Bachelor of Arts in Games And Interactive Media Greensboro College, USA

Your courses will give you experience in areas such as psychology, kinesiology, art, and communication as you learn how interactive media applications engage users. Your studies include an examination of the philosophy of play, what it takes to be an elite performer, how media and digital technologies work, the psychology and theory that game designers draw on to get players to come back for a replay and ways that game companies make their profits, the relations between game design and development, and the role of publishers in producing AAA games. Students study and practice the principles of game storytelling, game journalism, and the business of gaming.

The influence of digital gaming and “serious games” in the workplace is already evident on a global scale. This major offers a balanced study of the intersections among media studies, communication, and gaming. Career preparation is a focal point in this major, so students should be open to doing internships with a variety of companies.

Your coursework will integrate all the things you love to do and think about:

• Discover the secrets that game companies use to keep you coming back for more play
• Study esports tournaments and artful casting of the competitions
• Critically examine how different genres of games–RPG, FPS, MMORPG, platformers, adventure, puzzle, interactive narrative, and more–appeal to different users
• Create and develop your own characters and levels
• Do collaborative projects that develop teamwork, which is a key skill in most professions, and especially in the game industry
• Learn why game and software companies use project management techniques such as Agile and SCRUM
• Learn more about how games are designed and developed
• Explore the world of transmedia storytelling by studying non-game assets, such as books (concept art, walkthroughs with Easter eggs, game lore), music, voice acting, game-specific communities, game cons, and more
• Consider the business, ethical, psychological, and performance aspects of gaming and interactive media

Why Choose This Degree?

Earning a B.A. in Games and Interactive Media leads to flexible career paths and allows you to:

• Secure a position in online game community management
• Become a game journalist or reviewer
• Become an esports caster or commentator for Twitch, YouTube, or other media platforms
• Develop game narratives and work on character development for a game company
• Work for a game publisher to market and advertise games
• Take a job in a field adjacent to the gaming industry, such as social media management, sports media, web development, advertising, media production, writing, or editing
• Get a start as an AAA game developer as a game tester or quality assurance expert
• Apply to a graduate program in communication, interactive media, digital media or journalism