Degree Offered
- Master of Arts
Nature of the Program
The MA in Game Design blends creativity, technology, and strategy to prepare students for the dynamic gaming industry. Designed for aspiring game designers, developers, and storytellers, this program provides hands-on experience in game design, game theory, interface design, user experience (UX), and usability testing.
This 30-credit-hour program is ideal for emerging game designers looking to expand their conceptual, production, and project management skills while advancing their professional credentials. The curriculum is fully online and asynchronous, allowing students to participate from anywhere in the world. It culminates in a capstone project that challenges students to design and develop a functional, playable game prototype, demonstrating their ability to bring a game concept to life.
With selective enrollment, students benefit from individualized mentorship with a dedicated and diverse faculty who are industry experts and committed to ongoing professional engagement. Throughout the program, students will develop and communicate a deep understanding of historical, cultural, contemporary, and aesthetic issues within the game industry. They will also be expected to articulate and defend their capstone project proposal and final prototype within the context of the evolving game design landscape.
Program Format
The academic calendar for this online and asynchronous program comprises four accelerated terms, aligned with the University's established parts of term: Early Fall (August–October), Late Fall (October–December), Early Spring (January–March), and Late Spring (March–May).
Admissions for 2026-2027
The program accepts applications for both the spring and fall semesters. There is a two-step process for graduate applications.
Step 1: Apply to West Virginia University Graduate School online. This application will require you to upload your transcripts, resume, letter of intent, three letters of recommendation and pay an application fee. Applicants must have had a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 to be considered for admission.
Step 2: Submit your portfolio to the WVU School of Art & Design.
Submit the following material for the degree you are interested in:
MA in Game Design: Portfolio: Up to 5 representative samples of your work with a total viewing duration of no longer than 60 minutes, including interactive projects, game prototypes, game components, graphic imagery, virtual environments, virtual character studies, photographs, or video documentation of the same. WVU School of Art & Design faculty will review portfolios and make recommendations for program acceptance.
Applicants may be required to take additional course work after careful review of undergraduate transcripts.
In addition to the application materials listed, transfer students must transfer graduate work completed elsewhere. Transcripts must accompany the written request. The acceptance of transfer credit is not automatic. The graduate faculty, the graduate advisor, and the School Director will determine how much, if any, previous graduate-level work may be transferred. The maximum allowable number of graduate transfer credits toward the degree is nine. All transfer credits must be in place by the end of the first semester.
Major Code: 3730
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 502S | Game Design | 3 |
| ART 503 | Game Theory | 3 |
| ART 505S | Game Production | 3 |
| ART 603S | Thesis: Concept & Research | 3 |
| ART 604S | Thesis: Design & Project Plan | 3 |
| ART 606S | Thesis: Project Launch | 3 |
| ART 607S | Thesis: Production | 6 |
| Select six hours from the following: | 6 | |
| Game Design Residency | ||
| Focus Module | ||
Electives | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Semester | Hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ART 608 | 1 | ||
| 1 | |||
| Second Semester | Hours | ||
| ART 502S | 3 | ||
| ART 503 | 3 | ||
| ART 507 | 1 | ||
| 7 | |||
| Third Semester | Hours | ||
| ART 505S | 3 | ||
| ART 603S | 3 | ||
| ART 507 | 1 | ||
| 7 | |||
| Fourth Semester | Hours | ||
| ART 608 | 1 | ||
| 1 | |||
| Fifth Semester | Hours | ||
| ART 604S | 3 | ||
| ART 606S | 3 | ||
| ART 507 | 1 | ||
| 7 | |||
| Sixth Semester | Hours | ||
| ART 607S | 6 | ||
| 6 | |||
| Seventh Semester | Hours | ||
| ART 608 | 1 | ||
| 1 | |||
| Total credit hours: 30 | |||
- *
The first semester in this program is a summer term.
- **
An accelerated track is also available. Candidates may consult their faculty advisor to learn more details.
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's BA in Game Design and Interactive Media and MA in Game Design
Students must fulfill all degree requirements for the B.A .in Game Design and Interactive Media and all the requirements for the M.A. in Game Design. Students must also meet all the requirements of the A.B.M. in Game Design.
ABM Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Coursework | 111 | |
| Shared B.A. / M.A. Coursework | 9 | |
| Graduate Coursework | 21 | |
| Total Hours | 141 | |
Shared Bachelor's/Master's Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- or better is required in all major coursework. | ||
| ART 502S | Game Design | 3 |
| ART 503 | Game Theory | 3 |
| ART 505S | Game Production | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Suggest Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 191 | 2 | MDIA 215S | 3 |
| ART 121S | 3 | ART 122S | 3 |
| MDIA 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | ARHS 160 (GEF 6) | 3 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 2 | 4 |
| Elective or Minor course | 3 | Elective or Minor course | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 287 | 3 | ART 286S | 3 |
| ART 270S | 3 | ART 285S | 3 |
| ART 272S | 3 | ART 387 | 3 |
| GEF 3 | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| Elective or Minor course | 3 | Elective or Minor course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 273S | 3 | MDIA 328 | 3 |
| ART 372S | 3 | ART 486S | 3 |
| ART 386S | 3 | ART 503 | 3 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| Elective or Minor course | 3 | Elective or Minor course (GEF 8) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 485S | 3 | ART 472S | 3 |
| ART 502S | 3 | ART 505S | 3 |
| ART 487S | 3 | ARHS elective | 3 |
| Elective or Minor course | 3 | Elective or Minor course | 3 |
| Elective or Minor course (GEF 8) | 3 | Elective or Minor course (GEF 8) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fifth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 507, ART 608, or Electives | 6 | ART 606S | 3 |
| ART 603S | 3 | ART 607S | 6 |
| ART 604S | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | ||
| Total credit hours: 141 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Game Design
1. Graduates of this program will be able to analyze the structure of a game to address theory, narrative, character, environment, and sound elements.
2. Graduates of this program will be able to produce functional game prototypes based on theoretical insight, factual observation, iterative processes, and a game design document.
3. Graduates of this program will be able to develop executive leadership, project management, and team management abilities to organize and manage a production pipeline in a remote team-based environment.
4. Graduates of this program will develop competence in usability testing for game quality control.