Prospective Students

 

At the heart of the Interactive Media and Game Development (IMGD) program are its students—deeply talented, eager to learn, and passionate about all aspects of interactive media and games. You can see it in the unique projects they each work on here—a combination of art, technology, and design—to create individual portfolios that are a proven asset when pursuing a career in this field. We invite you to view IMGD student portfolios to learn about our students and their diverse creations.

We are one of the world’s oldest degree programs in interactive media and game development (IMGD), boasting over 1,250 graduates from our program since 2006. We build our students into hybrid thinkers, exposing them to every aspect of the IMGD process, including programming, design, content creation (art, animation, writing, audio), testing, and management. Offering professional support, extracurricular opportunities, and over 80 IMGD-related courses taught by thirty IMGD faculty, our program provides students with a hands-on, team-oriented, and project-based experience that prepares them for the industry.

Students are supported in following their ideas and making their own games. And by the way—students own 100% of the IP they develop at WPI!

IMGD Student Projects Reel

 

#3

of the 25 Best Bachelor’s in Game Design Degree Programs

Bachelor's Degree Center (2023)
Top 20%

Game Design MS/MA Programs in the U.S.

Animation Career Review (2024)
#45

Best Value Colleges (2023)

The Princeton Review
Janelle Knight
Being a concept artist, I thought I would have a harder time improving my skill and meeting people in the industry. But IMGD really pushes for students to do projects and work together and with professors to make cool stuff.
  • Janelle Knight
  • IMGD BA '22
Kate Olguin
The IMGD program has some of the hardest working and most passionate students and faculty at WPI. The community really works hard to uplift everyone and make sure that people have the knowledge and resources they need to succeed.
  • Kate Olguin
  • IMGD BS '20

Life as an IMGD Student

As a student of IMGD, you’ll be part of an inclusive and supportive community of students and faculty. WPI hosts two active game development clubs: the International Game Developer’s Association (IGDA) and Diversity in Games (DiG). From sponsoring industry professional Q&A sessions and local game development events to student workshops and game jams, our IMGD community helps students grow beyond what a traditional classroom can offer.

Start Your Own Studio

As part of WPI’s IMGD program, you’ll have the opportunity to work with your IMGD peers both in and out of the classroom. We’re proud to have a number of independent student-run game development teams on campus, which have showcased their games at various local conventions and festivals, including PAX East and the Boston Festival of Indie Games. This is all made possible in part by the equipment, labs, and licenses that our department gives students access to, including VR and AR equipment, 3D printers, green screens, and more!

Games Gone Global

At WPI, we’re dedicated to providing global project opportunities to all of our students, and our Global Projects Program really sets us apart. Most WPI students will travel abroad for their junior year project, or Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), but with IMGD you’ll have the chance to travel abroad for your senior project, or Major Qualifying Project (MQP), as well. Our department partners with game development programs and universities in Japan, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand, giving our students the chance to make games and pursue other interactive media initiatives for international audiences.

Take Charge of Your Career

Thanks to the professional support from WPI’s Career Development Center (CDC) and our department’s dedication to showcasing student work, our students are made for success. Our alumni have gone on to work for game companies like Riot, Activision Blizzard, Harmonix, and Bethesda, as well as other companies under the technology and interactive media umbrellas, including Raytheon and Bose. We also host the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi) on our campus, which gives our students access to industry experts for game mentorships, workshops, and a wide range of internship opportunities.