The Digital Narrative and Interactive Design major (DNID) harnesses the narrative, world-building, and media studies strengths of the English department and the coding, software development, and human-computer interface strengths of the School of Computing and
Information. It draws upon existing initiatives in game design at SCI and critical game studies, making, and media production within the English department. Students will learn how to build interactive narrative systems such as games, interactive literature, virtual reality environments and other interactive media experiences in a variety of fields. They will learn to creatively combine design with narrative, code with story. This uniquely positions majors in today’s workforce: game and interactive media design is booming in nearly every field and sector. What these positions require, and what is currently in short supply, are individuals capable of both understanding the intricacies of narrative and implementing that knowledge in the form of computational media (coded interactive systems).
The DNID major is managed jointly by the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Computing and Information. This program offers training that builds a solid foundation in English (Writing, Composition, Film and Media Studies, and Literature),
Computer Science, and Information Science.