Colleges That Have Game Design Programs
Colleges That Have Game Design Programs
Game design is a popular career path, but it’s not always easy to find an affordable program that can teach you the skills you need to succeed. Luckily, there are plenty of colleges that offer game design programs at all levels of study. In this post, we’ll go over some of our favorites and help you decide which one might be right for your needs.
The University of Utah
The University of Utah is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of higher education in the state and offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science for undergraduates. The program includes game design coursework and an internship with one of several local game design companies, including Blizzard Entertainment and Riot Games.
Students at the University of Utah can also pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Game Design Specialization, which will allow them to gain experience coding games while earning their degree. This specialization may be helpful if you’re interested in pursuing career paths like software development or technical writing after graduation because it provides students with advanced skills needed to enter these fields.
The University of Southern California
The University of Southern California, or USC, offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Entertainment Design. The program is located in Los Angeles, which means students can expect to live and find work in a city known for its booming entertainment industry. The school’s admissions requirements are pretty standard for any college that values art programs: high school transcripts and SAT/ACT scores. The cost to attend is about $60k per year after aid is taken into account—not cheap by any means, but not unreasonable either if you’re willing to pay out-of-state tuition rates (about $38k).
The student body at USC is diverse enough that most people will find someone they get along with easily enough; however, it’s important to note that there are no fraternities or sororities on campus and many residents choose not to participate in Greek Life while they’re enrolled at the university. Campus life revolves around athletics—football games draw especially large crowds every fall—and various clubs related to music, gaming, theater and film production studios available through USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.[4] Students looking for more traditional social outlets should check out student organizations like Sigma Alpha Epsilon (fraternity), NeiTum (sorority) groups such as Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity; Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for Business Students; Mortar Board Senior Honor Society for women.[5]
DigiPen Institute of Technology
DigiPen’s Bachelor of Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation degree program is a four-year program that prepares students for careers in game development and interactive media.
The curriculum includes courses in game design, programming, animation, art and sound. Students can also select an optional minor such as business or music composition.
Becker College
Becker College is a private, coeducational college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. The school was founded in 1836 as the first female seminary in New England and admitted men starting in 1973. It offers over 50 majors and minors for undergraduate students, as well as graduate programs for master’s degrees and certificates.
The Game Design program at Becker College provides students with an understanding of game design theory and practice through a combination of coursework, experiential learning opportunities and studio projects.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the best schools in the world for game design. It offers a wide range of courses, including ones on how to build games, make software and learn animation techniques.
Game Design at MIT can be taken as an undergraduate or graduate student. Undergraduates must apply directly to their program and must meet all requirements before beginning as an undergraduate student. Graduate students are allowed to apply through either the Media Lab or Interactive Media Program (IMP).
Michigan State University
If you’re interested in game design, game development and game theory, Michigan State University’s program is one of the best in the country.
Michigan State offers both online and on-campus options for its Bachelors of Science degree program in Game Design. According to US News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings for 2019, MSU’s program is currently ranked #4 for Best Undergraduate Game Design Programs. In addition to games, students can also study animation and interactive media through the College of Communication Arts and Sciences’ New Media Institute (NMI).
The NMI was established in 2002 as part of a $10 million grant from Microsoft Corporation along with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company – now known as HMH Education; there are now over 60 courses offered here at MSU through this institute! Interestingly enough though – none of these courses take place within a single building like most other programs do… instead they are spread throughout campus which helps make this school feel even bigger than what it actually size wise would be considered by others who might not know otherwise! This also allows them more room within each building so they don’t have too many classes going on at once…”
New York University
New York University (NYU) offers a degree in Game Design and Development, which is part of the Tisch School of the Arts. The program is open to students who are interested in pursuing careers as game designers, developers, writers, or artists.
The NYU Game Center also has a number of graduate-level courses that focus on the study and development of games and related interactive technologies.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University offers a bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Technology that can be completed in five years. The program offers a concentration in Game Design and Development. Accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools allows students to pursue higher education at many prestigious schools, including Harvard University and Cornell University.
Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy at the University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida is a public, national research university. The school also houses the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, which offers a bachelor’s degree in game development. The program includes courses on traditional video game development, as well as specializations in various areas such as art and animation, sound design and audio engineering, programming languages like C# or JavaScript/HTML5.
Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution of higher learning that offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in more than 20 fields of study. Their Game Studio program focuses on “design thinking” as well as programming and production skills in addition to general education classes like algebra or English composition.
SCAD’s campus is located just outside the city limits of Savannah, Georgia—which means students can enjoy both an urban area with plenty to see and do as well as being able to escape into nature for hiking or biking when they need some fresh air.
Colleges That Have Game Design Programs
- List of Colleges That Have Game Design Programs*
- Wichita State University: Bachelor of Arts, Computer Game Development
- University of Southern California (USC): Bachelor of Science in Interactive Media (B.S.), Master’s Degree in Games & Interactive Media + PhD programs available
- Drexel University: Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Technical Entrepreneurship with a concentration on game design, as well as an MBA program that includes a specialization in Game Development & Entrepreneurship
- Michigan State University: Professional Certificate Program in Game Design and Development at the College of Communication Arts & Sciences. The certificate can be earned online or on campus. The School also offers a Master’s degree program called “Applied Simulation.”
There are many colleges that offer game design programs. Some of these schools have a well-known reputation within the gaming industry, while others are known for their research in other areas. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing a school with a game design program because each university has something special about them. Of course, if we were asked whether they should choose one of these institutions over another one then our answer would be yes!