UCI Game Design & Interactive Media Program

Originally established in 2009 as Computer Game Sciences, the new Game Design and Interactive Media Design (GDIM) Program offers classes to undergraduate and graduate students on game programming, game design, worldbuilding, and games and society. UCI is a tier 1 research university providing real growth opportunities to students with a brand new course program, mentoring structure, and student body. UCI’s Game Design and Interactive Media program will prepare you to be an innovative designer, developer, and industry leader. Taught by internationally recognized faculty and industry experts, early program requirements include hands-on courses in game programming, game design and development, visual design, interactive storytelling, data science, and game studies. Electives in advanced game design and development, programming, storytelling, games entrepreneurship, and the cultural aspects of games offer students the chance to build a portfolio that reflects your individual interests and career goals. The program explores both established and emerging platforms, including AR/VR, tabletop, and mobile. Students will benefit from access to industry partners like Blizzard, Riot, Electronic Arts, Obsidian Entertainment, Age of Learning, Disney, Tencent, and the Cartoon Network. Students will also complete the major as a conscientious, well-informed, skilled design collaborator who understands the centrality of games and interactive media to the world today. Key features of this program include: - Design literacy in contemporary game design theory & practice - Technical literacy in industry-standard engines & tools - Graduate with a portfolio of games - Team-driven environment to cultivate professional collaborative skills - Novel courses in entrepreneurship, data science, roleplay, storytelling - Cohort model to support diverse students making diverse games