games

Games and Emerging Media

School of Communication & the Arts
School of Computer Science & Mathematics

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The Games Industry is fast-paced and bold. So is the Red Fox. 

The Princeton Review has consistently ranked Marist among the top 50 game design programs in the country. Marist University's Games and Emerging Media program prepares students to be visionary designers, writers, developers, and innovative programmers. With industry expert guidance and access to state-of-the-art facilities, students are ready to shape the gaming industry.

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Student Learning Outcomes

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Focus Your Coursework on Your Future

Marist’s approach to curricula is interdisciplinary, flexible, and able to be geared specifically toward your unique career goals. The Games and Emerging Media Major levels up this approach by being a genuine hybrid of distinct but interwoven tracks. Facilitated by both the School of Communication and the Arts and the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, this degree offers concentrations in:

 

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What Do You Learn in a Games and Emerging Media Major?

A Games and Emerging Media major offers a comprehensive education that combines game design, storytelling, programming, technology, art, and business.  Students are prepared for a variety of careers in the gaming and interactive media industries. Students acquire the skills needed to design, develop, write, and launch games and interactive experiences, blending creative and technical expertise.

At Marist University, students begin by building strong foundational skills that expand through unique electives and interdisciplinary tracks, including Technical Development and Programming and Design, Writing, and Culture.

Foundation

The Games and Emerging Media program provides all students with the basics in programming, art, game design, UI/UX, game writing and storytelling, and the business of games. This ensures a solid foundation upon which to start your career.

Electives

In addition to your concentrated courses, you’ll expand your skills further with unique electives including “Storytelling Across Media,” “3-D Modeling,” “Human-Computer Interaction,” and other topics designed to prepare you for an impactful career in the Games Industry.

Technical Development and Programming Track

The Technical Development and Programming students focus on the programming and software development side of game creation, taking courses like “Software Development I,” “Game Programming,” and “Artificial Intelligence.”

Design, Writing, and Culture Track

Design, Writing, and Culture students take a customized mix of courses in writing, game design, and the social aspects of gaming. In this track, you’ll take courses like “Writing for Media,” “Ethics and Gaming,” and “Advanced Unity.”

Learn Interactive Game Design from Industry Professionals

In an industry as evolutionary and revolutionary as game and media design, it is essential that faculty can keep up with the change. That is why Marist’s Games and Emerging Media faculty are all actively-engaged and highly-recognized members of the Game Design industry. Our faculty take their real-time experience in the field and apply it to their classrooms, ensuring that you are one step ahead when you take your place in the industry. View all Games & Interactive Media faculty >

Karen Schrier

Dr Karen "Kat" Schrier is the Founding Director of the Games & Emerging Media program. She has over 20 years of experience in games and media production, design, and writing, at places like Nickelodeon, Scholastic, PBS, and the World Health Organization. She is a top expert on games, empathy, and ethics. Her latest book is called We the Gamers: How Games Teach Ethics and Civics (Oxford University Press).

Ron Coleman

A two-time recipient of the IBM Faculty Innovation Award, Dr. Coleman has worked for AT&T as a software developer, at IBM as an advisory engineer in the Supercomputing Systems Lab, and Citigroup as a software developer, analyst, and vice president in risk management technology. His research focuses primarily on software development, parallel computing, and games.

Mengqi Gao

Mengqi Gao is a game designer, artist, and writer. She makes games, abstract art, poetry, fiction, and electronic literature. She is also interested in playing and mixing different mediums in her work. Her work explores the topics of mental health, feminism, queerness, racism, bilingual texts, and translations.

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Master State-of-the-Art Technology

Marist provides a distinctive and unique learning environment for all our majors. While you’ll enjoy the close-knit community of a traditional liberal arts college, you’ll also have the opportunity to harness the technological power of a major tech institute. Students of the Games and Emerging Media major gain exclusive access to state-of-the-art computer and game prototyping labs. We also directly involve our students in our Cloud Computing initiatives and our valuable partnership with IBM.

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Gain Valuable Hands-on Learning Experience

The Marist learning experience is focused on creating the ideal balance of theory and practice, and the Games degree is no exception. All of your classes will be project-based and involve student and faculty collaboration to create games, apps, websites, prototypes, VR/AR experiences, mobile games, board games, and other design projects. We host frequent workshops, lectures, and Q&As with industry professionals to gain in-depth understanding of the industry. Marist is the official location of the annual Hudson Valley Undergraduate Games Conference where students present research presentations as well as game demos. You’ll also be encouraged to participate in Play Innovation Lab, where you’ll have the opportunity to design and research games, as well as help organize and participate in games-related events.

Develop the Skills You Need to Make an Impact in the Game Industry

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Games and Media Production

You will be creating all types of games from concept to completion, including digital and non-digital games, as well as other media, including but not limited to online, computer, and mobile games, board and card games, augmented and virtual reality, mobile apps, visual media, audio, and video.
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Design and Art

Practice your design, creative, and artistic skills by making games and other media; for instance, you may be devising game features, creating characters, writing dialogue, designing interfaces, building wireframes, creating stories and storyboards, or developing game art assets.
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Programming and Technical

You will be practicing technical development and information systems skills and gaining an understanding of a number of programming and scripting languages, as well as learning how to build games using common game engines like Unity.

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Teamwork

Learn to develop collaboration and management skills by working with others to create games and other media, and through joining our active and engaged community where we play and work together.
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Communication

You will practice a variety of different communication skills, including creative writing skills, technical and business writing skills, and public presentation and oral communication skills.
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Game Business Practices

Learn all about the games industry and develop business skills and project management practices, as well as the career readiness skills that will help you gain internships and jobs.
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Erin Alvarico: Inspiring Future Game Developers

Erin was one of five chosen through Girls Make Games, a fellowship with LearnDistrict Inc., to fly to San Francisco to publish her game through the Google Play store. Launched in February 2019, her first game, Symphony, currently has more than 10,000 downloads. While at Girls Make Games, she also inspired future game developers, overseeing groups of four girls working on their first two-dimensional “infinite runner” games (think Temple Run or Subway Surfers).

The ability to share her imagination through making games like Symphony and her love for technology prompted Erin to pursue a dual major in Computer Science and Games and Emerging Media at Marist.

Read Erin's Story
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Game Design Ranked Top Program in the Nation for 11th Consecutive Year

Marist University is leveling up once again. Recognized by The Princeton Review’s 2026 rankings, Marist’s Games and Emerging Media program has earned its place among the nation’s top game design programs—highlighting its commitment to creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning. Ranked in the top 50 nationwide and top 10 in the Northeast, Marist continues to shape the next generation of game designers ready to make their mark in a rapidly evolving industry.

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Customize Your Academics for Your Career

At Marist, our "triangle approach" to education is incredibly unique. By selecting a major, you are never pigeon-holed, and are, in fact, encouraged to expand your academic path and explore new things. This approach allows you to discover your passion, harness your talent, increase your marketability, and create a career path specific to you. For our Games and Emerging Media students, these are only a few examples of the variety of career opportunities after Marist:

Games and Emerging Media Major <br>+ Creative Writing minor <br>= Game Writer

Games and Emerging Media Major <br>+ Graphic Design minor <br>= Game Animator

Games and Emerging Media Major <br>+ Psychology Minor <br>= Game Designer

Games and Emerging Media Major <br>+ Business or Advertising Minor <br>= Game Producer/Studio Manager

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Inclusion, Ethics, and Diversity in Game Design

Inclusion, ethics, accessibility, and diversity are each an integral part of the culture and curriculum of the Games and Emerging Media degree at Marist. We include different perspectives, experiences, types of games, and approaches to game design. As Red Foxes, we are fiercely supportive of our pack. Our Games students practice teamwork and communication skills and are encouraged to design games and apps for real-world issues and needs.

Among the many colleges and universities in the Northeast known for strong game design and development programs, Marist University stands out for its interdisciplinary Games and Emerging Media program, combining elements of computer science, design, writing, and storytelling with emerging technologies and hands-on experiences.

The Princeton Review's 2026 rankings placed Marist among the Top 50 Game Design Programs nationwide and among the Top 10 Game Design Programs in the Northeast, marking the program's continued national recognition. (Read More)

Why Marist is considered one of the top game design colleges in the Northeast:

  • Ranked among the nation's leading game design programs by The Princeton Review.
  • Offers both technical and creative pathways through its Technical Development & Programming and Design, Writing & Culture tracks.
  • Provides access to state-of-the-art computer and game labs, along with opportunities connected to cloud computing initiatives and an IBM partnership.
  • Features project-based coursework where students create games, apps, VR experiences, and other interactive media.
  • Includes mentorship from faculty with professional experience in game development, media production, software engineering, and game research.
  • Hosts and participates in industry-facing events that allow students to present game projects and research.

When considering a future in game design, students should consider factors such as curriculum, faculty expertise, industry partnerships, technology, internship opportunities, and national rankings. Marist University's Games and Emerging Media program excels in each of these areas, making it a strong choice for students seeking careers in game design, game development, interactive media, and emerging technologies.

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The Value of a Marist Education

Marist cultivates the intellectual growth and well-being of its students through unique and personalized combinations of coursework and experience in and out of the classroom. These experiences provide valuable personal growth and occupational expertise to reflect students' individual passions. 

94%

Employed or attending grad school 6 months after graduation

 

83%

Of Marist Graduates Participated in one or more internships

 

82%

Graduation rate, higher than the average for public and private colleges

 

#1

Marist study abroad is the national leader for academic year programs, per Open Doors Report.

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Top 10 Regional Universities-North

TOP25

Top 20 for Most Innovative Universities-North Region, per The Princeton Review.

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