Course Planning Specifics

Interactive Media and Game Development

Over the summer, your advisor will work with you to select course preferences for A and B terms and register you for classes before the semester begins. It is expected that you will take three classes in both terms in most cases. You will register for C and D term classes later in the fall semester.   

WPI’s Interactive Media & Game Development (IMGD) program provides a basic education in the theory and practice of both the technical and creative aspects of digital media production, together with complimentary instruction in the physical and social sciences, mathematics, humanities and the arts. It is intended to serve as a solid foundation for an IMGD-related professional career and/or post-graduate studies.

The program offers two separate majors:

  • The IMGD Technology major is focused on the development of software engineering skills, and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. This major’s strong emphasis on programming encourages many students to earn a double-major or minor in Computer Science.
  • The IMGD major explores the creative aspects of digital media production, and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. This flexible, multidisciplinary major offers optional concentrations in Visual Art, Design, Writing, Audio/Music and Technical Art, and is designed to readily accommodate a double-major or minor in a wide variety of related fields.

In addition to the course recommendations below that are specific to your major, each student must complete 4 Wellness and Physical Education courses in their four years at WPI. You are welcome to add a WPE course to any term. WPE courses are worth 1/12 unit, unlike major subjects discussed in course recommendations which are worth 1/3 unit, and can be taken in addition to the 3 courses recommended below. 

For students who are not able to register for an IMGD course in either A or B term, please fill that space in our recommendations with an HUA, GPS, SS or Science course to continue to make progress on your general curriculum.

For more information on the degree requirements for your major click here.

Helpful Links

Course Registration
Program Tracking Sheets
Course Listings

A & B Term

Bachelor of Science Degree

A Term Recommendations

IMGD 1001

IMGD 1001: The Game Development Process is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in A term. If you are unable to take this course in A term, you may look to take it in B or C term.

CS 1101 or 1102 or 1004

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should begin with Computer Science courses in A and B terms. 

The Computer Science introductory curriculum emphasizes program design; as part of this focus, the order in which languages are introduced is Racket/Scheme, followed by Java and then C/C++. IMGD - BS majors can choose from a few different introductory pathways that should be based on the student's prior programming experience.

Most students should take: CS 1101 Introduction to Program Design (offered in Terms A and C), followed by CS 2102 Object-Oriented Design Concepts (offered in Terms B and D). Those with little or no prior programming experience may choose to take CS 1004 Introduction to Programming for Non-majors in A term. 

Students having substantial previous programming experience (e.g. AP credit in computer science) are encouraged to consider: CS 1102 Accelerated Introduction to Program Design (offered in Term A only), CS 1102 doesn’t assume experience with any particular programming language.

As you are making decisions between CS 1101 and CS 1102 you can refer to these Frequently Asked Questions. 

Please note: Students considering a second major in Computer Science should take CS 1101 or 1102 instead of CS 1004.

GPS/HUA/SS/MA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, Social Science, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Great Problems Seminar

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar, which are courses exclusively for first year students that allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. More information can be found here.

IMGD majors may be particularly interested in the GPS Games for Hopeful AI Futures, which awards credit for 1/3 unit SS1000 (a social science elective) and IMGD 2000-level credit (an IMGD elective). This GPS will also satisfy the IMGD social implications requirement.

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

You should pick courses in subjects you are interested in. When you come to campus you will learn more about the HUA requirement and how you will complete it. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

Math

IMGD - BS Majors are required to take two Math/Data Analysis courses. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course, but you do not need to complete this in your first semester.

Double majors in Computer Science are required to take seven classes in Math throughout their time at WPI and may wish to start Math in their first semester. In choosing which Math course you will begin with, please consider the following.  

  1. Complete the Math Placement Exam. The Math Placement Exam will tell you which Calculus course you should start in based on your current knowledge. If you are recommended to start in MA 1020, this will be your math course for both terms.
  2. Consider if you have AP Credit (new policy as of 10/20/25):
    Students who obtain a score of “4” on the AB-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021 and should begin with MA 1022 in A term followed by MA 1023 in B term. Those that obtain a score of "5" on the AB-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022 and should begin with MA 1023/1033 in A term followed by MA 1024/1034 in B term.
    Students who obtain a grade of “4” or “5” on the BC-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021, MA 1022 and MA 1023 and could begin with MA 1024 in A-term then MA 2051 in B-term, OR MA 1033 in A-term followed by MA 1034 in B-term. 
  3. Students who received a 6 or 7 on the IB will receive 2/3 credit of MA 1000, and should use the math placement exam results to decide which math class to take.
  4. Consider the possibility of retroactive credit. If the Math Placement Exam recommends that you start in MA 1022, MA 1023/1033, or MA 1024 but you do not have AP credit, this could be a great option for you. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1022 and MA 1023/1033 on your first attempt, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1023/1033 and MA 1024/1034 on your first attempt you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022.  If, in your first year, you complete MA 1024 and MA 2051, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022. Please note that there is no retroactive credit for MA 1023. In determining if this is the right path for you, we strongly recommend completing the Math Placement exam and following the suggestion given to you. 

The sequence MA 1033 Theoretical Calculus III and MA 1034 Theoretical Calculus IV is an alternative to the MA 1023, MA 1024 sequence in A and B terms. The sequence is designed to give a deeper and more mathematically rigorous presentation of the relevant calculus topics. If you really enjoy math and have credit for Calculus I and II already, you should consider this sequence instead of the MA 1023-MA 1024 sequence.

B Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000/1001

IMGD 1000: Critical Studies of IMGD is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in B term. If you are unable to take this course in B term, you may look to take it in C term.

If you were unable to take IMGD 1001 in A term, you may look to take it in B term or C term.

CS 2102 or 2103 or 2301

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should begin with Computer Science courses in A and B terms. 

Most students follow CS 1101 or CS 1102 with CS 2102 Object-Oriented Design Concepts (offered in Terms B and D), but again students with previous experience may elect to follow with CS 2103 Accelerated Object-Oriented Design Concepts (Offered in Term B only).  Students are encouraged to contact the CS department at undergraduate@cs.wpi.edu if they need help assessing their readiness for CS1102 or CS 2103.

  • Note: CS 2119 Application Building With Object-Oriented Concepts is not offered until D term but is a good object-oriented alternative for students who started with CS 1004 Intro to Programming for Non-majors. 

CS 2301 is Systems Programming for Non Majors is a good B term option for students who started with CS 1004 Intro to Programming for Non-majors in A term.

Students considering a double major with Computer Science should opt for CS 2102 or 2103 instead of CS 2301.

GPS/HUA/SS/MA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, Social Science, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Great Problems Seminar

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar, which are courses exclusively for first year students that allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. More information can be found here.

IMGD majors may be particularly interested in the GPS Games for Hopeful AI Futures, which awards credit for 1/3 unit SS1000 (a social science elective) and IMGD 2000-level credit (an IMGD elective). This GPS will also satisfy the IMGD social implications requirement.

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

You should pick courses in subjects you are interested in. When you come to campus you will learn more about the HUA requirement and how you will complete it. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

Math

IMGD - BS Majors are required to take two Math/Data Analysis courses. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course, but you do not need to complete this in your first semester.

Double majors in Computer Science are required to take seven classes in Math throughout their time at WPI and may wish to start Math in their first semester. In choosing which Math course you will begin with, please consider the following.  

  1. Complete the Math Placement Exam. The Math Placement Exam will tell you which Calculus course you should start in based on your current knowledge. If you are recommended to start in MA 1020, this will be your math course for both terms.
  2. Consider if you have AP Credit (new policy as of 10/20/25):
    Students who obtain a score of “4” on the AB-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021 and should begin with MA 1022 in A term followed by MA 1023 in B term. Those that obtain a score of "5" on the AB-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022 and should begin with MA 1023/1033 in A term followed by MA 1024/1034 in B term.
    Students who obtain a grade of “4” or “5” on the BC-level Exam will receive credit for MA 1021, MA 1022 and MA 1023 and could begin with MA 1024 in A-term then MA 2051 in B-term, OR MA 1033 in A-term followed by MA 1034 in B-term. 
  3. Students who received a 6 or 7 on the IB will receive 2/3 credit of MA 1000, and should use the math placement exam results to decide which math class to take.
  4. Consider the possibility of retroactive credit. If the Math Placement Exam recommends that you start in MA 1022, MA 1023/1033, or MA 1024 but you do not have AP credit, this could be a great option for you. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1022 and MA 1023/1033 on your first attempt, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021. If, in your first year, you complete MA 1023/1033 and MA 1024/1034 on your first attempt you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022.  If, in your first year, you complete MA 1024 and MA 2051, you will receive retroactive credit for MA 1021 and MA 1022. Please note that there is no retroactive credit for MA 1023. In determining if this is the right path for you, we strongly recommend completing the Math Placement exam and following the suggestion given to you. 

The sequence MA 1033 Theoretical Calculus III and MA 1034 Theoretical Calculus IV is an alternative to the MA 1023, MA 1024 sequence in A and B terms. The sequence is designed to give a deeper and more mathematically rigorous presentation of the relevant calculus topics. If you really enjoy math and have credit for Calculus I and II already, you should consider this sequence instead of the MA 1023-MA 1024 sequence.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

A Term Recommendations

IMGD 1001

IMGD 1001: The Game Development Process is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in A term. If you are unable to take this course in A term, you may look to take it in B or C term.

CS 1004/Other STEM

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 1004 or a different STEM course in A term.

CS 1004 is Intro to Programming for Non-Majors. This course will give IMGD majors a background in Programming as they move forward in their major.

IMGD - BA majors are required to take one Math/Data Analysis course in their time at WPI. This can be any MA course at WPI and does not need to be completed in the first semester. IMGD - BA majors who have AP/transfer credit for Calculus may not need to take further Math courses at WPI.

IMGD - BA majors are required to take at least 2 Natural/Engineering Science courses.

  • Natural Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects. Students are encouraged to review the recommended background of these courses before choosing them, especially if they have a recommended background in Math. Science courses like BB 1004 Human Biology; BB 1002 Environmental Biology; and CH 1010 Chemical Properties, Bonding are offered in A term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
  • Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE. Engineering courses like ES 1310 Introduction to Computer Aided Design; ES 1020 Introduction to Engineering; and ME 1800 Manufacturing Science, Prototyping, And Computer-Controlled Machining offered in A term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
GPS/HUA/SS

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Social Science course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Great Problems Seminar

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar, which are courses exclusively for first year students that allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. More information can be found here.

IMGD majors may be particularly interested in the GPS Games for Hopeful AI Futures, which awards credit for 1/3 unit SS1000 (a social science elective) and IMGD 2000-level credit (an IMGD elective). This GPS will also satisfy the IMGD social implications requirement.

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

Note: IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

When you come to campus you will learn more about the HUA requirement and how you will complete it. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

B Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000/1001

IMGD 1000: Critical Studies of IMGD is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in B term. If you are unable to take this course in B term, you may look to take it in C term.

If you were unable to take IMGD 1001 in A term, you may look to take it in B term or C term.

CS/Other STEM

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 1004, CS 2301, or other STEM course.

CS 1004 is Intro to Programming for Non-Majors. This course will give IMGD majors a background in Programming as they move forward in their major. CS 2301 is Systems Programming for Non-majors and is a good option as a second CS course for IMGD - BA majors. 

IMGD - BA majors are required to take one Math/Data Analysis course in their time at WPI. This math course can be in any subject and does not need to be completed in the first semester. IMGD - BA majors who have AP/transfer credit for Calculus may not need to take further Math courses at WPI.

IMGD - BA majors are required to take at least 2 Natural/Engineering Science courses.

  • Natural Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects. Students are encouraged to review the recommended background of these courses before choosing them, especially if they have a recommended background in Math. Science courses like BB 1001 Introduction to Biology; BB 1003 Exploring Bioinformatics and Computational Biology; BB 1004 Human Biology; and CH 1020 Chemical Reactions (for those who took CH 1010 in A term) are offered in B term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
  • Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE. Engineering courses like ES 1310 Introduction to Computer Aided Design and ME 1800 Manufacturing Science, Prototyping, And Computer-Controlled Machining offered in B term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
GPS/HUA/SS

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Social Science course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Great Problems Seminar

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar, which are courses exclusively for first year students that allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. More information can be found here.

IMGD majors may be particularly interested in the GPS Games for Hopeful AI Futures, which awards credit for 1/3 unit SS1000 (a social science elective) and IMGD 2000-level credit (an IMGD elective). This GPS will also satisfy the IMGD social implications requirement.

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

Note: IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

When you come to campus you will learn more about the HUA requirement and how you will complete it. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

Searching for Courses

As you begin to plan your course preferences, consider using one of the following methods:  

  • Visit the Course Listings page. On this page, you can search for courses you are interested in and filter your search by subject, term, keyword, etc.  
  • The  WPI Planner is a helpful tool to assist you in viewing schedule and course times as you develop your plan. Click on this link to view the planner and instructions on how to use it.

Please note: As you begin to search for courses, it is helpful to review the recommended or suggested background included in the course descriptions. Recommended background is coursework or information that has been identified as important for you to have or understand before taking that course. Suggested background is helpful information to have but may not be absolutely necessary in order to excel in the course.  

Your Academic Support Advisor is available to assist you with questions.

C & D Term

Bachelor of Science Degree

C Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000 or IMGD 2030

Taking an IMGD course is recommended for all IMGD majors in C term. 

If you did not have the chance to take IMGD 1000 in B term, you may look to take it in C term.

If you have taken both IMGD 1000 and 1001 already, you may look to take IMGD 2030 Game Audio I in C term.

CS 1101 or 2022 or 2303

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should take Computer Science Courses before the end of their first year. 

The Computer Science introductory curriculum emphasizes program design; as part of this focus, the order in which languages are introduced is Racket/Scheme, followed by Java and then C/C++.   

IMGD - BS majors can choose to take either CS 1004 Introduction to Programming for Non Majors (not offered in C term) or CS 1101 Introduction to Program Design, but students interested in double majoring in Computer Science should take CS 1101. 

If you have completed these courses, you may consider CS 2022 Discrete Math or CS 2303 Systems Programming Concepts, especially if you are considering a double major in Computer Science. Please look at course descriptions to determine recommended background.

HUA/SS/MA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, Social Science, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

Note: IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

Math

IMGD - BS Majors are required to take two Math/Data Analysis courses. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course, but you do not need to complete this in your first year.

Double majors in Computer Science are required to take seven classes in Math throughout their time at WPI. In C Term, you should take the next course in the Calculus series beyond your B term course, or Statistics (MA 2611), Probability (MA 2621) or Discrete Math (MA 2201/CS 2022). 

The following is the typical MA sequence for WPI Students.

MA 1021/1020

MA 1022/1120

MA 1023/1033 

MA 1024/1034 

D Term Recommendations

IMGD 1002 or IMGD 2030

IMGD 1002 Storytelling in Interactive Media and Games is recommended for IMGD majors in D term. 

If you have taken both IMGD 1000 and 1001 already, you may look to take IMGD 2030 Game Audio I in D term.

CS 2102 or 2119 or 2011 or 2103

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should complete two computer science courses by the end of their first year. 

IMGD - BS students who took CS 1004 and are not intending on double majoring in Computer Science should plan to take CS 2119 Application Building With Object-Oriented Concepts. 

Students who took CS 1101/1102 and are intending on double majoring in Computer Science should take CS 2102 Object-Oriented Design Concepts

IMGD students can also take CS 2011: Machine Organization and Assembly Language. 

 

HUA/SS/MA

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts, Social Science, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

Note: IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

Math

IMGD - BS Majors are required to take two Math/Data Analysis courses. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course, but you do not need to complete this in your first year.

Double majors in Computer Science are required to take seven classes in Math throughout their time at WPI. In D Term, you should take the next course in the Calculus series beyond your B term course, or Statistics (MA 2611), Probability (MA 2621) or Discrete Math (MA 2201/CS 2022). 

The following is the typical MA sequence for WPI Students.

MA 1021/1020

MA 1022/1120

MA 1023/1033 

MA 1024/1034 

Bachelor of Arts Degree

C Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000 or IMGD 2030

Taking an IMGD course is recommended for all IMGD majors in C term. 

If you did not have the chance to take IMGD 1000 in B term, you may look to take it in C term.

If you have taken both IMGD 1000 and 1001 already, you may look to take IMGD 2030 Game Audio I in C term.

CS 1004/Other STEM

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 1004 or a different STEM course in C term.

CS 1004 is Intro to Programming for Non-Majors. This course will give IMGD majors a background in Programming as they move forward in their major. 

IMGD - BA majors are required to take one Math/Data Analysis course in their time at WPI. This math course can be in any subject and does not need to be completed in the first semester. IMGD - BA majors who have AP/transfer credit for Calculus may not need to take further Math courses at WPI.

IMGD - BA majors are required to take at least 2 Natural/Engineering Science courses.

  • Natural Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects. Students are encouraged to review the recommended background of these courses before choosing them, especially if they have a recommended background in Math. Science courses like BB 1001 Introduction to Biology; BB 1002 Environmental Biology; BB 1004 Human Biology; and CH 1010 Chemical Properties, Bonding, and Forces are offered in C term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
  • Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE. Engineering courses like ES 1310 Introduction to Computer Aided Design; ES 1500 Fundamentals of Systems Thinking; and ME 1800 Manufacturing Science, Prototyping, And Computer-Controlled Machining are offered in C term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
HUA/SS

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts or Social Science course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

Note: IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

D Term Recommendations

IMGD 1002 or IMGD 2030

IMGD 1002 Storytelling in Interactive Media and Games is recommended for IMGD majors in D term. 

If you have taken both IMGD 1000 and 1001 already, you may look to take IMGD 2030 Game Audio I in D term.

CS 2119/Other STEM

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 2119 or a different STEM course in D term.

CS 2119 is Application Building With Object-Oriented Concepts. This is an appropriate second CS course for students who took CS 1004.

IMGD - BA majors are required to take one Math/Data Analysis course in their time at WPI. This math course can be in any subject and does not need to be completed in the first semester. IMGD - BA majors who have AP/transfer credit for Calculus may not need to take further Math courses at WPI.

IMGD - BA majors are required to take at least 2 Natural/Engineering Science courses.

  • Natural Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects. Students are encouraged to review the recommended background of these courses before choosing them, especially if they have a recommended background in Math. Science courses like BB 1001 Introduction to Biology; BB 1004 Human Biology; and CH 1020 Chemical Reactions (for those who took CH 1010 already) are available in D term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
  • Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE. Engineering courses like ES 1310 Introduction to Computer Aided Design and ME 1800 Manufacturing Science, Prototyping, And Computer-Controlled Machining are offered in D term and have limited or no recommended backgrounds. 
HUA/SS

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts or Social Science course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Humanities and Arts

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art/Art History (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Theatre (TH)
  • Modern Languages - Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN), Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu) 
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For Integrated Skills in English Information: The placement exam is not currently required and students are welcome to register for all ISE courses. Please contact Prof. Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu) or Prof. Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR)
  • History (HI)
  • Humanities (HU)
  • International and Global Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

Note: IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

Social Science

You are required to take two Social Science Courses in your time at WPI. The subjects that are considered Social Science are:

  • Development (DEV)
  • Economics (ECON)
  • Environmental Studies (ENV)
  • Government, Political Science, and Law (GOV)
  • Psychology (PSY)
  • System Dynamics (SD)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Science (SS)
  • Society/Technology Studies (STS)

Note: ID 2050 is a course that is required before you go away for IQP and counts as one of your Social Science Courses. If you are planning on going away for IQP in your junior year, you may only want to take one social science course in your first year. 

Once you go through the above recommendations, please be sure to review Registration Information so you know how to register on November 11th. 

Registering in Workday

Note: This task is only for registering for C & D Term.

PRE-REGISTRATION PREP​ 

  • Watch the 10 min. overview  video 
  • Login to Workday​
  • Use Find Course Sections to build at least one Saved Schedule for C-Term, D-Term, and if you're taking any 10 or 14 week classes, Spring Semester (instructions)​​​ 

November 11, 7AM ET: REGISTER​ 

  • Login to Workday​
  • Open a browser tab or window for C-Term, D-Term, and Spring Semester (if you have any 10 or 14 week classes) and View My Saved Schedules for each​
  • [Optional] Open tabs for alternate course sections from other Saved Schedules or search results​
  • When registration opens, click Start Registration, then click Register (instructions)
  • Open View My Courses, scroll right to Drop or Swap (instructions)​
  • Waitlisted? If a spot opens, a notification will be sent to your WPI email asking you to login to Workday and take action