Scoring AAA Action Games: A Call of Duty: Mobile Case Study - EDC-X795AA

Course Description

Credit Validation for Best Music Coach LLC Participants Only

Scoring AAA Action Games is a self-paced course in composing music for action games, built around a case study of Call of Duty: Mobile. In five video parts (4 hours 35 minutes), AAA game composer Jeff Broadbent breaks down his music for the game. The breakdowns follow a four-part framework: melody structure (motifs, phrase patterns, repetition, variation, and contour), harmony (progressions, tension and release, harmonic rhythm, and special harmonic colors), instrument roles (what each orchestral section and synthesizer layer contributes, and how the roles combine to create balance and drive), and sound and genre creation in sparse and full sections (timbre choices, orchestral versus synthesized sound, rhythmic feel, and the style markers of modern action scoring).

Participants take a short quiz after each part. They then compose original, finished music for an action game of their own design. The amount of music completed determines the credit earned—ranging from a 1-minute main theme (1 unit of GLEC) up to a full set of 10 minutes and 30 seconds (7 units), which includes a main theme, a looping in-match combat track, a high-intensity finale cue, and stingers/transitions. Every piece must be mixed and mastered and accompanied by a short design note detailing the techniques used.

To earn GLEC or CEUs, every participant must complete all five parts, score at least 70% on each quiz, and submit every project required for their chosen credit option. GLEC participants will receive a letter grade: the five quizzes account for 10% of the grade, while the projects account for the remaining 90% in proportion to their length. Each project is evaluated using a five-part rubric: motif and harmonic craft; orchestration and sound; game function (intensity, looping, and build); mix, master, and delivery; and the design note. Letter grades are assigned as follows: A (90–100%), B (80–89%), C (70–79%), D (60–69%), and F (below 60%). CEU participants who meet these requirements will receive their CEUs.

This is an independent Best Music Coach course that uses the game's music as a case study. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Activision. Call of Duty is a trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc.

Learner Outcomes

• Analyze how melody structure, harmony, and instrument roles create intensity, momentum, and identity in AAA action-game music
• Explain how orchestral and synthesized sounds are chosen, layered, and balanced in the sparse and full sections of a hybrid action score
• Compose original action-game music that develops a single motif for specific gameplay moments
• Deliver mixed and mastered music that meets game-ready specifications: clean starts and endings, seamless loops where required, and consistent loudness
• Justify compositional choices in writing by connecting them to specific techniques from the course's case study

Course Details

PLEASE READ ALL COURSE DETAILS

Number of Units: 1.0 - 7.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours.

Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for Best Music Coach LLC Participants.

University of San Diego – Graduate-Level Extension Credit Information

The University of San Diego partners with this program to offer graduate-level extension credit(s) in semester hours through the Credit Validation Program. To earn units, participants must register for and successfully complete coursework through the external program provider.

Credits earned through USD’s Credit Validation Program are widely accepted by many school districts and universities across the United States for purposes such as license renewal, required professional development hours, short-term skill building, salary advancement, credentialing, and potential advanced degree pathways.

These units do not apply toward a master’s or higher degree program at the University of San Diego; however, they may be transferable to advanced degree programs (e.g., MA, EdD, PhD) at other institutions that accept external graduate-level credits.

Participants are responsible for confirming acceptance, transcript requirements, deadlines, and applicability of units with their employing district or intended institution prior to enrollment.

If you would like to purchase Continuing Education Units (CEUs) instead of USD Graduate-Level Extension Credit (GLEC), CEU participants will receive a Confirmation of Completion Letter documenting the CEUs earned, which can be downloaded and provided as a PDF for professional records. Click here for CEU Requests – Participant Instructions. 

Directions to Enroll for Credit 

Step 1: Register with the Partner Organization
Complete your registration directly with the partner organization. Follow their instructions to begin the course and pay any required enrollment fees.

• Homepage: Best Music Coach
• Enroll: Scoring AAA Action Games: A Call of Duty: Mobile Case Study
• Contact: lessons@bestmusiccoach.com

Please Note: USD does not provide course materials, manage instruction, or assign grades. All coursework is evaluated by the program’s instructor or coordinator.

Step 2: Complete the Course 
Participate fully in the course through the partner organization and complete all required assignments, activities, and assessments. (Some courses, specifically DoDEA courses, may require participants to purchase units before the course ends; please check the enrollment window for details.)

Step 3: Register for University Credit
After confirming your registration with the partner organization and completing your program, return to USD’s website.

• Locate the same course on our listings page
• Click Add to Cart
• Click Check Out
• You will be prompted to either log into your USD Student Account or create one, and then pay for your units

If this course displays Request Information, it means the course is either not yet open for enrollment (please check the enrollment dates) or enrollment has already closed. If enrollment has closed, you may still contact the organization directly to see if they will accept a late enrollment or if the course will be offered again in the future.

Step 4: Partner Organization Submits Grades
After you finish, the partner organization will submit your final grade to USD.

Step 5: Receive Your Transcript
No further action is needed. Once your grade has been processed, USD will issue an official transcript reflecting your earned university credit. Transcripts are mailed to the address listed in your USD student account. 

Transcript Process: Once we receive your certificate of completion, we will begin processing your transcript. Participants are responsible for ensuring that their mailing address is accurate and up to date in their USD student account to avoid delays in transcript delivery.

Transcript Delivery Timeline:

• U.S. addresses: 2–3 weeks
• International addresses: 3–4 weeks

For detailed information regarding the University of San Diego Credit Validation Program, please consult our USD Credit Validation Program Participant Guide.