University of Utah

The University of Utah’s Division of Games operates as a specialized academic department dedicated to video game education, research, and interactive entertainment. Originally established in 2007 as the interdisciplinary Entertainment Arts & Engineering (EAE) program, the division transitioned into an independent academic department in 2023. This restructuring supports a research scope including immersive technologies, AI-enabled interactive systems, and quantitative experience design.

Central to the curriculum is the "studio simulation" model. Students collaborate in large, cross-disciplinary teams of artists, engineers, technical artists, and producers to mirror professional industry pipelines. From initial concept pitches to final publication, cohorts design and build complete games. A key feature of this model is that students retain full intellectual property rights to their projects, allowing them to further develop and commercialize their work. Annual capstone events, such as the Utah Games Launch, provide a platform for presenting digital games, virtual reality experiences, and alternative-controller projects.

Facilities

The division operates two purpose-built facilities tailored to different stages of the development pipeline:

• Building 72: Serves undergraduate programs and research. It houses the Kessler Station for peer mentoring, a 700-square-foot Games User Research Lab with instrumented eye-tracking, a 12-camera OptiTrack motion capture performance space, and esports facilities.
• City Centre: An 18,000-square-foot facility for graduate candidates, housing a 200-desk master game studio, a 40-seat Cintiq teaching lab, and a room-scale VR research lab.

Programs and Training

Students receive technical training in industry-standard tools and workflows, including 3D modeling, procedural generation, texturing, rendering, and real-time engine implementation. Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering (MEAE) candidates follow a two-year cohort model, specializing in tracks such as Game Arts, Game Engineering, Game Production, Game Design, or Technical Art. The division also offers a dual MBA/MEAE degree in partnership with the David Eccles School of Business, preparing students for leadership roles in game publishing.