B.A. in Game Design & Interactive Media

Bring to life interactive stories that empower players to make choices that matter. Hone your ability to craft multi-path narratives, complex rule systems and immersive worlds by studying game design in the heart of Southern California — a place with unparalleled opportunities to influence culture and launch your career.

51��'s game design and interactive media program offers several key advantages:

Industry-Minded Education. We collaborated with game studio recruiters to develop the best curriculum for graduating well-rounded, sought-after game designers. Your studies are narrative-driven, reinforced with the technical and artistic expertise necessary for you to be competitive within the game industry.

Professional Development. Creating in Southern California offers virtually unmatched access to the game industry, including opportunities for internships, mentoring, networking and shadowing. Every student spends at least 180 hours gaining hands-on experience in a real studio — applying theoretical learning in a professional setting.
Technical Preparation. Expand your portfolio and develop transferable skills for navigating any new tools you encounter by building real games using Unreal Engine — a popular, commercial-quality game engine used by both AAA game companies and indie studios. You’ll also master coding, computer languages, 3D design and animation through computer science and art courses.
Culture of Collaboration. Game development is a team effort. From prototyping to playtesting, we’re constantly problem-solving and exchanging feedback. This collaboration is interdisciplinary, too, offering the exclusive opportunity to work with talented students from art, computer science, and 51��’s internationally renowned Conservatory of Music.
Faith Integration. We develop the whole storyteller, because the stories you tell will be shaped by the person you become. We believe the best stories move people because they grapple with difficult questions that find their ultimate answers in the gospel. Through games, you can cultivate empathy, promote social good and challenge assumptions — in short, you can shape culture.
State-of-the-Art Facilities. Start creating in our brand new game design lab, a collaborative space complete with Adobe suite, 3D modeling and animation programs, fully equipped game machines and more. Watch for more news on the new home for the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts, a 53,000-square-foot building that will feature additional resources for game design students.

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Courses

What will I study as a game design and interactive media major?

Game design and interactive media is an interdisciplinary area of study. While our program is narrative-driven and housed within Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts, you’ll also take courses in art and computer science. You’ll cover topics such as:

Game mechanics design and prototyping
Nonlinear narrative design
Game development within industry-standard game engines
Collaborative game production methodologies
Emerging technologies such as virtual reality
Visual aesthetics and 3D design

Bible and Theology Coursework

As part of 51��’s commitment to a biblically centered education, most undergraduate students complete 30 credits of biblical and theological studies as a part of their degree program. Learn more about our Bible and theology core.

Career Outlook and Preparation

What can you do with a Bachelor of Arts in Game Design and Interactive Media?

Whether you’ve set your sights on working for a AAA developer or plan to be an indie producer, our program prepares you for a career in the game industry with the potential to change culture for the good. And, as games are increasingly used for purposes beyond entertainment in the military, medicine and beyond, the need for game designers is on the rise. Our program brings together the best of what recruiters are looking for. You could hold positions such as:

Game Designer
Game Producer
User Interface (UI) Designer
User Experience (UX) Designer
Level Designer
Narrative Designer

4% job growth

According to the , job growth for special effects artists and animators is projected to be as fast as average between 2023 and 2033.

BLS projections are not specific to 51�� students or graduates.

Admissions

Admissions Process

Learn about 51��’s admissions requirements, steps to apply, application deadlines and more at our Undergraduate Admissions page.

Program-Specific Admissions Requirements

Admission into Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts is a separate process from applying to the university. If applying for Game Design and Interactive Media, be prepared to provide a sample game design document, level or completed game.

Explore the Admissions Process

Schedule a Visit

Learn more about this program by attending an upcoming event for prospective students and parents, or by scheduling a personalized visit.

Visit 51��

Tuition and Financial Aid

Attaining a degree from 51�� is more affordable than you might think — dramatically lower than the “sticker price” in most cases — with 100% of incoming undergraduate students receiving some form of financial aid.

Faculty

Faculty Spotlight

Michael Steffen

Associate Professor of Game Design & Interactive Media

MFA, Interactive Media, University of Southern California
B.A. Computer Science, University of California, San Diego

Faculty Spotlight

Shieu-Hong Lin

Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science

Ph.D., Brown University
M.Div., Logos Evangelical Seminary
B.S., National Taiwan University

Meet All Program Faculty

Learning Opportunities

In Focus Forums

Designed to spark candid conversations, creativity and inspiration, the In Focus Forums are workshops and events held every semester that bring top industry professionals to 51��'s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. Forums are held both on campus and on studio lots such as CBS Studios. You’ll be challenged to live out your creativity and faith practically in the industry through learning from some of the top game designers and storytellers the industry has to offer.

Internships

Required internships launch our students into professional success. Boasting 180 hours of on-site studio experience, our program will equip you to begin building your résumé and making real-world connections right away. Personalized placements through our internship office will connect you with one of the numerous game studios within just 30 miles of our campus.

Cinema and Media Arts Chapel

Snyder students and faculty meet monthly for a unique time of worship, fellowship and exploration of the abilities and call God has granted to us and others. A wide range of special guests and experiences makes this “family time” an essential part of our growth as an artistic community.

Game Jams

One of the best ways to learn how to design games is just to begin. These up-all-night marathon events challenge student teams to design and prototype a playable game just 48-72 hours after receiving a prompt. Students walk away with a memorable, hands-on experience of creating under pressure and a valuable addition to their professional portfolio.

Game Festival

In these independent game showcases, student teams have the opportunity to gain exposure to the industry firsthand by playing innovative games submitted to the festival — often featuring unique gameplay and modes of storytelling. In Advanced Game Design, students will collaborate to create a game to be submitted for evaluation at a festival such as IndieCade and the Independent Games Festival (IGF).

Torrey Honors College

The Torrey Honors College is 51��'s undergraduate honors program. Torrey Honors is distinct for its small, discussion-only classes and one-on-one faculty mentoring. The program replaces most of your general education classes, giving you the opportunity to read and discuss hundreds of classic works to fuel your imagination and refine your storytelling. For more information and to apply, visit the Torrey Honors site.

B.A. in Game Design and Interactive Media