Degree in Interactive Media & Game Development (BA)

Bachelor of Arts
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As one of the nation’s first gaming programs, WPI’s top-ranked bachelor of arts in Interactive Media & Game Development (IMGD) will provide you with invaluable experience and insight into the world of games and their creation. Come with a passion to create, and we’ll support you with concentrations in animation, 3-D sculpting, technical artistry, design, and writing.

Our close-knit program is made up of faculty and students who are passionate about reinventing old forms of media while also creating new ones, from video games and virtual environments to interactive fiction, art installations, and tabletop games.

During your time at WPI—starting when you first set foot on campus—you’ll gain all the tools, knowledge, and skills needed to create art that you’re proud of, and that will help shape change in both entertainment and society.

Test-Blind Admissions

WPI does not require SAT or ACT scores to be submitted with your application. Learn more…

Curriculum

As part of WPI’s bachelor of arts in gaming program, known around campus as IMGD, you’ll receive a solid foundation in gaming theory and practice and have the chance to focus on different aspects of games, everything from art and writing to design and technology.

Whether you choose to focus on the artistic or technical aspects of game development, you’ll gain a broad understanding of both, as well as a solid foundation in computer science, mathematics, art, science, and music. Rigorous courses and project work will set you up for continued future success in game development and interactive media.

Undergraduate Catalog
Available Concentrations or Program Logistics
Design: Digital design, board game design, narrative design, and more
Technical Art: Motion Capture (MoCap), 3D rigging and animation, pipeline management
Visual Art: 2D animation, 3D modeling and animation, and interactive art installations
Writing: Character building, narrative structure, and world building

Project-based Learning

Through project-based learning, students take the hypothetical and make it real, using skills and concepts learned in the classroom and applying them to real problems, leading to real experience and impact. In addition to projects you’ll complete as part of your courses, you might also work find yourself building game prototypes, create interactive art exhibits, or developing a learning game to teach users how to write in Japanese.

Learn More About Project-Based Learning

More Value

Whether it’s real-world work experience through a co-op or internship, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four or five years through the BS/MS program, or integrating your coursework with your extracurricular interests through Major and a Mission, there are many ways you can make the most out of your time at WPI.

Earn a BS in Game Design Instead!

Are you interested in exploring the more technical aspects of game design? Consider our BS in Interactive Media and Game Development, where you’ll have the chance to explore a range of topics in game development from game studies and audio arts to the social impact of games. Not sure if you want to major in game design? Consider earning a minor in Interactive Media and Game Development where you can gain a solid foundation in the field.

Already Have a BS or BA in Game Design? Consider an MFA.

If you already have a bachelor’s in game development or game design and want to further refine your career, check out WPI’s three-year MFA to refine your artistic practice and give you the tools to innovate using new creative technologies. The courses are studio-based and career-focused, making for a fully immersive experience.

Keep Your Gaming Education Going

Take your technical knowledge, artistic vision, and passion for gaming to the next level with an MS in Interactive Media and Game Development. WPI’s nationally ranked master’s will give you the chance to specialize in one of three focus areas while using sophisticated design and technical expertise to develop immersive, interactive environments. Looking to dive even deeper into the gaming world? WPI’s PhD in computational media will give you the tools, support, and experiences you’ll need to shape the future of computationally based creative expression through interdisciplinary research.

Interactive Media & Game Development
Affiliations
Computer Science
Humanities & Arts