Course Planning Specifics

Interactive Media and Game Development

Over the summer, your advisor will work with you to select course preferences for A and B terms and register you for classes before the semester begins. It is expected that you will take three classes in both terms in most cases. You will register for C and D term classes later in the fall semester.   

WPI’s Interactive Media & Game Development (IMGD) program provides a basic education in the theory and practice of both the technical and creative aspects of digital media production, together with complimentary instruction in the physical and social sciences, mathematics, humanities and the arts. It is intended to serve as a solid foundation for an IMGD-related professional career and/or post-graduate studies.

The program offers two separate majors:

  • The IMGD Technology major is focused on the development of software engineering skills, and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. This major’s strong emphasis on programming encourages many students to earn a double-major or minor in Computer Science.
  • The IMGD major explores the creative aspects of digital media production, and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. This flexible, multidisciplinary major offers optional concentrations in Visual Art, Design, Writing, Audio/Music and Technical Art, and is designed to readily accommodate a double-major or minor in a wide variety of related fields.

In addition to the course recommendations below that are specific to your major, each student must complete 4 Wellness and Physical Education courses in their four years at WPI. You are welcome to add a WPE course to any term. WPE courses are worth 1/12 unit, unlike major subjects discussed in course recommendations which are worth 1/3 unit, and can be taken in addition to the 3 courses recommended below. 

For students who are not able to register for an IMGD course in either A or B term, please fill that space in our recommendations with an HUA, GPS, SS or Science course to continue to make progress on your general curriculum.

For more information on the degree requirements for your major click here.

Helpful Links

Course Registration
Program Tracking Sheets
Course Listings

A & B Term

Bachelor of Science Degree

A Term Recommendations

IMGD: 1001

IMGD 1001: The Game Development Process is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in A term. 

CS 1101 or 1102

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should begin with Computer Science courses in A and B terms. 

The Computer Science introductory curriculum emphasizes program design; as part of this focus, the order in which languages are introduced is Racket/Scheme, followed by Java and then C/C++.   

Most students should take: CS 1101 Introduction to Program Design in A term. Students having substantial previous programming experience (e.g. AP credit in computer science) are encouraged to consider: CS 1102 Accelerated Introduction to Program Design (offered in Term A only), CS 1102 doesn’t assume experience with any particular programming language.

GPS/HUA/MA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar is a course that is exclusively for first year students and allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. For more information click here.

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

IMGD Majors are required to take one Math course. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course. 

B Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000

IMGD 1000: Critical Studies of IMGD is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in B term. 

CS 2102, 2011, or 2103

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should begin with Computer Science courses in A and B terms. 

Most students follow CS 1101 or CS 1102 with CS 2102 Object-Oriented Design Concepts (offered in Terms B and D), but again students with previous experience may elect to follow with CS 2103 Accelerated Object-Oriented Design Concepts (Offered in Term B only). 

IMGD students can also take CS 2011: Machine Organization and Assembly Language. 

GPS/HUA/MA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar is a course that is exclusively for first year students and allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. For more information click here.

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

IMGD Majors are required to take one Math course. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course. 

Bachelor of Arts Degree

A Term Recommendations

IMGD 1001

IMGD 1001: The Game Development Process is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in A term. 

CS 1004/MA/Science/ES

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 1004, a Math course, a Science course, or an Engineering Science course as their second class. 

CS 1004 is Intro to Programming for Non-Majors. This course will give IMGD majors a background in Programming as they move forward in their major.

IMGD majors are required to take one Math course in their time at WPI. This math course can be in any subject.

Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects.

Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE

GPS/HUA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar is a course that is exclusively for first year students and allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. For more information click here.

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

B Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000

IMGD 1000: Critical studies of IMGD is recommended for all students considering an IMGD major in B term. 

CS 2301/MA/Science/ES

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 1004, a Math course, a Science course, or an Engineering Science course as their second class. 

CS 2301 is Systems Programming for Non Majors. This course will give IMGD majors a background in Programming as they move forward in their major.

IMGD majors are required to take one Math course in their time at WPI. This math course can be in any subject.

Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects.

Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE

GPS/HUA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar is a course that is exclusively for first year students and allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. For more information click here.

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

Searching for Courses

As you begin to plan your course preferences, consider using one of the following methods:  

  • Visit the Course Listings page. On this page, you can search for courses you are interested in and filter your search by subject, term, keyword, etc.  
  • The  WPI Planner is a helpful tool to assist you in viewing schedule and course times as you develop your plan. Click on this link to view the planner and insturctions on how to use it.

Please note: As you begin to search for courses, it is helpful to review the recommended or suggested background included in the course descriptions. Recommended background is coursework or information that has been identified as important for you to have or understand before taking that course. Suggested background is helpful information to have but may not be absolutely necessary in order to excel in the course.  

Your Academic Support Advisor is available to assist you with questions.

C & D Term

Bachelor of Science Degree

C Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000 or IMGD 2030

Taking an IMGD course is recommended for all IMGD majors in C term.

CS 1004 or 1101 or 1102

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should take Computer Science Courses before the end of their first year. 

The Computer Science introductory curriculum emphasizes program design; as part of this focus, the order in which languages are introduced is Racket/Scheme, followed by Java and then C/C++.   

IMGD Students can take CS 1004 Introduction to Programming for Non Majors. Students interested in double majoring in Computer Science should take CS 1101 Introduction to Program Design in C term. Students having substantial previous programming experience (e.g. AP credit in computer science) are encouraged to consider: CS 1102 Accelerated Introduction to Program Design (offered in Term A only), CS 1102 doesn’t assume experience with any particular programming language. IMGD BS Student

GPS/HUA/MA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar is a course that is exclusively for first year students and allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. For more information click here.

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

IMGD Majors are required to take one Math course. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course. 

D Term Recommendations

IMGD 1002

IMGD 1002 Storytelling in Interactive Media and Games is recommended for IMGD majors in D term. 

CS 2119 or 2102 or 2011 or 2103

Students looking to pursue the technical side of IMGD should complete two computer science courses by the end of their first year. 

Most students follow CS 1101 or CS 1102 with CS 2102 Object-Oriented Design Concepts (offered in Terms B and D), but again students with previous experience may elect to follow with CS 2103 Accelerated Object-Oriented Design Concepts (Offered in Term B only). 

IMGD students can also take CS 2011: Machine Organization and Assembly Language. 

IMGD students who took CS 1004 and are not intending in double majoring should plan to take CS 2119.

HUA/MA

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

IMGD Majors are required to take one Math course. You are welcome to take any Math course as your third course. 

Bachelor of Arts Degree

C Term Recommendations

IMGD 1000 or IMGD 2030

Taking an IMGD course is recommended for all IMGD majors in C term.

CS 1004/MA/Science/ES

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 1004, a Math course, a Science course, or an Engineering Science course as their second class. 

CS 1004 is Intro to Programming for Non-Majors. This course will give IMGD majors a background in Programming as they move forward in their major.

IMGD majors are required to take one Math course in their time at WPI. This math course can be in any subject.

Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects.

Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE

GPS/HUA

Your third course should be a GPS, Humanities and Arts, or Math course. More information is available about these courses below. 

GPS stands for Great Problems Seminar is a course that is exclusively for first year students and allow students to learn about a problem in the world and work with a group on how to fix it. These courses are helpful with the transition to college as well as useful for students when preparing for projects such as IQP and MQP in junior and senior year. GPS courses run for both A and B term, so you will only need to choose one. For more information click here.

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

D Term Recommendations

IMGD 1002

IMGD 1002: Storytelling in Interactive Media and Games should be taken in D term for students considering a major in IMGD. 

CS 2119/MA/Science/ES

Students looking to pursue a BA in IMGD should consider taking CS 2119, a Math course, a Science course, or an Engineering Science course as their second class. 

CS 21119 is Application Building With Object-Oriented Concepts

IMGD majors are required to take one Math course in their time at WPI. This math course can be in any subject.

Science courses are defined as courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics at WPI. IMGD majors are welcome to take a course in any of these subjects.

Engineering Science courses are defined as any course with the following prefixes: AE, AREN, BME, CHE, CE, ECE, ES, EVE, ME, RBE

HUA

Your third course should be a Humanities and Arts course. More information is available about these courses below. 

Every student at WPI must complete the Humanities and Arts (HUA) Requirement. This consists of 6 courses in HUA subjects. The subjects available for HUA are:

  • Art (AR)
  • Music (MU)
  • Drama/Theatre (EN/TH)
  • Foreign Language- Spanish (SP), German (GN), Arabic (AB), Chinese (CN)
     
    • For Spanish Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Angel Rivera (arivera@wpi.edu)
    • For German Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Daniel DiMassa (ddimassa@wpi.edu)
       
    • For Arabic Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Mohammed El Hamzaoui (melhamzaoui@wpi.edu)
    • For Chinese Placement Information, Please Email: Professor Wen-Hua Du (wdu2@wpi.edu)
    • For English Language (International Students) Information, Please Email: Professor Althea Danielski (amdanielski@wpi.edu) and Professor Esther Boucher-Yip (efboucher@wpi.edu)
  • Literature (EN)
  • Writing/Rhetoric (WR, RH)
  • International Student English (ISE)
  • History (HI)
  • International Studies (INTL)
  • Philosophy (PY)
  • Religion (RE)

IMGD Majors should consider taking courses in English, Philosophy, Religion, or AR 1100/1101 as this will be helpful for future coursework. 

Once you go through the above recommendations, please be sure to review Registration Information so you know how to register on November 15th. 

Registering in Workday

Note: This task is only for registering for C & D Term.

PRE-REGISTRATION PREP​ 

  • Watch the 10 min. overview  video  
  • Login  to Workday​ 
  • Use Find Course Sections to build at least one Saved Schedule for C-Term, D-Term, and if you're taking any 10 or 14 week classes, Spring Semester (instructions)​​​ 

November 15, 7AM ET: REGISTER​ 

  • Login to Workday​ 
  • Open a browser tab or window for C-Term, D-Term, and Spring Semester (if you have any 10 or 14 week classes) and View My Saved Schedules for each​ 
  • [Optional] Open tabs for alternate course sections from other Saved Schedules or search results​ 
  • When registration opens, click Start Registration, then click Register (instructions) 
  • Open View My Courses, scroll right to Drop or Swap (instructions)​ 
  • Waitlisted? If a spot opens, a notification will be sent to your WPI email asking you to login to Workday and take action