Game Design and Interactive Media, BA
You’ll take both lecture and skills-based courses with ample hands-on opportunities in technology and design thinking relevant to digital, interactive platforms, like video games and narrative web experiences. Coursework will also expose you to the history, guiding principles, ethics, diversity, and cultural issues related to design, technology, and interactive media.
Students hone their creative and analytical skills through real world projects including publishing their original video games through MonRiverGames, the program’s non-profit game publishing studio. Graduates learn how to grow with the ever-evolving industry, and leave the program prepared for a career as a game developer, digital content producer, visual designer, project manager, interactive storyteller, media communicator, or animator.
A portfolio review is not required for admission to the Game Design and Interactive Media Program.
Your Degree Plan
Gaming Design and Digital Narrative
ART 386S
This course covers an introduction to the principles and practice of game design as a tool for interactivity, database storytelling, and audience building within journalism. The course will analyze case studies and provide hands-on development and application of game mechanics and game dynamics within journalism and strategic media across web, mobile, tablet, and emergent augmented reality platforms.
Beginning 3D Animation
ART 273S
Introduction to 3D computer modeling and animation. Fundamental concepts and techniques of polygonal modeling, shading, texturing, lighting, animating, and rendering. Character design and bipedal animation. The course culminates with the production of an original, character-based group animation.
Interactive Audio Design
ART 285
Covers core principles of audio design and control in an interactive environment. Students will learn about sound creation and propagation, audio recording and editing, the structure and emotional effect of music, and the function and application of sound effects to augment interactive experiences.
Intermediate Game Design
ART 482S
Key concepts that students explore are interactive and game design in 3-dimensional spaces within both the physical computing and purely digital media. Students will establish a critical awareness of computer-controlled environments through programming, interactions development, game design, and game theory.
Honors
Expand your curiosity and enhance your curriculum through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations and Honors in Action.
The WVU Difference
What sets this program apart?
- WVU’s Game Design and Interactive Media program is a silver academic partner with Unreal Engine.
- You’ll be exposed to visual design, coding, animation, game theory, digital storytelling, and media ethics.
- The major’s home in the College of Creative Arts and Media brings together the faculty and resources from both media and art.
- Advanced students can work with MonRiverGames, a student-run non-profit game publishing studio to promote and distribute their creations.
- Small class sizes with individualized attention and a real sense of community.
- Funding available for study abroad and major market internships.
- Purpose Center - Discover your values and strengths to guide your educational path and personal journey.
Learn by Doing
Get involved outside the classroom.
Hands-on Learning
You will work with talented, accomplished faculty, interact with industry professionals, and gain real-world experience working with MonRiverGames, a student-staffed game publishing studio created and coordinated by the game design faculty.
Capstone Courses
You will have your choice of a capstone experience. You can develop personal, narrative websites that showcase your audio-visual design skills, interactive coding techniques and advanced storytelling. Or you can work with the MonRiverGames studio to create team-focused video games. Recent game releases include Spy Cats, One Man’s Trash, Purple House, Rosco’s Adventure, Trooper Cooper’s Campsite Cleanup, and many others.
Minors
Students often combine the GDIM program with a variety of minors, including Time-based Media, Photography, Sport and Adventure Media, Creative Writing, Advertising, Cybersecurity, and Computer Science.
View all of the student organizations you can join.
- Game development and level design
- Narrative storytelling and character design
- HTML, CSS, and Javascript web coding
- Digital content gathering, editing, and production
Careers and Outcomes
How does this degree prepare students for a career?
Web and Digital Interface Designers
Has a Bright Outlook
Median Salary: $98,090
Possible Job Titles: Web Architect, Web Design Specialist, Web Designer, Webmaster
Video Game Designers
Has a Bright Outlook
Median Salary: $98,090
Possible Job Titles: Design Director, Designer, Game Designer, World Designer
Career options
Graduates from the GDIM program have gone on to be:
- Game developers
- Interactive audio designers
- Digital media specialists
- UX designers
- Educators
- Social media coordinators
- Media buyers
Graduates have also been accepted to the Game Design master of arts program at WVU.
Game Design MA
The College of Creative Arts and Media offers a fully online MA in Game Design that provides the opportunity to design and prototype your own game and enhance your professional game design portfolio.
Graduates of the GDIM program have the option of enrolling in the Game Design MA program to continue and expand on their undergraduate studies.
FAQs
Common questions and answers about Game Design and Interactive Media.
GDIM graduates have been hired by Blizzard Games, worked on social media campaigns for Little Caesar’s and have been hired as a game design educator for Nonpariel Institutes.
Graduates also work as multimedia specialists, web designers, digital content producers, and social media directors.
Places and Spaces
See where you’ll study, research, and create.
Canady Creative Arts Center
Media Innovation Center
Virtual Tour
It’s the next best thing to being here. Virtually tour our campus and residence halls.
Student Life
You'll experience epic traditions, quality academics, and a supportive community that feels like home.
Visit
See WVU in person and start imagining life as a Mountaineer.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the Game Design and Interactive Media major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.
Tuition and Aid
How much does Game Design and Interactive Media at WVU cost? And how can you save?
Tuition and Fees
Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.
Ways to Save
Beyond scholarships, here are other ways to reduce your cost of attending WVU.
Financial Aid
The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Game Design and Interactive Media, BA is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Ohio Tuition Reciprocity
As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Game Design and Interactive Media can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.
Start at Another WVU Campus
You can start your career with WVU at another campus and transfer to WVU Morgantown.
Transfer Articulation Agreements
To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.
Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.
Request Info
Want to know more about Game Design and Interactive Media at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.
Visit
Experiencing campus is the best way to see if WVU is the right fit. Choose from in-person and virtual options.