BS Game Design and Experiential Media at Illinois Institute of Technology

Programme overview

Work collaboratively to create games and experiential media in a project-based environment. Connect with on-campus networks such as

Faculty: School of Design and Society | Department: Design | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chicago, IL, United States

What you will study

All GEM majors participate in a first-semester studio class and take a slate of courses covering aspects of game development ranging from storytelling and game mechanics to more technical areas. Because there's more than one way to be a game developer, every GEM student customizes their educational experience through their choice of technical electives, enabling them to focus on the areas of game design they care about most, whether that's art, narrative design, programming, or something else entirely. If you have curriculum questions, feel free to contact Carly Kocurek at ckocurek@illinoistec

Career pathways

Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to step into exciting roles not only at top game companies such as Riot Games, Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and Rockstar Games, but also at some of the world’s premier tech companies including Google, Bose, and Microsoft. Roles include: Some common jobs that graduates pursue include:; Game developer; Software engineer; Web developer; Artificial intelligence programmer; User interface designer; Level designer; Script writer.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-level admission (applies to all undergraduate majors, not programme-specific): Admission to Illinois Tech is required to enroll in the B.S. in Game Design and Experiential Media program. A Games Gala gamebIITes is back! Take part in next spring’s 2025 gamebIITes festival against student game developers from across Chicago to win prizes and earn feedback by game designers and professionals within the industry.

USD 53,198 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate tuition for new undergraduate students in 2026-27, a single rate stated for all undergraduate students (Mies Campus, 12-18 credit hours per semester; the student accounting page lists $26,599 per semester). Excludes fees ($1,850 stated separ Source

First-year entry terms: Fall and Spring. Transfer entry: Fall and Spring. Joint and non-degree programmes: Fall (August to December), Spring (late January to mid-May) and Summer (end of May to mid-August).

First-year Fall entry: Early Decision (binding) November 1; Early Action (non-binding) November 15; Regular Decision February 1 (June 1 for international students living in the U.S.). First-year Spring entry: Regular Decision October 15. Applications go through the Common App. There is no undergraduate application fee. Standardized tests (SAT/ACT) are optional.

Transfer Fall entry: priority deadlines March 15 and June 15, regular deadline July 15 (international living abroad: June 1). Transfer Spring entry: October 15.

Chicago-Kent J.D.: no application fee for 2026 J.D. applicants; first-year entry is Fall, with transfer entry in Fall or Spring.

Apply through the official page: https://www.iit.edu/admissions-aid/apply

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