While it's easy to dismiss gaming as, well, fun and games, top-tier video games are Herculean engineering and artistic feats. For the last three decades advances in graphics hardware and software have been driven largely by the video game industry. Games can be composed of thousands of lines of code that incorporate physics, optics, color, linear algebra, simulation, parallel computing, and advanced software engineering. Similarly, the creative assets that make up a game often include three-dimensional models, painted textures, 2D and 3D animation, music, motion-captured acting performances, and voice acting that can represent gigabytes or even terabytes of assets for a single title that must be managed and rendered through clever data structures and algorithms. A subset of gaming called 'serious games' apply video game principles and technology to areas like defense, education, scientific exploration, and healthcare. An exemplar in this area, EndeavorRx was approved by the FDA in June 2020 as the first video game to treat a health disorder.

The Immersive Media and Games program builds on core coursework in art, programming, and immersive media production. This program uses a blend of existing and new coursework in Computer Science, Art, and Visual Communications to provide students with specialized training in computer graphics, computer animation, immersive media production, modern game engines, and game production workflows.