Interdisciplinary Programs Major, BA - Visual and Interactive Storytelling Program (VIS) Concentration - Gaming Paradigms Track

The Gaming Paradigms track is part of the Visual and Interactive Storytelling (VIS) Interdisciplinary Program within the College of Arts and Sciences. This innovative curriculum invites students to explore digital games as both a cultural phenomenon and a leading force in technological advancement.

Blending applied humanities with hands-on training in storytelling and emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and immersive media—the program equips students to create, analyze, and critique analog and digital forms of play. Interdisciplinary coursework emphasizes world-building, systems of knowledge circulation, and feedback, fostering both critical insight and practical skills.

Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in digital media and cultural industries, or to advance into graduate study in game studies and digital humanities.

College Requirements

Arts and Sciences

Prerequisites (6 credit hours):

ART 102 - Introduction to Art: Time 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 244* - Introduction to Games and Narrative 3 Credit Hours

Major Requirements

The Gaming Paradigms track consists of 33 credit hours.

Historical Foundations (3 credit hours).

Choose one of the following.

ARTH 356 - Video Game Art 3 Credit Hours
HIST 150* - History through Video Games 3 Credit Hours
JAPA 321 - Japanese Popular Media 3 Credit Hours
WLC 340 - Gaming the World: Cultures, Stories, Meaning 3 Credit Hours

Narrative Foundations (6 credit hours):

Choose two of the following.

ARAB 355 - The Middle East in American Culture 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 263* - Introduction to Creative Writing Credit Hours
ENGL 356* - Writing with Generative AI 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 365* - Writing the Screenplay 3 Credit Hours or
CNST 365* - Writing the Screenplay 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 370* - Multimedia Storytelling 3 Credit Hours
HIUS 310 - American History Through Video Games 3 Credit Hours
REST 310* - Religion and Gameworlds 3 Credit Hours
THEA 200 - Play Analysis 3 Credit Hours

Digital Technology Foundations (6 credit hours):

Choose two of the following:

ARTC 236* - Introduction to Cinema and Video Art 3 Credit Hours or
CNST 236* - Introduction to Cinema and Video Art 3 Credit Hours
GAME 201* - Introduction to Game Craft 3 Credit Hours
GAME 329 - Interactive and Immersive Game Experience Design 3 Credit Hours
GAME 399 - Collaborative Game Design 3 Credit Hours
INPG 205 - Data Foundations for Health Analytics 3 Credit Hours
MUTC 335 - Interactive Game Audio 3 Credit Hours
THEA 373* - Sound Design I 3 Credit Hours
WLC 350 - Creative Lab: Cultural Circulation Across Worlds 3 Credit Hours

VIS Major Requirements (6 credit hours):

Choose two of the following:

CNST 431 - The Business of Cinema 3 Credit Hours
CNST 490 - Internship 1-9 Credit Hours
DH 492 - Digital Humanities Internship 1-3 Credit Hours
or
DH 492N - Digital Humanities Internship 1-3 Credit Hours
GAME 201* - Introduction to Game Craft 3 Credit Hours
GAME 399 - Collaborative Game Design 3 Credit Hours
THEA 450 - Special Topics in Design and Technology 1-3 Credit Hours
WLC 350 - Creative Lab: Cultural Circulation Across Worlds 3 Credit Hours

Major Electives (12 credit hours):

Choose four of the following from at least two areas.

(Note: Courses used in a Foundation area can not be used as a Major Elective)

Notes:

* Meets Volunteer Core Requirement.

Undergraduates

Graduate Students