Game Design and Experiential Media (B.S.)
Make games. Make worlds. Make a difference. Come create with us at Chicago's only tech-focused university.
Jump to the forefront of the rapidly expanding, multi-billion-dollar games industry through Illinois Institute of Technology’s Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Experiential Media program. We are Chicago’s premier tech-focused university—located in a global metropolis at the center of a top 10 market in the United States for game design.
Work collaboratively to create games and experiential media in a project-based environment. Connect with on-campus networks such as Illinois Tech Esports, the Illinois Tech chapter of the International Game Developers Association, and the Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) Program Game Lab to launch your future in gaming.
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Why Study Games at a Technology-Focused University?
Studying games at Illinois Tech uniquely prepares students to launch their careers in the tech industry. Game design and experiential media majors are working alongside engineers, computer scientists, entrepreneurs, and researchers every day, creating games and experiences in a vibrant multidisciplinary community. Our program fuses creativity and passion with deep technical expertise that you can't get anywhere else.
Program Overview
Connect and collaborate with peers to learn technical and creative skills in game design, interactive media, and storytelling to create the next generation of emerging media at Chicago’s only tech-focused university.
Career Opportunities
Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to step into exciting roles not only at top game companies such as Riot Games, Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and Rockstar Games, but also at some of the world’s premier tech companies including Google, Bose, and Microsoft.
Some common jobs that graduates pursue include:
- Game developer
- Software engineer
- Web developer
- Artificial intelligence programmer
- User interface designer
- Level designer
- Script writer
- Narrative designer
- Quality assurance analyst
- User researcher
All GEM majors participate in a first-semester studio class and take a slate of courses covering aspects of game development ranging from storytelling and game mechanics to more technical areas. Because there's more than one way to be a game developer, every GEM student customizes their educational experience through their choice of technical electives, enabling them to focus on the areas of game design they care about most, whether that's art, narrative design, programming, or something else entirely. If you have curriculum questions, feel free to contact Carly Kocurek at ckocurek@iit.edu.
Admission to Illinois Tech is required to enroll in the B.S. in Game Design and Experiential Media program.
A Games Gala
gamebIITes is back! Take part in next spring’s 2025 gamebIITes festival against student game developers from across Chicago to win prizes and earn feedback by game designers and professionals within the industry.
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Game On!
Be it through competing in high-level tournaments or at a casual LAN party, Illinois Tech Esports aims to create a space for everyone to connect through gaming.
Esports at Illinois Tech
Building an Esports Community
Illinois Tech awards scholarships to students who demonstrate a commitment to community-building, leadership development, and growth in the esports community.
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Take Your Ideas to the Next Level
The Idea Shop is a state-of-the-art, rapid-prototyping lab that houses 3D printers and scanners, multiple CNC milling machines, a vacuum former, and laser cutter.
Learn MoreOur Students Do Big Things
Video Game Eye Test Could Spark Revolution
Illinois Tech alumnus Alex Damarjian (Ph.D. THUM ’22) has created PDI Check, a video game that can be used by doctors to diagnose vision problems.
Building Cultural Awareness through Game Design
Illinois Tech alumnus Michael DeAnda (THUM '19) is teaching the next generation of game designers to consider inclusivity and the cultural stories their games can tell.
Blending Creativity and Technical Skills for a Better World
Angela Petrone is maximizing her education by taking part in diverse learning opportunities, including placing first in the undergraduate division of Lewis College of Science and Letters' 2023 Research Day.
Featured Faculty and Staff
Jennifer deWinter
Carly A. Kocurek
Arlen C. Moller
Kristina N. Bauer
Mark Roman Miller
Xiaoyun “Aarn” Cao
April Welch
