Game On: Bethany College to Offer Bachelor’s in Game Development in October 2025 

BETHANY, W.Va. (Aug. 23, 2025) — Bethany College is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Game Development program, expanding its academic offerings to meet growing student interest and workforce demand in the booming gaming industry. 

The new major, previously an offered minor, will launch with Bethany’s second start date of Oct. 6, 2025. It is designed to serve traditional, full-time undergraduate students seeking careers in game design, programming, art, and production. 

“This program represents an exciting and strategic investment in our students’ futures,” said Dr. Danny Moore, vice president for academic affairs. “Game development is a rapidly growing industry that requires a mix of technical skills, creative thinking, and collaborative problem-solving—exactly the kind of interdisciplinary education Bethany excels at providing.” 

The 120-credit bachelor’s program blends Bethany’s in-person coursework in computer science and mathematics with 18 credits of online courses offered in partnership with the Lower Cost Models Consortium (LCMC) and RIZE Education. This approach enables Bethany to deliver a cutting-edge curriculum while maintaining affordability and personalized instruction. 

Courses will guide students through the complete game development lifecycle, from storytelling and content design to programming and user experience. Industry-standard tools such as Unity and C# will be core components of the curriculum, ensuring graduates are job-ready in an increasingly competitive market. 

Planning for the new major was driven by clear and sustained student interest on campus, as well as alumni and trustee support. Faculty in computer science and cybersecurity worked closely with industry experts through the LCMC-Rize partnership to develop a curriculum that meets both academic standards and real-world demands. 

National and regional labor data underscore the need for such a program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software development jobs—including those in game development—are projected to grow by 25 percent between 2022 and 2032, far outpacing average job growth. Regional employers are actively seeking graduates with skills in programming, design, and interactive media. 

Bethany’s program is intentionally designed to deliver those skills in a hands-on, project-based format. Students will complete a capstone course in which they plan, develop, and test a complete game project, preparing them for careers in game design, development, animation, virtual and augmented reality, and other fast-growing fields. 

“This is about meeting students where they are—leveraging their interests in gaming, storytelling, and technology to prepare them for meaningful, well-paying careers,” Moore said. “At the same time, it shows that Bethany College is willing to innovate and evolve with the times while maintaining our tradition of academic rigor.” 

Adding the new game development major serves a dual purpose, enriching Bethany’s academic portfolio while attracting new students, and strengthening the institution’s reputation as a forward-thinking, student-centered liberal arts college. 

For more information about the game development program and other academic offerings at Bethany College, please contact the Enrollment Office at enrollment@bethanywv.edu or 304.829.7611. Apply today!