The minor in digital interactive games can help students tap into a strong gaming presence in Reno and a flourishing games industry in the nearby Bay Area.
With a strong foundation in computer science, the digital interactive games minor can be great preparation for a career as a video game developer. Software developers are expected to see strong job growth from 2020 to 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 22 percent increase in employment, driven in part by the need for new application development on mobile devices. Software developers had a median annual wage of $110,140 in 2020, according to the BLS.
Students who focus on the artistic side of the minor might find employment as a special effects artist or animator, a job whose growth over the next decade is expected to be driven by demand for more realistic computer animations and graphics and need for graphics for mobile devices. Special effects artists and animators had a median annual wage of $78,790 in 2021, according to the BLS.