Games and Emerging Media

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

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

Marist’s Games and Emerging Media students are looking to the future – the future of media and the future of their careers. They’re ready to explore themselves and the world around them to become the best designers, writers, developers, and producers they can be. Our students do the work. All we do is provide the industry experts, inclusive curriculum, hands-on technology, and state-of-the-art facilities to make it happen.

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Student Learning Outcomes >

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 College.

Read Erin's Story

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 College.

Read Erin's Story

Focus Your Coursework on Your Future

Marist’s approach to curricula is interdisciplinarian in nature, with the flexibility 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 interactive media studies degree offers concentrations in:

Technical Development and Programming
Design, Writing, and Culture

View Full Curriculum

Focus Your Coursework on Your Future

Marist’s approach to curricula is interdisciplinarian in nature, with the flexibility 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 interactive media studies degree offers concentrations in:

Technical Development and Programming
Design, Writing, and Culture

View Full Curriculum

Curriculum at a Glance

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 academic triangle even further with unique electives including “Ethics and Gaming,” “Artificial Intelligence,” “Video Production,” 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 and Analysis,” “Game Design,” and “Human Computer Interaction.”

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,” “Online Culture,” and “Storytelling Across Media.”

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 >

Joey Fanfarelli

Dr. Fanfarelli is a professor, researcher, author, and patented inventor. His research focuses on digital badging and video games, and how these entities can integrate educational and psychological theory to enhance design.

Karen Schrier

Dr. Karen Schrier is the Founding Director of Marist's Games & Emerging Media program. Her latest book is titled Knowledge Games: How Playing Games Can Help Solve Problems, Create Insight, and Make Change.

Adam Zaretsky

Dr. Zaretsky teaches teaches video, new media, art and technology, web/interactivity, digital audio and imaging, and much more. His research focuses include Bioethics, Eugenics, Transgenic Aesthetics, and Independent Media.

Using 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.

Using 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.

Games students testing a board game design

While Gaining Valuable Hands-on Learning Experiences

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.

While Gaining Valuable Hands-on Learning Experiences

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.

What Can You Do With a Games Degree from Marist?

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:

Psychology Major
+ Games Minor
= Game Therapist

Games and Emerging Media Major
+ Language Minor
= Game Linguist/Translator

Digital Media Major
+ Animation Concentration
+ Games Minor
= Game Animator

Games and Emerging Media Major
+ Business Major
+ Marketing Concentration
= Game Studio Marketing Manager

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. Every class, event, and speaker is treated with mindfulness of different perspectives, experiences, types of games, and approaches to game design. As Red Foxes, we are fiercely supportive of our pack. So naturally, our Games students practice teamwork and communication skills and are encouraged to take on real-world social issues by means of their game design and production.

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. Every class, event, and speaker is treated with mindfulness of different perspectives, experiences, types of games, and approaches to game design. As Red Foxes, we are fiercely supportive of our pack. So naturally, our Games students practice teamwork and communication skills and are encouraged to take on real-world social issues by means of their game design and production.

The Value of a Marist Education

At Marist, we pride ourselves on our dedication to providing our students with a well-rounded liberal arts education that prepares them for practical experience and profound success in their field. But don't just take our word for it - the numbers speak for themselves.