395.00
Min Age 18 yr.
Instructors:
- Jean Haefner
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 8th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Sep 9th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Sep 10th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Sep 11th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Sep 12th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Sep 13th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Sep 14th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Sep 15th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Thu, Oct 29th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Oct 30th 2026 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
