Interactive Media, M.F.A.

Explore technology, design,
and human behavior at
the University of Miami.

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Part and Full-Time Available

45-Credit Degree

Cutting-Edge Courses

Wearable Technologies, Design with Al, e-Sports, Character Design and more.

Accelerated 2-Year Degree

Dive into your career even sooner compared to traditional three-year programs.

Financial Support

Graduate Assistantships and fully-funded roles can provide financial support to students. Learn more.

Design, Do and Make

The Interactive Media, M.F.A. program prepares a new generation of leaders in interaction design, exploring technology, human behavior, and their impact on communication. The multidisciplinary curriculum unites students from diverse backgrounds to study user experience, game design, human-computer interaction, mobile, data visualization, wearables, UX, VR, and emerging technologies. Students research, prototype, design, and build projects across various contexts.

Explore some of our cutting-edge featured courses:

Analyze and design games to gain vocabulary and tools to design playful interactive systems. Gain exposure to a range of popular game prototyping technologies and create several mini-projects as well as one final game project created using the platform of your choice.

In this collaboration studio course, students will form small teams and undertake real-world projects with a partnering organization. Students will be provided a design brief outlining project objectives identified by the partnering organization. Over the course of the semester, students will research, brainstorm, design, and test innovative interactive solutions for this core objective, including proposing ideas and presenting prototypes to the partnering organization. Projects that satisfy the partner’s needs may result in on-going work for full implementation and exposure for students’ work.

Take a comprehensive look at human limitations and abilities and how they are key to interaction design and a great user experience. Students will learn about human behavior and how to apply UX gridlines to the design of digital interfaces. Students will also learn how to produce design deliverables for real-world practice.

Explore the construction of virtual environments and learn the principles of constructing interactive 3D environments using a game engine. Students will be responsible for creating a world that can be interacted with on various platforms, including virtual and mixed reality.

Building on their systems foundation from the Intro to Systems course, students will continue to play and analyze games along with designing games in order to build a more extensive vocabulary and toolkit to both understand and design interactive systems. Students will be exposed to a range of popular game prototyping technologies (for example: Twine, GameSalad, ARIS) and will create several mini projects as well as one final game project created using the platform of their choice. Students will explore a different core game mechanic with each prototyping tool thus broadening their ability to create targeted meaning within a playful experience.

This studio is dedicated to developing a novel capstone project concept with a feasible production timeline during the Spring semester. Throughout the course you will iterate upon your ideas, incorporating feedback from faculty and your peers. By the end of the semester you should have a solid concept and a rough prototype of your project.

See Complete Academic Curriculum
Top Game School

Repeatedly recognized by the Princeton Review as a Top Graduate School for Video Game Design.

Award-Winning

Winner of BEA’s Emerging Media & Technology award, AWE’s XR Prize Challenge, and more.

Alumni Success

Program graduates work at Google, Amazon, GE, New York Times, Visa, and Apex Legends.

Admission FAQs

Learn more about the M.F.A. process here. There are 4 steps in the application process:

  1. Sign up for an online account here
  2. Send official transcripts
  3. Upload letters of recommendation
  4. Upload your portfolio

No previous programming or design experience is necessary for this program. In fact, students from diverse backgrounds strengthen the program. If you already know some programming or have design experience you are also invited to apply.

Learn more about the application process for International Students here.

The program is a STEM program and has the CIP code of 09.0702.

Students are required to submit a portfolio for this program. Portfolio requirements can be seen here and students can submit a portfolio in their Graduate Application account.

Click here to learn more about Funding Opportunities.

This award is intended address the shortage of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and /or Math) teachers in South Florida, which disproportionately impacts poor and BIPOC students and prevents them from accessing specific types of educational opportunities that offer high financial returns.

The Department of Interactive Media provides an annual award to a student who commits to remaining in South Florida and teaching in a community college or in the public school system for a minimum of three years after graduation.

The Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee reviews applications on the basis of the applicant’s potential to contribute to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and /or Math) education and capacity to commit three years to teaching upon completion of the M.F.A.

Applicants are asked to submit a resume as well as a brief statement (no more than one page) that addresses how their background prepares them for an educational career in the field of Interactive Media and how their experience equips them to foster students’ curiosity and technological innovation. In lieu of a written statement, in answering the above prompt, applicants are welcome to submit a form of media (no longer than 2 minutes), such as an audio or video statement, creative work, or multi-media project.

Click here to see all FAQs.

Graduate Program Contacts

For questions about admissions, application statuses, or financial aid please contact socgrad@miami.edu

For questions related to the Interactive Media, M.F.A. program please contact the Graduate Program Director, Lindsay Grace at lgrace@miami.edu

Dates & Deadlines

Fall 2025 applications open: September 1, 2024

Priority Fall 2025 deadline: February 1, 2025

Final Fall 2025 deadline: July 15, 2025

Project Spotlight

Mangrove City

Mangrove City is an immersive journey into the heart of mangrove ecosystems. Dive into interactive experiences, witness nature’s resilience, and envision a future where cities coexist harmoniously with mangroves. This interdisciplinary project blends education, technology, and a vision for a sustainable world.

Get In Touch

For questions about admissions, application statuses, or financial aid please contact socgrad@miami.edu

For questions related to the Interactive Media, M.F.A. program please contact the Graduate Program Director, Lindsay Grace at lgrace@miami.edu

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Apply Now