Overview
Participants will practice visual coding skills using the Unreal Engine Blueprints system, learn the basics of game design and explore how to integrate art and audio assets into their work. They will learn how to work on teams and the process of iterative testing modelled in the game industry.
The program will be led by professor Tyler Gorman, an award-winning director and Unreal game designer. Classes will be held in our new gaming lab in the SITE building. Outstanding projects could potentially be published to the Google and IOS app stores.
At the end of this program, you’ll walk away with:
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An understanding of the online gaming industry and potential career paths to inspire your personal, academic and professional aspirations within game design
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Hands-on experience with the game design process from brainstorming to design to development to testing
Program Dates and Schedule
July 6, 2026 - July 17, 2026
Sample Daily Schedule: This is only a sample schedule and is subject to change due to a variety of factors.
| Time |
Activity |
Detail |
|
9 a.m.
|
Workshop Session: Game Design
|
Led by QU professors, students dive into the various stages of the game design process through engaging lessons and activities.
|
|
11 a.m.
|
Game Design Project Block
|
Put what you have learned into practice on a hands-on game design project.
|
|
Noon
|
Lunch
|
Eat and socialize with your classmates.
|
|
3 p.m.
|
Group Discussion
|
“What does making an inclusive game mean?”
|
|
4 p.m.
|
Review and Debrief Meeting
|
A chance to reflect and discuss the day as well as look to the days ahead.
|
|
4:30 p.m.
|
Day Program Ends
|
Dismissal for commuter students.
|
|
5 p.m.
|
Dinner
|
Dinner will be provided for those students with full room and board.
|
|
6 p.m.
|
Evening Activities (Group Recreation in our new Recreation and Wellness Center, Games, Guest Speakers, Independent and Group Enrichment Projects)
|
The evening is reserved for overnight students to have fun, experience our on-campus amenities, and bond with each other and staff through organized enrichment activities.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Quiet Time
|
|
Weekend Programming and Excursions
In addition to the daily schedule listed above, our two-week programs offer organized trips and excursions during the weekends. Last summer, program attendees spent time in our local community while mini golfing, visiting the Mystic Aquarium and shopping in New Haven.
Field trips and weekend excursions may vary by program and session.
Participation Requirements
Participants must be current high school students. Typically, participants are between the ages of 15 to 18 years of age at the start of the program.
Equipment and Materials
Quinnipiac University will provide all required materials, including laptops, for students within this program. Students are welcome to bring their own laptops or other devices for use outside of instruction periods or with the approval of their instructor.
Program Costs
Option 1: 2-week overnight program from Sunday to Saturday. Includes full room and board as well as evening and weekend activities: $3,700
Option 2: 2-week on-campus commuter program from Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Includes lunch daily: $2,700
Both options offer:
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Two weeks of faculty-designed programs taught on-campus with educational support staff
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Technology and software support
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A Quinnipiac T-shirt
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A digital badge for use on social media, resumes or portfolios
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Access to special Quinnipiac Admissions events
Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions among prospective students and families regarding our summer programs. If you can't find an answer to your question, please contact us and we'd be happy to chat.
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Accommodations
Quinnipiac University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as an institution of higher education. Students who have a current IEP or 504 plan are encouraged to share any accommodations or modifications they may require in order to access the fundamentals of a QU summer program or camp they plan to attend.
Students requesting disability-based accommodations should indicate this within the application as well as email summerprograms@qu.edu about any and all specific accommodation needs.
Rules & Regulations
Read Quinnipiac University’s Summer Camp and Pre-College Program Policies
