COURSE CURRICULUM

The Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration at DePaul University is a multidisciplinary hub dedicated to fostering creativity, industry engagement, and hands-on professional learning through emerging technologies and collaborative projects that address real-world societal needs. The center is designed to bring together students from different academic backgrounds to work on innovative ideas, combining design, technology, storytelling, and research in an environment that closely reflects modern industry practices. One of its key features is the DePaul Originals Game Studio, where students gain practical experience by working in roles such as designers, producers, and programrs on structured game development projects. These projects are developed over multiple academic quarters, allowing students to simulate the workflow of a large professional studio, where each team contributes to a larger game production. The studio emphasizes real-world outcomes, and completed projects are often published on major gaming platforms such as Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, giving students valuable industry exposure and portfolio-building opportunities.The center also includes an Emerging Technology Lab, a highly advanced space equipped with cutting-edge tools that support experimentation in fields such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), spatial computing, motion capture, and artificial intelligence. This environment encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing students from different programs to co-create innovative digital and interactive experiences that push the boundaries of traditional media and design. In addition to technical resources, the Jarvis Center hosts a variety of industry-focused events, including the Jarvis Speaker Series and project showcases, where students interact with leading professionals, researchers, and industry pioneers in game development and design. Notable guests have included figures such as Alex Seropian, founder of Bungie, as well as creative teams like Young Horses, known for Octodad and Bugsnax, and Chelsea Blasko, Co-CEO of Iron Galaxy, providing students with direct insight into professional workflows and career paths. The center also supports global learning opportunities through study abroad programs such as Game and Animation in Japan, which takes students to cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nagoya to visit leading game and animation studios, cultural landmarks, and creative institutions. Overall, the Jarvis Center serves as a dynamic ecosystem where students can develop technical skills, industry experience, and global perspectives while preparing for careers in game design, interactive media, and emerging technology fields.