Do you want to make games and virtual reality? Design technology that changes the world? Work on the intersection of games, film, and animation? Follow your passion to become an entrepreneur? Our Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Media and Information is the right degree for you! It prepares you for exciting careers in games and interactive media design, filmmaking and media production, technical and concept art, and the creation of human-centered technology. Within the major, there are complete tracks in Games and Interactive Media Design, Graphics and Animation, Film and Media Production, and more, as well as a transcriptable concentration in Game and Interactive Media Design.
The Minor in Game Design and Development complements the depth of knowledge students acquire in their majors (Media and Information, Computer Science, or Studio Art) with a multidisciplinary understanding of game design and development. Students learn the foundations and develop core competencies in their primary area of study and broaden their horizons as interdisciplinary team members, learning game design theories and principles, collaborating on the design and development of game projects, and engaging in active learning and authentic, situated creative problem-solving, while building a portfolio of game projects.
Michigan State University offers a carefully crafted three-course, transcriptable, university graduate certificate in serious games which can be completed either fully online or on campus through hybrid courses which meet in the classroom with an online component. The program is designed to give game designers, teachers, and researchers graduate-level insight into serious game theories, serious game design, and human-centered design.
Not an MSU student? Take the 100% online specialization through Coursera. This Specialization covers the theoretical and practical foundations of video game production using the Unity 3D game engine. The Specialization is taught by faculty at Michigan State University with over fifty years of combined experience building games and teaching game production. The specialization builds a solid foundation for industry roles as a gameplay designer, level designer, technical designer, technical artist, programmer, or producer. Take the specialization and earn a certified MSU/Coursera certificate to level up your career.
MSU Media Summer Camps are pre-college exposure programs for high school and middle school students in media and technology topics including game design, 3D animation, web design, digital cinema, and TV production. Each camp includes five full days of interactive and intensive instruction with MSU faculty and staff, culminating in a showcase of student work on the final day. Students may participate in day-only instruction or stay overnight as a visiting residential student.
Michigan State University founded the International Conference on Meaningful Play and hosted it in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. Meaningful Play is a conference about theory, research, and game design innovations, principles and practices. Meaningful Play brings scholars and industry professionals together to understand and improve upon games to entertain, inform, educate, and persuade in meaningful ways. The conference will include thought-provoking keynotes from leaders in academia and industry, peer-reviewed paper presentations, panel sessions (including academic and industry discussions), innovative workshops, roundtable discussions, and exhibitions of games and prototypes.
Spartasoft, a Michigan State University student organization, is devoted to learning about and taking part in video game development. We are students who are interested in every aspect of creating video games. We are a professional organization that seeks to make industry contacts and aid students in future job placement, but the majority of our focus lies on gaining skills and experience in game development through student projects and tutorial presentations. Members of Spartasoft are from computer science, telecomm, art, history majors, and everything in between. New members don’t need any experience creating games, just a desire to learn!
Each year, students in the Game Design and Development program embark on a game design field experience to the West Coast! They visit a number of game studios, meet with development teams and explore the great sights and sounds of California! On most occasions, the trip also coincides with the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The trip is a wonderful experience full of great networking opportunities, insights into the game design industry and advice directly from game developers.
On Thursday May 4th we will be hosting our end of year student game showcase! The best game projects developed by students during the past academic year at MSU will be available for you to play. There will be a People’s Choice and Best in Show award at the end of the showcase, so be sure to stay ’till the end!
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