YourPace Game Studies Certificate

In 1982, the Surgeon General of the United States (Dr. C. Everett Koop) suggested that “videogames may be hazardous to the health of young people,” with many people addicted to these games “body and soul” (New York Times, Nov. 10, 1982). Was the Surgeon General drawing attention to a significant cultural problem, or can the alleged dangers of video games be safely dismissed as a cultural myth? Why, indeed, do people play video games at all when there are so many other ways to spend one’s time (e.g., sports, reading good books)? What benefits are there to immersing oneself in a video game? This class will explore theory and research pertaining to player motivation as well as the potential short-term and long-term effects of video gaming. The cultural significance of video games will also be discussed.

This course considers play and gaming in a psychosocial context. Specifically, we will examine the structure and dynamics of games in relation to decision-making, social identity, and our connection with others.  We will consider the personal motivations that drive play, with special attention to (a) the developmental context of play and gaming, and (b) the broader cultural forces that define game environments. By investigating games as contexts for human interaction, the course provides a framework for understanding how we think, grow, and connect within rule-based spaces.

Game theory is a branch of mathematics that examines decision-making. In this course, we will study combinatorial games, two-person zero-sum games, and generalized multi-player non-zero sum games. We will also examine ideas such as winning strategies and some of the fundamental theorems and ideas of the subject (such as Nash equilibria).

PSY 277: Games and the Moral Mind This course examines the psychological impact of decision-making within consequence-based systems. Students will explore how games and other simulated environments trigger moral intuition, empathy, and cognitive dissonance. By analyzing how players navigate complex ethical dilemmas, the course evaluates how these experiences shape real-world moral development, identity formation, and the experience of agency.   

PSY 177: Human Flourishing, Play, and Serious Games This course investigates the potential of games to enhance the human experience and support personal growth. Students will evaluate how “serious games” and intentional systems are designed to address real-world challenges, from clinical interventions and therapeutic support to community-building and resilience. Drawing on models of intrinsic motivation and Self-Determination Theory, the curriculum examines how structured play can be used to foster meaningful social connection, empower individual agency, and facilitate a deeper sense of purpose.