Purdue ECE's partnership with ACC will create a new undergraduate certificate in Gaming and Interactive Systems Engineering.

For Purdue University students in Indianapolis, the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and the School of Applied and Creative Computing (ACC) are partnering to expand academic opportunities in gaming, interactive technology, and digital experiences, with a new undergraduate certificate planned.

The collaboration will bring together complementary strengths from both schools. Purdue ECE will bring the engineering depth in hardware, systems, software, and  computing platforms that power gaming and interactive systems. ACC will contribute in game development and design, user experience, storytelling, digital media, and the creative processes that shape how people interact with technologies.

The planned certificate for students in Indianapolis will draw from Purdue ECE’s new Gaming and Interactive Systems Engineering concentration and ACC’s existing Game Development and Design major, a popular program that prepares students to create interactive digital experiences.

Together, the schools will give students a broader view of gaming and interactive technology, from the systems that power games and digital platforms to the creative choices that make those experiences engaging, accessible, and meaningful.

“Gaming and interactive systems sit at the intersection of engineering, computing, creativity and human experience,” said Milind Kulkarni, the Michael and Katherine Birck Head of Purdue ECE. “By partnering with the School of Applied and Creative Computing, we can give students a more complete view of this field. They will understand not only how these systems are built, but also how they are imagined, designed and experienced by users.”

Purdue students in Indianapolis will have ECE’s new Gaming and Interactive Systems Engineering concentration available to them.

Feng Li, Head of the School of Applied and Creative Computing, said the collaboration reflects the interdisciplinary nature of modern gaming and interactive media.

“The future of gaming and interactive media depends on people who can think across boundaries. ACC’s students in the game major have strong foundations in game design, software development, 3D art, interactive storytelling and user experience,” Li added. “Through this collaboration with ECE, they will also have new opportunities to learn about the engineering side, including embedded platforms, game consoles, sensors and hardware.”

The partnership also reflects Purdue’s growing presence in Indianapolis, where students have access to an urban environment with expanding connections to industry, innovation and technology. The new certificate will create another pathway for students to take advantage of academic offerings across Purdue ECE and Purdue ACC while preparing for careers in gaming, software, interactive media and related fields.

“This collaboration is exactly the kind of opportunity Purdue is building for students in Indianapolis,” said David Umulis, senior vice provost for Purdue in Indianapolis. “It brings together academic strengths from across Purdue, connects students with a fast-growing industry and gives them hands-on experience in a city where technology, creativity and innovation are continuing to expand.” 

By combining engineering depth with applied creative computing, Purdue is creating new opportunities for students who want to help shape the future of gaming, interactive media, and digital experiences.