Colleges That Offer Game Design Degrees
There are many schools that offer degrees in game design and development, but not every school is right for you. It’s important to consider the facilities, connections to the industry and internship programs before making your decision. We’ve highlighted five of our favorite colleges that offer game design degrees here:
University of Southern California
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) – The University of Southern California is a private research university that was founded in 1880. It’s highly ranked for game design programs and has been recognized as one of the best colleges for computer science majors. USC students can earn an undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science. Additionally, students can major in game design, which focuses on producing interactive entertainment software with an emphasis on bringing ideas to life through simulations and visuals.
- New York University – Tisch School of the Arts (New York City) – New York University is well known for its film school, but it also offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design & Development through its Tisch School of the Arts program. The curriculum includes courses on theory and practice; programming fundamentals; production processes; level design; narrative theory; 3D modeling & animation techniques; music composition principles and more!
DigiPen Institute of Technology
DigiPen is a private university in Redmond, Washington, United States. It offers several bachelor degrees in game design and development. These include:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Game Design and Development
- Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science degree in Animation and Digital Arts
New York University
New York University’s Game Center is a career-focused game design program based in New York City. Graduates of the program will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Game Design, Development and Production.
NYU Tandon School of Engineering offers a bachelor’s degree focusing on the development of video games and simulations by combining existing skills from computer science, art and design with new ones specific to the field. Graduates will be prepared for entry-level positions in game development companies or to pursue higher degrees at graduate programs focusing on digital media design or other related fields (such as film production).
The Steinhardt School offers an undergraduate concentration in Digital Media Design as well as graduate degrees such as an MFA in Interactive Media Arts which gives students the opportunity to study creative processes involved in interactive storytelling across various platforms including video games; mobile apps; virtual reality experiences; transmedia narratives; social media campaigns; data visualization projects etc., while engaging directly with industry professionals through internships/practicum placements (e.g., Microsoft Research Labs) or field residencies (e.g., Pixar Animation Studios).
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with campuses in Philadelphia and California, and study abroad programs in China, Italy, and Qatar. The school offers a Bachelor of Science degree in game design and development.
The program covers the basics of 3D modeling and animation production to advanced topics such as user-centered design research methods. Students learn how to use programming languages like C/C++ or Java on game engines like Unreal Engine 4.
Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta
Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta is a private university located in Savannah, Georgia. SCAD offers three degrees in game design: the Bachelor of Science degree, the Master of Science degree, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. To earn your bachelor’s degree in game development at SCAD you will need to complete 120 credit hours along with a capstone project that involves designing a game from start to finish. If you’re interested in getting your master’s or bachelor’s at SCAD but want to focus on something other than video games, there are many other options available!
SCAD has a great reputation for its art programs as well as its technology programs; it also has one of the best internship programs around (and has been recognized for this by Forbes.)
SCAD’s Game Development program is overseen by Shawn Feddeman who himself has over 20 years experience working on AAA titles such as “BioShock Infinite” and “Halo 4”.
DePaul University School for New Learning
DePaul University is a great school for game design. It has strong connections to the industry and an extensive internship program that can help you find your first job. In fact, DePaul’s game design program is one of the best in the country, which means you will get deeper experience than most other students in this field.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private research university located in Rochester, New York. RIT is the third-largest private university in the state of New York and one of the top game design schools in the country.
In addition to its undergraduate degrees, RIT offers several graduate-level programs including Master’s degrees in Game Design & Development and Interactive Media Arts (IMA).
The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree program at RIT is designed for students who want to gain knowledge about game development from professionals with experience in this field.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI is a private research university that offers a bachelor’s degree in game design. The program is designed for students who want to develop as professional game designers. It prepares them for careers in the video gaming industry, or it can also be used as preparation for graduate study at other universities.
Students will learn about tech and design practices used across the industry, including 3D modeling, animation, graphic design and audio production. They’ll also have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on their own projects and join teams working on current games being produced at WPI’s Video Game Development Club (VGDC).
The school has an excellent internship program that allows students to work with local companies while they’re still enrolled in school; this gives them hands-on experience that can help land them full-time jobs after graduation!
The best schools for game design and development offer great facilities, excellent connections to the industry, and robust internship programs.
The best schools for game design and development offer great facilities, excellent connections to the industry, and robust internship programs. These schools have strong faculty and staff who understand the needs of students pursuing a career in game design. They also offer a variety of degree options so that you can decide which pathway is right for your personal goals.
If you’re interested in learning more about your options, consider these 10 colleges that are at the top of their field:
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best schools for game design. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in this exciting field, please visit our website for more information.