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Turn your game ideas into reality. Develop your own playable game prototype while learning design, theory and production to deepen your game design knowledge with real-world application.
Request InformationUnderstand the gaming world from the inside out. WVU’s online Master of Arts
in Game Design will level up your conceptual thinking, production knowledge
and project management skills. You’ll craft a playable game prototype as
part of your thesis, showcasing your game design skills to potential employers.
You'll take 10 fully online asynchronous courses and there are zero in-person commitments. Tailor your schedule to balance work, life and school. Plus, it’s completable in one year.
View CoursesYou’ll graduate with a fully developed game that you’ll be able to add to your portfolio and show future employers you know you’re a master at game design.
It's a world-class program taught by leading experts at half average cost
of our competitors.
Ready to turn your game ideas into reality? Our Master of Arts in Game Design is built to take your skills to the next level. This flexible online program offers advanced training in game theory, design, production, and emerging industry tools. Taught by expert instructors with deep experience in the field. You'll gain the knowledge and portfolio to lead creative teams and drive innovation in the game industry.
Students who earn the Master of Arts in Game Design will develop the following:
Get the latest insights for the game design industry.
Discover exciting game design careers and learn how WVU's Master of Arts in Game Design can prepare you for success in this booming industry.
Read More: Game Design: Your Dream Job Awaits (and WVU Can Help You Get There)Discover the steps to becoming a video game designer and how WVU's Game Design program can equip you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in this exciting industry. Unleash your creativity and shape the future of gaming!
Read More: How to Become a Video Game DesignerOur faculty have a wealth of global music business industry knowledge and experience that they incorporate into the curriculum. You'll benefit from both their expertise and their connections.
Online Instructor I Game Design Professor, Art Director at Honor Games, Freelance Illustrator
Richard Blumenstein is the art director for Honor Games. He develops an encompassing art style and works on graphics, 3D models, and other art assets.
Read More: Richard Blumenstein
Online Instructor I Game Design 2D and 3D Artist and Animator, Game Designer, Educator and Course Developer
Todd Gantzler is a 2D and 3D artist and animator, game designer, educator, course developer, and author with more than 30 years of experience in computer graphics and animation for both film and games.
Read More: Todd Gantzler
Online Instructor I Game Design Software Engineer and Game Developer
Jared Goronkin is a software engineer and game developer specializing in intuitive, scalable systems. He teaches Fundamentals of UI/UX for Games.
Read More: Jared Goronkin
Online Instructor I Game Design Game Engineer
Tessla Muir is a UI-focused game engineer with professional experience with games like Fortnite. With a strong background in UI programming and design, she specializes in developing intuitive, responsive interfaces that enhance gameplay without compromising performance or immersion.
Read More: Tessla Muir
Online Instructor I Game Design
Joshua Robinson is an adjunct instructor who has been teaching at WVU since 2023. A West Virginia native, he currently lives in Morgantown with his wife.
Read More: Joshua RobinsonPut additional info or links here.
To earn your Master of Arts in Game Design, you will take 10 courses in topics ranging from game theory to project launch.
PR: First year graduate standing. Introduces the multiple components of a game environment and how to create meaningful interactive experiences on and off the computer. Focuses on core game design tasks in the professional practice of conceptualizing and prototyping board games and digital media-based games, including analytical and practical skills such as pitching, iteration, target audience identification, and planning for quality assurance.
Critical theory and scholarship that addresses the idea of games as a form of designed human culture contained in complex aesthetic, immersive, and experiential artifacts. Addresses visual storytelling, temporal/spatial montage theory, and frameworks to understand player experience. Provides an overview of research methods and multi-disciplinary analytical paradigms for the study of games. Integrates the history of online and offline games.
PR: ART 503. The technical creation of digital games, coding, game programming, and audio production for the game production pipeline. Hands-on development experience that transfers theoretical knowledge into the procedures and design decisions needed to production a functional game. Multiple game engines are employed in a series of game development project cycles.
PR: (ART 502 or ART 502S) and ART 503 and (ART 505 or ART 505S). Develop the thesis game concept based on game industry, player experience, and artistic intention. Involves research of the digital games industry, identification of a design opportunity, development of a research question, systematic investigation, and formation of a game conceptual design in response to research conclusions.
PR: ART 603 or ART 603S. Design game and create the game design document, develop and document a detailed project plan to produce the game using original concept document and applying project management techniques. Define production team needs.
PR: ART 604 or ART 604S. Begin thesis game production to create a functional game. Execute game development project plan to build a playable digital game. In order to complete the course, the game must receive faculty approval and be presented in demo format at a game conference.
PR: ART 606 or ART 606S. Complete thesis game and present for MA defense and professional conference. In order to complete the course, the game must receive faculty approval and be presented in demo format at a game conference.
This course introduces the core principles and practical skills of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design for games. Students will explore key industry literature and apply insights to guide their design choices throughout the semester. The curriculum begins with foundational UI/UX concepts and progresses to game-specific design theories, emphasizing how thoughtful design enhances player engagement and overall experience.
This course focuses on the design and implementation of advanced user interfaces for games, including HUDs, layered menu systems, and input-adaptive controls. Students will explore modular architecture, UI animation techniques, and performance optimization strategies. Emphasis is placed on critical design thinking, technical execution, and peer feedback. By the end of the course, students will produce a polished, portfolio-ready UI project that demonstrates both creative vision and practical application.
This course examines the principles and practices of player-centered design and usability testing in game development. Students will plan, conduct, and analyze a variety of playtesting methods, including heuristic evaluation, think-aloud protocols, telemetry analysis, and accessibility audits. Key themes include inclusive design, cross-cultural user experience, game balance, and ethical feedback collection. Students will also gain foundational experience with data analytics to enhance clarity, accessibility, and player satisfaction. The course culminates with a comprehensive usability portfolio integrated into each student’s capstone project.
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help with your applications for graduate school and financial support,
schedule your classes, provide tech support, welcome you for graduation
and keep in touch once you cross the finish line.
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You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution. You will need to include a personal statement, résumé, a portfolio, official academic transcripts, and a non-refundable $75 application fee. The GRE/GMAT is not required. International students must provide TOEFL or IELTS scores. You can find detailed application information in the International Applications section.
Academic transcript requests can sometimes get delayed, so it's
best to go ahead and get the ball rolling! Contact your prior
academic institution(s) and request that official academic transcripts
be sent (via postal mail or electronic delivery) directly to:
WVU Office of Graduate Admissions
One Waterfront Place
PO Box 6510
Morgantown, WV 26506-6510
Email:
GraduateAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-2121
NOTE: If you are a WVU Alumni, you do not need to submit transcripts as they are already on file.
A critical part of your application is the personal statement. This allows the admissions committee to gain insight into your academic and professional goals, personal, professional, and academic experiences, and allows the committee to see if you are a strong candidate for the program. Below are some key elements you should include in your personal statement:
Length: Your statement should be between 500 and 800 words in length.
Structure: Be sure your content is well-organized, with a logical progression of ideas between paragraphs.
Proofread: Check for grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Ask someone else to review it, but don’t let them rewrite it. Your personal statement should be your voice and point of view.
**The use of AI tools for writing assistance is prohibited. Applicants are expected to write their personal statement independently. Your admissions consultant is not permitted to review drafts of personal statements.
Submitting your professional resume allows the admissions committee to gain insight into your work experience and professional background. The program does not require that applicants have experience in a specific career field or have a certain number of years of experience to be admitted.
Login to the WVU Graduate Admissions portal. You don't have to complete your application all at once - use this login anytime to continue the app or submit additional materials.
NOTE: If you are a current WVU student, you should create a new account as this site does not use your WVU login credentials.
Your portfolio can include 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. Submit your portfolio to the WVU School of Art & Design here.
Apply before the PRIORITY. If you are applying for financial aid, submit FAFSA at least four weeks prior to the term in which you want financial aid.
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