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bachelor of creative arts game design

Game Design BFA

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You love games. You fill notebooks with your plans for video game levels you’d like to make. Or you spend entire weekends role-playing goofy adventures with your friends.

You run an online blog where you analyze the latest and greatest game releases. Or perhaps you just can’t stop doodling ideas for new video game characters.

You dominate your local card game tournament. Or maybe you just invent card games of your own.

We’ve got news for you: You finally found what you’re looking for. At the NYU Game Center, we take games seriously. As seriously as you do. We know games are strange and amazing and magical. And we live to understand them better and invent new forms of play. We’d like you to join us.

What is the Game Center BFA?

The Game Design BFA is a 4-year Bachelors of Fine Arts program. We are located inside NYU’s famous Tisch School of the Arts program, and like other Tisch programs in film, dance, and theater, we look at games as a creative form of art. Students in the BFA program learn about game design, game development, and game scholarship, preparing them for careers as game designers, developers, scholars, and critics.

The program structure first introduces you to the fundamentals of games through the lenses of design, technology, and culture. As you progress in the program, you have the flexibility to discover and pursue your own interests, taking courses that range from collaborative game production to critical analysis to specialized elements of visual and audio design. At the conclusion of your BFA study, you complete a senior project, either as an individual or with a group.

  • A solid foundation. The required elements of the BFA curriculum covers the basics of making and understanding games on and off the computer. This includes courses like Games 101 , an in-depth look at the history of games from ancient board games to the latest videogames, taught by our entire faculty .
  • Broad and deep. The program emphasizes flexibility and choice. You can choose to focus in many areas, from game design to visual design, and from game programming to game scholarship. There are a wide array of classes from which you can mix and match your own education in games.
  • Capstone. All students complete a senior Capstone – a one or two semester group or solo endeavor. A capstone project might be making a game on or off the computer, or could be a research paper, curated exhibition , or take any number of other forms.
  • Integrated with the Game Center. The best thing about the Game Center BFA is that it is part of the larger NYU Game Center. Our faculty, staff, talks, workshops, resources, facilities, and events help make the program a world-class experience in the study of games.

Program Curriculum

The BFA in Game Design is a well-rounded, interdisciplinary degree that includes  coursework  in game studies, game design and game development, as well as the option to specialize in game programming, visual or audio design, and the business of games. All of the courses in the Game Design BFA program are organized in seven areas. Each area represents one facet of the complex interdisciplinary endeavor of making and studying games.

Primary Areas Game Studies – Academic, scholarly, and journalistic approaches to games Game Design – Creating the rules of the game and the player experience Game Development – Production processes for creating games

Production Areas Programming – Interaction, graphics, AI, and other game programming Visual Design – 2D and 3D animation, graphic design, and art direction Audio Design – Music, sound effects, and audio programming Game Business – Marketing, revenue models, and the game industry

Capstone During the final year, in addition to other advanced-level courses, each student will complete a senior capstone project. A Game Design BFA Capstone can take a variety of forms, from an individual or group game to a game-related research paper or exhibition.

The curriculum for the BFA program can be found here . One note, we apply the same iterative design process that we teach to our own program. That means the curriculum adapts and grows over time and this document may not be entirely up to date.

A Liberal Arts Education

At the Tisch School of the Arts we believe in the importance of a well-rounded undergraduate education: you need a great education to make great games. The Game Design BFA builds into the curriculum a firm foundation in the liberal arts. All Game Design students must complete a significant number of credits in a combination of expository writing, humanities, and social or hard sciences. Students are also required to take a production class in another Tisch department, to build familiarity in other styles of creative production.

bachelor of creative arts game design

Who should apply? How much does it cost?

Some of our applicants come with experience in making their own games, but you don’t have to be a life-long gamer or a programmer in order to apply. The most important thing you need for the BFA program is a passion for games and the dedication to turn that passion into something real. It takes all kinds of people with a diversity of talents to make games, so our classes have a rich mix of cultures, genders, and backgrounds.

To apply to the BFA in Game Design, you will need to apply to New York University . You will also be sending in a portfolio for us to review. Your portfolio can be anything you want, as long as it shows off your creativity for games. It could be a film you made or a story you wrote. It could be the rules for a card game or a prototype computer game. Or it could be a song you composed, sculpture you constructed, or play you wrote.

More information about the application process and the portfolio can be found here .

With regards to tuition and fees, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions provides a very helpful breakdown of costs here .

bachelor of creative arts game design

In the fall of 2019, 370 Jay Street became the new home of the Tisch departments Game Center, Clive Davis Institue of Recorded Music, and ITP & AMA alongside programs from  Steinhardt in Games for Learning , Tandon School of Engineering in Integrated Digital Media and Computer Engineering , Courant Institute of Mathematics , and the Center for Urban Science and Progress .  The stunning brand new space includes state of the art classrooms and studios, several black box theater, recording studios, 3D and large format printers, and the Game Center Open Library , all of which are available to Game Design BFA students. The integration of many different departments in one place leads to new collaborations across disciplines and schools at NYU.

Life after the Game Center

Our efforts don’t stop at the classroom door. Just as important as your education is what happens when you finish your time at NYU. A major focus of the NYU Game Center is making sure that you find internships and jobs during and after the BFA program, so that you are set up to create your dream career in games.

  • Workshops and events – Each spring we host “Strategy Guide: Breaking into the Game Industry” , a panel discussion with studio heads and working Game Center grads that also doubles as a job fair.
  • Making connections  – The NYU Game Center is a hub for the game industry and on any given week, we have multiple industry speakers, guest critics in our classes, and local developers playtesting their games on site. There are lots of opportunities for students to network with working game industry professionals.
  • The Game Center Incubator – Launched in 2014, the incubator provides space, funding, and expertise for graduating students. Through a competitive application process, the incubator selects projects that have commercial potential and sees them through to a public launch. More info on our incubator here .
  • Help from NYU & Tisch – In addition to all of our game-centric efforts, students can also take advantage of NYU’s extensive Wasserman Career Center .  The Tisch School of the Arts has its own Office of Career Development dedicated to helping students with creative careers. These two offices host regular sessions on a wide range of topics, from giving great job interviews to figuring out international work Visa issues.

Our students have received jobs and internships at top game companies, including Riot, Blizzard, Disney, and Avalanche Studios. They have received investment from Indiefund and have been honored with awards like IndieCade Audience Choice, multiple recognitions from the International Game Festival, and the Randy Pausch Scholarship. They have started their own companies, organized festivals, and written books. After the Game Center, our students transform the games industry for the better.

Visit NYU & the NYU Game Center

Visit the Game Center for a tour or info session, come to Tisch for a Fall Open House, or just give us a call. There are many ways to learn more about the program. Click here to find the best way for you to visit the Game Center.

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Bachelor of Arts in Game Design

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Design is all around us. It shapes our experience with everything we use, interact with, or play. What makes those interactions fun, useful, or engaging? How can we design systems to allow users to get the most fun, the most enjoyment, the greatest payoff? How do we provide the best value for the user’s investment of time and energy?

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  • Who Should Pursue This Degree

Academic Roadmap

Career outlook.

The Bachelor of Arts in Game Design helps you create compelling interactive systems — from sophisticated user interfaces to polished games and applications. In addition to extensive design coursework, you’ll delve deep into psychology, communications, and user experience with an eye for crafting powerful experiences.

Who Should Pursue This Degree?

Do you find yourself not only enjoying games but thinking deeply about them as you play? Are you the kind of person who feels compelled to ask, ‘How would I make this even better?’ The BA in Game Design program is for creative-minded students who are deeply curious to understand the behavior and psychology behind games and eager to learn the skills and methods for designing fun and engaging interactive systems. Throughout the program, students spend a significant amount of time prototyping, testing, and rapidly developing many different game ideas, all while studying a diverse range of topics. If you like the idea of constantly putting yourself in the player’s shoes and skillfully blending the mechanical, spatial, and narrative aspects of the game experience, then the BA in Game Design program may be a good fit for you.

As a student in this program, you will:

Design Original Games and Applications

Work as a designer on interdisciplinary teams to create polished game experiences with original systems and mechanics.

Learn How to Rapidly Prototype Your Ideas

Master the cycle of design, user testing, and iteration to ensure your work products are intuitive and effective.

Study Human Behavior from a Variety of Lenses

Learn about psychology, storytelling, and other subjects as they relate to interactive media and user experiences.

Similar to a video game skill tree, the BA in Game Design program lets you specialize in the areas that match your strengths and interests. Check out our “DigiPen Game Design Disciplines, Explained” series to get a rundown on each of our six concentrations:

 Lay to Rest,” depicting the hero and the game world.

In the first two years, you’ll take introductory courses in all six aspects of design. By the start of your junior year, having learned about each track, you’ll select two specialization tracks in which to pursue your advanced design studies. Throughout the program, you’ll also take coursework in cognitive psychology, scripting languages, economics, and communications, as well as a sampling of courses involving math, art, music, and computer science as they relate to the work of professional designers. On top of this, you’ll collaborate with your peers — and across disciplines — on a series of semester- and year-long game projects.

Before entering your specialized design tracks at the start of your junior year, applications to your desired tracks must be submitted. Applications are based on your work from the introductory design and game classes you took in your first two years. All design students will be accepted into two design tracks, although admission to your preferred tracks is not guaranteed.

View a sample course sequence

Admissions Requirements

The BA in Game Design program is ideal for students with a strong foundation in writing, communications, and psychology. In addition to all the standard admissions requirements for undergraduate students, your application to the BA in Game Design program must also include a design portfolio that demonstrates your prior creative work and the processes used to make it.

View all requirements

Topics Covered

Students in the BA in Game Design program will focus on the following subjects:

  • Game design and development , including game mechanics and history, design documentation, scripting and programming, 2D and 3D level design, character design, playtesting, interface design, product management, and team game project implementation.
  • The humanities and arts , including writing, psychology, film, audio, architecture, drawing, and 2D and 3D art, with the option to study advanced topics in these areas.
  • Foundational math and science courses , including the fundamentals of scripting languages, mathematics, and physics.

Event Schedule

Deep dive: game design programs.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Attending this event qualifies you for an application fee waiver that goes into effect within one to two business days after submitting your application.

Deep Dive sessions are interactive livestreams that give you a glimpse into the academic programs that interest you the most. Register for this session focused on our game design degree programs, but feel free to sign up for any of our other Deep Dive sessions as well.

Join us Wednesday, February 21 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST, to hear from faculty members and students as they share their insights live on stream. Be sure to come with any questions you have as you’ll be able to ask them in real time.

RSVP Today

DigiPen is committed to providing equal access to its programs and events. Contact the event coordinator in advance with questions or to request accommodations at [email protected] , call (425) 629-5001, or text (425) 414-3633.

Undergraduate Preview Day

Saturday, March 16, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

DigiPen hosts Preview Days for prospective students to provide you and your family with an in-depth look at our undergraduate degree programs. At each Preview Day, you’ll be able to:

Learn first-hand about DigiPen’s diverse degree programs and project-based learning experience.

Meet faculty, staff, and current students.

Speak with admissions and financial aid staff and get answers to your questions.

Explore campus facilities through self-guided tours.

Prepare for Student Life as a DigiPen Dragon at our Resource Fair.

Check-in: begins at 9:30 a.m. Event time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Before you arrive, please review our COVID-19 Visitor Policy page.

We look forward to meeting you!

#DITPreviewDay

Saturday, May 25, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

DigiPen Student Stories

Student Projects

Multidisciplinary team projects make up a core component of the BA in Game Design curriculum. As a student in the program, you will work with your classmates on a series of original game and interactive media projects that will allow you to gain firsthand experience in contributing your design expertise while working as part of a larger creative team. These projects serve as a primary avenue for exploring your interests in game mechanics and systems, compelling narratives, and seamless user experiences. These are just a few examples of game projects that BA in Game Design students have worked on.

In this pastoral side-scroller, a dog shepherds wayward goats into their pens across tricky platforms and environmental hazards.

A golden brown dog stands near a goat in a painterly pastoral landscape.

Play a flame gooey ascending an ancient tower in this 2D atmospheric puzzle game.

A red flame gooey stands next to turquoise and purple lanterns in a gridded room.

A stylized, sci-fi shooter where the player must fight back against a mysterious army of invaders.

The player holds a shotgun as they look out over a forested ravine.

Meet the Faculty

BA in Game Design faculty come to DigiPen from many corners of the game industry as award-winning board game designers, MMO pioneers, and veteran developers from major studios and startups alike. These are just a few of the faculty who teach core courses in the program.

DigiPen Faculty Jeremy Holcomb

Jeremy Holcomb

Program Director (BA in Game Design)

Jeremy Holcomb is a game designer with extensive experience in the design, development, and marketing of tabletop board and card games. He has over 20 board game design credits. His game The Duke, which he co-designed for publisher Catalyst Game Labs in 2013, earned a 2014 Mensa Select award.

DigiPen Faculty Ellen Guon Beeman

Ellen Guon Beeman

Senior Lecturer

Ellen Guon Beeman is a videogame designer and producer, with extensive experience in developing mobile, web, massively multiplayer, and console games. She has worked on over fifty games, initially with games in the award-winning Wing Commander series, and her roster of titles includes games based on major properties such as Marvel and Disney movies, and most recently, an array of indie mobile games. She has a wide array of skills including Agile game development, business development and entrepreneurship, marketing and PR, community, social media, and monetization and metrics strategies.

DigiPen Faculty Richard Thames Rowan

Richard Thames Rowan

Richard Rowan has been passionate about games his entire life, beginning his exploration of game design at the age of four. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Gaming Systems & Applications at Western Washington University, he immediately launched his 20-year career in the game industry, where he worked in quality assurance, design, and production.

As a graduate of the BA in Game Design program, you will have the skills and collaborative experience to pursue any number of professional design roles within game development and beyond. Program alumni have gone on to work as entrepreneurs, entry-level game designers, and more.

Potential Careers

Game Designer

Game design is a broad term that can encompass many unique job types. In general, a game designer works to create and refine the interrelated systems that make up a game playing experience, from the mechanics of combat in a fighting game to the complex menu navigation in an online RPG. They often work closely with engineers and people from other disciplines to implement and fine-tune their design concepts.

Level Designer

A level designer is typically responsible for designing the individual missions or stages of a game, including the spatial arrangement of maps and locations. In addition to relying on their well-honed intuitive senses, level designers must also rigorously test and iterate on their designs by incorporating user feedback.

UX Designer

The work of the user experience (UX) designer can be seen across many industries, from games to business to museums and more. A UX designer seeks to make a product or experience more satisfactory and accessible for the end user, whether the end result is an intuitive mobile phone app or a more streamlined in-store checkout system. To get there, the designer will rely on a large set of tools and responsibilities, including user research, paper prototyping, wireframing, and usability testing.

Entry-Level Job Titles

User Interface Designer

User Experience Designer

Game Scripter

Technical Designer

System Designer

Content Designer

Encounter Designer

Quest Designer

Senior-Level Job Titles

Lead Designer

Creative Director

Other/Related Job Titles

Program Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Artist

View More View Less

Featured Stories

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The BA in Game Design major was paired with Riot Games’ Gabby Llanillo for industry guidance.

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DigiPen 2023 Year in Review

DigiPen had a banner year in 2023, full of student awards, campus camaraderie, faculty achievements, and alumni excellence.

Devin Brom wears a black hood and holds an axe over his shoulder in front of a black wall with gold cherubs on it.

The Devil Is in the Details for Diablo IV Dungeon Designer Devin Brom

The DigiPen BA in Game Design graduate discusses what goes into crafting dungeons to die for at Blizzard Entertainment.

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bachelor of creative arts game design

Did You Know? Concept art, modeling, surfacing, rigging, layout, animation, lighting, rendering, compositing, effects, path-tracing, real-time techniques, and computer-graphics programming.  Choose your own set of strengths to level-up with Clemson Digital Production Arts . 

Top 20 Schools with Game Design Bachelor's of Arts (BA) Degree Programs – 2023 College Rankings

2023

What are the top game design BA programs for 2023?

For our undergraduate degree rankings, we have evaluated game design schools and programs with the best Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Bachelor of Science (BS) options. To determine which degree matches your career goals, it is important to understand how each qualification differs.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is the principal liberal arts degree. Most BA programs require 30-some or 40-some credits, which leaves plenty of flexibility in the form of free electives. BA students can use the free electives to sample widely from other course offerings or to earn an additional credential (a second major, a minor, or some combination of additional credentials).

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is offered in areas such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology, Statistics, and each of the natural sciences. The BS is best suited to the student who wants to focus more on courses in the major and on 'collateral' courses (like chemistry or mathematics for a major in Geological Sciences) and is willing to give up some of the flexibility of the BA in return for the greater focus.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is considered the most prestigious bachelor's degree that you can receive in the visual arts. This option is for students who wish to gain as much experience and skill in the arts as possible.

Below are the Top 20 Schools and Colleges with Game Design BA Programs for 2023.

University of Southern California

University of Southern California (USC) houses USC Games—a collection of minors and multiple programs leading to degrees at all levels, including the BA in Interactive Entertainment. Programs are part of SCA’s Interactive Media and Games Division and the Department of Computer Science at Viterbi School of Engineering. USC Games combines the study of art, design, engineering, and production. Classes are collaborative, immersive, and hands-on, allowing students to develop team-building skills and expertise in every area of game design and development. Courses for all programs are taught by working professionals in the field.

Graduates of USC Games have developed and sold their own games, launched their own studios, or landed positions at major studios such as Riot Games, Disney, Epic Games, Apple, ESPN, and CBS interactive.

University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz or UCSC) houses the Jack Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE), home to Games @ UC Santa Cruz.  This intensive program has an Art & Design: Games and Playable Media (BA AGPM) pathway that requires a minimum of five lower-division and 11 upper-division courses in residence. Course examples for the program include Video Games as Visual Culture, Game Design Studio I-III, Game AI, Interactive Storytelling, and Game Graphics and Real-Time Rendering.

BA AGPM students have access to Games @ UC Santa Cruz facilities and centers such as The Center for Computational Experience, Advanced Visualization and Interactive Systems, Ludo Lab, Critical Realities Studio, Software Introspection Laboratory, Expressive Intelligence Studio, ADL (Augmented Design Laboratory), Social Emotional Technology Lab, and The Other Lab.

Other program benefits include game design internships, frequent studio tours, and participation in the Annual Games Showcase. Undergraduates will complete a Capstone Project during the final year of the program.

Graduates of Games @ UC Santa Cruz are prepared to pursue positions such as Game Designer, Game Writer, Digital Artist, Board Game Designer, Producer, VR/AR Artist, and 2D/3D Artist. Program alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Tic Toc Games, Method Studios, Ubisoft, Tencent, Amazon, Universal, Google, TopGolf, and Hi-Rez Studios.

University of Central Florida

The College of Sciences at University of Central Florida (UCF) houses Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM), which has a Digital Media BA Program with a Game Design Track. Students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities, such as the 3,300 square feet MOCAP studio, where they have the opportunity to develop their own games and interactive projects (in teams) from start to finish. Internships and career development resources are also available, and many students publish their games through avenues such as Xbox or Steam, resulting in their first published title.

Graduates of the Games Programs at University of Central Florida have been hired by more than 300 companies. Examples include Epic Games, Walt Disney Imagineering, Zynga, Unity Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Marvel, Sony, Gameloft, Blizzard Entertainment, Nintendo, Cartoon Network, Electronic Arts (EA), Google, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Blur Studio.

Savannah College of Art and Design

The School of Digital Media at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has a number of pathways to study game design. This includes a Digital Media BA with both Game Development and Interactive Design Tracks. Across Tracks, students have opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships with local and national studios.

SCAD Game Development and Interactive Design students will also work individually and in teams to complete projects while utilizing state-of-the-art customized facilities at Montgomery Hall—a 130,000 square feet space consisting of studio classrooms, more than 800 computers, stop-motion sets, a green-screen stage, motion-capture technology, and AR/VR resources. The SCAD Digital Media Center in Atlanta provides an in-house theater, green screen lab, and a real-world studio environment.

Each quarter, SCAD Game Development and Interactive Design students have the opportunity to interview and present their portfolios to professionals in the industry. Past visitors have been affiliated with studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Zynga, and Activision Blizzard. Graduates of the Game Development and Interactive Design Programs at Savannah College of Art and Design are routinely hired by these and other studios such as Epic Games, Firaxis Games, and Sucker Punch Productions.

DigiPen Institute of Technology

DigiPen Institute of Technology (DigiPen) was the first college in the world to offers a Bachelor’s degree in Video Game Technology and Development. Today, the DigiPen has a number of bachelor’s degrees for game designers. Among them is the Game Design BA that explores interactive systems, communications, user experience, psychology, and games. In all DigiPen games programs, students will work in multidisciplinary teams in a studio environment to create software and a series of video games.

Graduates of all programs at DigiPen Institute of Technology enjoy a high job placement rate. To date, more than 600 companies have hired DigiPen graduates. A few examples include Epic Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Sony Interactive Entertainment, DreamWorks Interactive, Google, Amazon, Walt Disney Imagineering, SpaceX, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft, Activision, Insomniac Games, Zynga, Booz Allen Hamilton, Intel Corporation, Ubisoft Shanghai, Take-Two Interactive, ArenaNet, and Bungie, Inc.

Michigan State University

Michigan State University (MSU) houses the College of Communication Arts and Sciences (ComArtSci) and the College of Engineering. Both offer pathways to study game design.

Serving more than 3,500 students, the College of ComArtSci houses the Department of Media and Information (MI)—home to the Game Design and Development Program. Established in 2005, the program consists of a Games and Interactive Media BA and an 18 credit hour Game Design and Development Minor that can be added to the BA Program or any other major at MSU. A Media and Information MA with a Games Studies and Design Focus is also available. 

The MSU Games and Interactive Media BA is a project-based program that explores topics such as the game design process, emerging interactive media, and production. Focus areas include Game Design, Game Development, and Games Graphics and Animation. Course examples across focus areas include Building Virtual Worlds, Serious Game Design, Game Writing, Compositing and Special Effects, and Media Sketching and Graphics. Students will graduate from the MSU Games and Interactive Media BA Program with a professional portfolio of their best work.

The Michigan State University MI MA with Games Studies includes courses such as Foundations of Serious Games, Game and Film Design Studio I-II, Theories of Games and Interaction Design, Interaction Design, and Interactive Usability and Accessibility: Design and Evaluation. To graduate, students must complete two final courses: Master’s Thesis Research (4-6 credits) and the Master’s Project (4-6 credits). Graduates of the MI MA Program are prepared for careers in 3D Game Design, UI/UX, and 3D Technology, among others.

Michigan State University Games and MI alumni work for major studios such as Insomniac Games, Rockstar Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, and Bungie.

The College of Engineering at Michigan State University houses the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, home to the Computer Science Program. Available pathways for game designers include BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Computer Science. All programs offer a Specialization in Media and Information Studies with the option to take games-related courses offered in other departments. Students in all programs will also take courses in Systems Design and Analysis, Theory and Algorithms, and Data Analysis and Applications.

Drexel University

The College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) at Drexel University (Drexel) has a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science (BAC) with a Game Programming and Development (GMPD) Concentration that provides a hands-on curriculum combined with valuable co-op experiences. Students in the program may also customize the degree through a variety of CCI minors including Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Software Engineering, Computing Technology, Information Systems, Data Science, and Security, or choose from hundreds of available minors at Drexel.

Examples of Drexel minors include Animation and Visual Effects, Entertainment & Arts Management, User Experience and Interaction Design (UX/UI), Entertainment Engineering, Virtual Reality & Immersive Media, Robotics and Automation, Screenwriting, Systems Engineering, Film & Television Production, Fine Arts, Science, Technology & Society, Graphic Design, and Writing,

Other BAC GMPD Program highlights include access to Drexel Game Design and the RePlay Lab, the Entrepreneurial Game Studio (EGS), and the Center for Games, Artificial Intelligence, and Media Systems (GAIMS Center).

Graduates of the Game Design Programs at Drexel University are prepared to pursue positions in PC Game Design, Game Art, Simulation, Mobile Game Design, Job Training, and Console Game Design, and Serious Games, among other areas. More than 80% of Drexel Games graduates are working in an area directly related to game development. Examples of companies that employ Drexel alumni include Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft Studios, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Zynga, Blizzard Entertainment, Rockstar Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Disney Interactive, Digital Domain, BioWare, Disney Imagineering, Lockheed, Volition Inc., NCSoft Carbine Studios, Comcast Corporation, Razorfish, and Gameloft.

University of California Los Angeles

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is home to UCLA Game Lab and UCLA Extension. Supported by the School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) and the School of Theater, Film and Television, UCLA Game Lab hosts visiting artists and researchers, guest speaker events, and workshops. The Lab is also supported by sponsors such as Unity, HP, Zbrush, Oculus, Nvidia, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

While UCLA Extension does not have a formal Game Design Program, it offers a number of game design courses such as Developing Video Game Narratives, Unity: 3D Game Design and Game Engines, Composing Music for Video Games, Producing Commercials for Games, and 3D Real-Time Animation.

Housed in the School of the Arts and Architecture at UCLA is the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA), which has a DMA BA that provides access to UCLA Game Lab and the course offerings at UCLA Extension. On its own, the DMA BA program explores everything from interactivity and motion to film/video and game design. Courses for the program are taught as studios of up to 22 students. Course examples for the program include 3D Modeling and Motion, Game Design, Tangible Media, Word + Image, and Video.

Graduates of the DMA and Game Design Programs at University of California Los Angeles work in all areas of game design and development at local, national, and global game design studios, software companies, production studios, and more.

University of Texas at Dallas

University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is home to the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (AHT), which launched in August 2022 after the consolidation of the School of Arts & Humanities (est. 1975), and the School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC), established in 2002 as Texas’s first arts and technology degree. All ATEC Programs are still in force and provide opportunities to study game design and development.

The ATEC BA has an Animation & Games (A&G) Concentration that provides access to a variety of state-of-the-art studios and facilities including the Game Lab, Motion Capture Studio, Games Research Lab, Surround Studio, The Studio for Mediating Play, Animation Lab, ATEC Lecture Hall, CG Animation Lab, 3D Studio, experimenta.l. , Render Farm, Mixed Media Lab, Games and Media Library, Render Farm, Surround Studio, and the Narrative Systems Research Lab. The ATEC Lecture Hall has hosted speakers from Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks.

Graduates of the ATEC Programs at University of Texas at Dallas have been recruited by major studios and companies such as DreamWorks, Disney, Pixar, Apple, Google, Capital One, and Toyota.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The School of Arts and Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is home to the Interactive Media & Game Development (IMGD) Program. One of the earliest gaming programs in the U.S. IMGD houses an IMGD BA with Concentrations in Animation, 3D Sculpting, Design, Writing, and Technical Artistry.

The program provides access to state-of-the-art facilities such a dedicated IMGD Lab equipped with industry-standard software and hardware tools, a Digital Art Studio, an Artificial Intelligence & Intelligent Tutoring Lab, and a Sound Recording Studio. In addition, the IMGD Program blends art, technology, and real-world experience through a co-op or professional internship.

As part of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, IMGD graduates enjoy frequent on-campus recruiting events and a 92.7% success rate. Examples of companies that have hired WPI IMGD graduates include Kaon Interactive, NextGen Interactions, Zudy, and Centre Technology.

University of Florida

Established in 1925, the College of the Arts at University of Florida (UF) houses the Digital Worlds Institute, home to the Digital Arts & Sciences (DAS) Program. For students seeking a Bachelor of Arts, the Digital Arts & Sciences (DAS) Program has a DAS BA (BADAS) that can be completed on campus and 100% online through UF Online.

Digital Worlds Institute highlights include the DAS Mentorship Program, guest lecturers, access to LUMA at Digital World Studios, Portfolio Open House events, and participation in the internship program. In addition, all Digital Worlds Institute Programs at UF are interdisciplinary and combine arts, engineering, communications, and science.

Course examples include Creating Mobile Games, 3D Animation Techniques, Game Content Creation, Game Systems Development, Game Design and Production, Digital Storytelling, Game Development, and Interaction & Usability. An optional internship is also part of the program. The BADAS Program requires 120 credit hours of study and successful completion of the final DAS project.

Graduates of the BADAS Program at University of Florida are Game Designers, Level Designers, Game Artists, Character Modelers, Visual Effects (VFX) Artists, Software Engineers, Technical Animators, Digital Storytellers, Motion Graphics Animators, UI/UX Designers, Production Coordinators, Entrepreneurs, and Freelance Designers. Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Microsoft and DreamWorks.

Miami University

The College of Creative Arts at Miami University (Miami Oh or Miami) houses the College of Creative Arts, home to the Department of Emerging Technology in Business + Design (ETBD)—formerly AIMS. The ETBD has a Games + Simulation Minor that can be taken with the Emerging Technology in Business and Design BA (ET BA). This highly competitive program has four foundational pillars: Design, Technology, Collaboration & Making, and Business. Students will take courses such as Game Studies, Game Design, Game Programming, Art and Digital Tools, Interaction Design and Development, Interactive Business Communication, and Social Media Marketing and Online Community Management.

The cross-disciplinary Games + Simulation Minor consists of 19 total credit hours, with collaborative courses between The ETBD and the Art and Computer Science Departments. Electives within the program allow students to create a specialty area such as Game Development, Writing for Games, or 3D Art and Animation.  

To gain valuable work experience in the industry, all students at Miami University may complete an internship at a local or national company. There are more than 20 local game companies. Examples include SGM Games, Ganbaru Games, Green Door Games, Aertherbyte Studios, Wraith Games, Max Gaming Technologies, Few Remain, Funky Visions, Ganbaru Games, Multivarious Games, Green Door Games, and MouseMouse Media, Inc.

Graduates of the ETBD and Games + Simulation Programs at Miami University have continued on to graduate study or careers in Game Art, Game Design and Development, Writing for Games, Multimedia Design, AR/VR, 3D Modeling, and UI/UX, among others.

Columbia College Chicago

The School of Media Arts at Columbia College Chicago (CCC) is home to the Interactive Arts & Media (IAM) Department, which provides cross-disciplinary training in game development, animation, programming, visual effects, virtual reality (VR), user experience design, and app development. Students in all programs will work with traditional and emerging technologies to create games, animations, and immersive experiences beginning on the first day of class.

All CCC IAM students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment such as The Game Lab, The Equipment Cave (assets: game consoles, equipment, digital cameras, and more), The Motion Capture Studio, The Sound Studio, The Open Lab, and Animation Production Spaces.

Specific IAM BA Programs for game designers include Game Art and Game Design with Concentrations in Game Development and Game Sound Design; and Programming with Concentrations in Game Programming and Application Programming.  

The Games Studio Capstone provides opportunities for students to work in teams in an environment that mirrors a small, independent studio or a large studio. Final games are eligible to be presented at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, CA, South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, TX, Industry Night at Columbia College Chicago, and the Chicago Toy and Game Fair. 

Graduates of the IAM Programs at Columbia College Chicago are Game Programmers and Coders, Serious Game Designers, Simulation Designers, Game Designers, Sound Effects Designers, and Quality Assurance Testers. Program alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Sony, Pixar, Bungie, Weta Digital, NetherRealm Studios, Iron Galaxy, Jellyvision, High Voltage Software, Incredible Technologies, Inc., Walmart, and John Deere.

University of Denver

The Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science at University of Denver (DU) houses the Computer Science (CS) Department, which allows students to specialize in just about any area. Other department highlights include small class sizes, coursework in modern software engineering with classes taught by faculty members who are active in research, and access to student-run, synergetic clubs such as the DU Game Developers Society, DU Esports, Women in Technology, and DU Computer Science.

In addition to custom specializations, the Computer Science Department at University of Denver has BA degrees in both Applied Computing (AC) and Game Development. Both programs include a Game Capstone where students work in teams to conceptualize, design, test, and debug an industry-ready game. In addition to learning about the game design process from start to finish, University of Denver CS students will develop group collaboration and researching skills.

Both graduate and undergraduate CS students will have the chance to participate in experiential learning opportunities, DU’s study abroad and internship programs, and cooperative education. Recent University of Denver internship employers include The Walt Disney Company, Oracle, NBC Universal, Charter Communications, and Ball Aerospace.

Graduates of the Games Programs at University of Denver work in all 50 states and across 145 countries. Program alumni are Game Designers, Game Developers, Game Programmers, Software Engineers, Multimedia Artists, and Entrepreneurs.

University of Advancing Technology

University of Advancing Technology (UAT) launched its Game Design (GD) Program in 1995. Today, UAT GD is one of the few fully accredited Game Design Programs to provide a comprehensive collection of games studies degree programs. This includes a Game Design BA and a Game Art and Animation BA.

All undergraduate programs consist of 120 credit hours, with 36 credit hours in the major. Programs also feature live simulation and mentors, as well as the opportunity to work on technology-based and community projects individually and with a team. A mandatory industry internship is also part of every UAT program.

Coursework for the Game Design BA explores game programming, interactive storytelling, systems design, game balancing, user experience design, play-testing, and design documentation. Students will work through the game creation process with other artists and programmers to complete a number of projects. The Game Art and Animation BA explores 2D/3D art and animation for mobile, PC, console, virtual reality platforms, and online. Students will work their way through the entire game production pipeline to create an original game. In addition, students will complete a professional portfolio and the Student Innovation Project.

Graduates of the Games Programs at University of Advancing Technology have been hired by major organizations and studios such as Nickelodeon, U.S. Department of Defense, Electronic Arts (EA), Google, Blizzard Entertainment, Intel, and Microsoft.

Bradley University

Bradley University has a production-focused Game Design Program that provides degrees at all levels. The BA has both Game Design and Game Art options. Students in both options are mentored by faculty who have worked on the popular, team-based game League of Legends , Red Faction (developed by Volition), and Far Cry (published by Ubisoft). BA students also benefit from hands-on learning with industry software, participation in game jams, internship experiences, and opportunities to show their work at the annual FUSE exhibit.

Course examples across options include 2D for Game Art, Game Production, Critical Game Studies, Environment Art, and Survey of Games. The Game Capstone allows students in both programs to develop a polished game and portfolio.

Graduates of the Game Design and Game Art Programs at Bradley University have been hired at Blizzard Entertainment, Oculus VR, Warner Bros. Games, and NetherRealm Studios.

University of Wisconsin – Whitewater

The College of Arts and Communication at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-Whitewater) houses the Department of Art and Design, home to the Media Arts and Game Development (MAGD). Students in this BA Program have the opportunity to focus in one of three emphasis areas or take any emphasis area as a minor. The MAGD program also allows students to add a second major to enhance the degree. Popular second major options include Computer Science, Electronic Media, Graphic Design, and Film.

Emphasis options include Gaming Technology, Communication/Gaming, and Media Arts. The Gaming Technology Emphasis covers programming and software development as it relates to game design and development. Communication/Gaming explores video, audio, and writing for digital media, as well as games and emerging technology roles in society. Students in the Media Arts Emphasis will learn to create digital content for computer games, motion graphics, animation, special effects, and 3D.

All MAGD students will participate in two team-based projects (The Senior Capstone), and some will have the opportunity to participate in regional game design expos, competitions, and the MAGD Expo held annually at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In the past, the Expo has welcomed leaders in the industry who have developed games such as God of War, Assassin’s Creed, and Madden NFL.

The MAGD Program hosts a number of student organizations for game designers such as GAMED (Game and Media Entertainment Developers), Gaming Group of Whitewater, Anime, and Smash Bros. All MAGD students have access to facilities such as the Motion Capture Studio and a gaming room that hosts the departments weekend-long game jams.

Also part of MAGD is the internship program, which provides the opportunity to gain work experience ion the UW-Whitewater Digital Media Lab or off campus for a game or animation studio, film and video production company, or media production firm.

Graduates of the MAGD Programs at University of Wisconsin – Whitewater are prepared to pursue positions in game design and development, 3D art, motion graphics, animation, usability engineering, mobile app development, and multimedia production.

Recent MAGD graduates have been hired at companies and studios such as  Obsidian Entertainment,  Bethesda Game Studios, Image 360, Filament Games, Raven Software, and PerBlue.

University of Connecticut

The School of Fine Arts at University of Connecticut (UConn) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD). Within the School is the Department of Digital Media Design (DMD). Serving more than 375 students across seven concentrations, the DMD emphasizes a collaborative learning environment, hands-on projects, and visiting experts who present workshops and mentor students. The Department also provides access to state-of-the-art production studios, gaming clubs, and more than 100 internships annually at companies in Connecticut and across the U.S. DMD students have interned at major studios and companies such as HBO, Pixar Animation Studios, Disney, Adobe, and ESPN.

For students seeking a Bachelor of Arts, UConn DMD has a Digital Media and Design BA that provides the opportunity to take the Generalist Path or Specialize in Game Design. Courses for the program are led by full-time instructors who are professionals in the industry and may include 3D Virtual World & Simulations, Digital Game Design, Game Scripting, History of Computer Graphics, Critical Perspectives on Digital Media, and Fundamentals of Programming for Game & Web. Digital Media and Design BA students will complete the Portfolio and Professional Development courses and a Senior Project to graduate.

Approximately 90% of University of Connecticut DMD alumni are employed in the industry within one year of graduation. UConn DMD graduates are prepared to pursue careers such as Game Designer, Video Game Artist, Producer, Serious Games Designer, Gameplay Programmer, and Esports Manager. UConn DMD alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Blur Studio, Epic Games, Disney, Adobe, The Game Agency, ESPN, HBO, Viacom, NBC Universal, Owlchemy Labs, NBC Sports, Deck Nine Games, and World Walker Games.

University of Silicon Valley

University of Silicon Valley (USV), formerly Cogswell College, houses the Department of Game Design & Development, home to the Game Art BA Program. The USV learning environment is immersive, collaborative, highly technical, and hands-on. Students in the Game Art BA Program will explore 2D and 3D Art, interactive audio production, and game and level design, while learning to master industry-standard software and hardware tools.

Course highlights for the USV Game Art Program include Character Rigging, Level Design for Single Player Games, 3D Animation  Principles, Game Storytelling, Environment Art, Game Engines, Game 3D Asset Creation, and Visual Design. Three Game Studios are also part of the program and include Production Pipeline (1), Interactive Design (2), and Portfolio (3).

The Game Art BA Program at University of Silicon Valley culminates with Senior Capstone Project 1 and Senior Capstone Project 2. The students final online portfolio will demonstrate techniques, skills, and principles applicable in the industry.

Graduates of the USV Game Art Program go on to establish careers in game design and development, game programming, game art, animation, and entertainment design. Graduates have been recruited by studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Zynga, Atari, Electronic Arts (EA), and 2K Games.

The College of New Jersey

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) houses the School of the Arts and Communication, home to the Department of Design and Creative Technology, which has an Interactive Multimedia (IMM) BA Program with six focus areas. Options include Games and Playable Media, Creative Coding, Visual Storytelling and Animation, Culture and Technology, Music Technology, and Digital Fabrications. IMM BA students may select up to two focus areas, along with a minor or second major in Computer Science, Communications, Graphic Design, Business, or Art.

The most popular focus area for game designers is Games and Playable Media. Course examples for the area include Games I: Design & Architecture, Games II: Implementation and Project Management, Intro to Interactive Computing, Special Topics: Game Studies and Design or Delightful Little Games, and Independent Study in Game Design. Students often pair Creative Coding with Games and Playable Media. Creative Coding course examples include Introduction to Interactive Computing, Interactive Music Programming, Dynamic Web Applications, Physical Computing, Design Fundamentals for the Web, and Mobile Computing. 

Students in all Department of Design Programs at The College of New Jersey have opportunities to gain experience through the TCNJ Internship Program. Students have had the opportunity to intern at companies and studios such as DreamWorks, NFL Films, and Amazon.

Graduates of the IMM BA Program at The College of New Jersey have bene hired at places such as Nickelodeon, TIME, and MakerBot. Some program alumni have gone on to pursue graduate study at top schools such as Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), School of Visual Arts (SVA), and New York University (NYU).

Bachelor of Creative Technologies - Game Art

Bachelor of Creative Technologies - Game Art

Create beautiful environments and characters and use these assets to develop immersive experiences to share with people in an industry that is bigger than the music and movie sectors put together.

Three Academic Years

Degree, NZQF Level 7 (420 Credits, 1.2 EFTS per year)

NCEA Level 3, CIE or IB University Entrance or Level 4 or higher Qualification from related discipline (not required for students 20+)

Full details including discretionary entrance based on Level 2 Excellence  Endorsement  can be found  here .

Study On Campus or Online

General Portfolio (3D models or visualisations favoured)

Click here to access key information about this qualification

Exclusive Industry Partners

Sony PlayStation

What is Game Art?

Develop immersive experiences.

From 2D platformers to 3D brawlers, you’ll be devising and creating your own interactive stories, digital illustrations, concept art and games that will be viewed by an international audience of game enthusiasts.

Within the first sixteen weeks of your first year, you’ll have created your very own 2D game and, by the time you’ve finished your degree, you’ll have collaborated with other game artists and programmers to develop an industry-quality game. Thanks to our Girls in Games events, we’ll make sure that everyone gets a fair shot at achieving their dreams, with close to 50% of our year 1 cohort identifying as women in 2022!

This programme is available both on campus and online.

Why study Game Art?

You should study game art if you are passionate about creating worlds, characters, and interfaces that exist within the context of a video game. By studying game art, you will learn how to design beautiful and immersive environments and believable characters, and then combine those elements to deliver a gaming experience that people will cherish. 

Bachelor of Creative Technologies - Game Art

Why study Game Art at Media Design School?

Develop an industry-level game at Media Design School

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Course Outline

What you'll cover in this course.

The first year delivers a solid grounding, including 3D modelling and creating 2D & 3D visual assets. Creative problem solving is underpinned by the basic theories, philosophies, and the history of technology.

By the second year, you will be able to design solutions to production problems. New topics are introduced, including the use of middleware and the principles of architecture and game environments.

In the final year, both degree programmes collaborate on a major game production. This studio simulated environment tests individual skills, knowledge, and theory while giving students experience working within a team.

Entry Requirements

General Admission

NCEA University Entrance NCEA Level 3: Three subjects at Level 3, made up of 14 credits each. Literacy 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of: 5 credits in reading 5 credits in writing Numeracy 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of: achievement standards (specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects), or, unit standards, package of three numeracy unit standards: 26623, 26626, 26627. (All three required) If you are enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school and have not yet completed your NCEA (CIE or equivalent) qualification you can still apply now for admission. When your NCEA results are available in January, we will check them and contact you. IB and CIE University Entrance More information on alternative eligible qualifications such as IB or CIE, click here. Special Entry, Discretionary Entry and Cross Credits If you don't have university entry, you may still be able to apply for this course. More information about Special Entry, Discretionary Entry and Cross Credits here.

International Students

To apply for this degree, you'll need a minimum qualification of NCEA University Entrance or CIE (University of Cambridge International Examination) or IB (International Baccalaureate) or equivalent overseas secondary school qualification or have completed one year of tertiary study from recognised institution. Please Note: Entry requirement may vary based on your country of citizenship. Please refer to our International Page for entry requirements at mediadesignschool.com/international-students. If you country is not on the list, please email [email protected] for further information. All international students must be 18 years of age when the programme commences (on- campus or online). International applicants can start their application before they turn 18 years of age.

Please note, quotas may apply to some programmes. Where demand exceeds the number of available places, applicants who meet entry requirements will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Language Requirements

As an international student, you'll need to prove you have sufficient English language skills in order to complete this course. We'll be looking for Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 (minimum) with no band less than 5.5, or equivalent test result.

We accept a range of internationally recognised English Language proficiency test. Find out more on the NZQA website or download the NZQA list HERE .

Portfolio requirements

How to prepare your portfolio.

Your portfolio is a selection of work that shows your skills and talents. It introduces you and your ideas, and shows us you have the creativity and imagination to be a student at Media Design School. There are no strict rules about what you should include in your portfolio. As a guide, it should include a range of 12 - 20 pieces of your best works that represent who you are as a creative person. We recommend including a range of media and styles. It is not imperative you include digitally rendered artworks. Here are some of the examples you could include:

  • Pencil drawings and illustrations
  • Painting Photography Graphic or Digital design
  • 3D models or visualisations
  • Concept art and characters
  • Video or moving images

bachelor of creative arts game design

Entry & portfolio requirements for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art)

Byod requirements.

Before you begin your study with us, you will need to have a suitable device that has the functionality to run the programmes required for your course.

Follow this link to find course-specific requirements and recommendations, along with links to more information about hardware specifications. We have prepared these recommendations to help our students equip for flexible, blended learning.

Career & Industry Insights

If you're serious about fast-tracking your way into the games industry, enrol in our dedicated Game Art course that we've specially designed to mirror industry. Over three years, this course will help you develop your artistic style and technical skills through a combination of traditional and digital art practices, and the use of industry-standard software. 

You will collaborate in groups of artists and programmers on multiple game projects while developing a professional portfolio, where you will gain the necessary skills to enter the industry.

Game Art career paths include:

  • 3D Modeller 
  • Art Director 
  • Concept Artist
  • Level Designer  
  • Technical Artist 
  • Texture Artist 

Student Success Stories

White Wings

Lena Yaroshenko

Keep going, research and explore as many things related to your craft as you can. Even now, the learning never stops.

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Niamh Fitzgerald

The best advice I can give anyone studying to pursue a career in the games industry is to get involved in community events.

Whistlebox

I really enjoyed the challenges of assignments & projects as it kept me sharp and resourceful.

Mia Tawhiao-Lomas

Mia Tawhiao-Lomas 

I hope to join a studio or work on projects that are focused on creating content based on/promoting te ao Māori and indigenous cultures.

Meet the Faculty

Ivan Khmel is the Programme Director of the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art) at Media Design School

Programme Coordinator - Bachelor of Creative Technologies

Jordan Browne, Programme Director of Game Art, Game Programming, Artificial Intelligence and IT at Media Design School

Jordan Browne

Programme director - bachelor of creative technologies, bachelor of software engineering, bachelor of artificial intelligence and bachelor of it.

Dr. Asli Tece Bayrak is the Programme Coordinator of the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming) at Media Design School

Dr. Asli Tece Bayrak

Programme coordinator - bachelor of software engineering.

David March is a lecturer at Media Design School

David March

Lecturer - bachelor of creative technologies.

Jarek

Dr. Jarek Beksa

Fraser Gray is a lecturer at Media Design School

Fraser Gray

Matt Oades is a lecturer at Media Design School as well as a Senior Environment Artist at Torn Banner Studios

Rourke Gray-Mason

Sofia Piven is a lecturer at Media Design School

Sofia Piven

  • Our Scholarships
  • Game Design Courses
  • Creative Technologies

Southern New Hampshire University

Online Students

For All Online Programs

International Students

On Campus, need or have Visa

Campus Students

For All Campus Programs

Students working in Game Studio with text "Sultan Ahkter '19"

Online Game Art Degree Bachelor of Arts in Game Design

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Level Up Your Skills

  • $330/credit (120 total credits)
  • Create a portfolio of front-end game art assets to show employers
  • No application fee or SAT/ACT scores
  • Transfer up to 90 credits
  • Learn while using industry-standard 3D and 2D graphics software
  • Get job-ready for game and simulation development

Game Art and Development Program Overview

Take your love of gaming and game design to a whole new level.

Whether it's imagining rich virtual game worlds or designing creatures from another planet, you'll be on the right path to the fast-paced, exciting world of video game art and design with SNHU's Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Game Art and Development.

As an online game design degree that zeroes in on game art, this program can help you build a portfolio of compelling front-end game designs. You'll use industry-standard 3D and 2D graphic software to learn and apply game design and game art principles such as:

  • 3D modeling and sculpting
  • Lighting, shading and texturing
  • Illustration and digital painting
  • Rigging and character animation

Creativity, critical thinking and technical skills all come together in this highly sought-after undergraduate program. The convenience of SNHU’s online offering means you can remain located in the areas of the country where the markets are booming – the West Coast or Florida, for instance – and emerge with the skills you need to enter an industry that's both fast-paced and always changing.

Interested in the science behind gaming? Our online game programming degree program can teach you how to create interactive game experiences through rule design, play mechanics and more.

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What You'll Learn

  • Digital game and interactive media element design
  • Design strategy recommendations
  • Application of industry tools
  • Creative and collaborative problem solving
  • Design optimization for various digital platforms

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How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Career Outlook

SNHU offers a critical advantage in a highly competitive field, as our program uniquely focuses on today's industry standards and essential skill-building to excel in game art and design.

Whether it's for games or movies, ed-tech or the military, here are just a few careers you might land with an online game art  degree:

Give your career dimension by creating detailed 3D models of objects and characters for film and video studios, game design organizations, or even architecture firms. 

Bring your career to life as an animator. Animate objects, rigged characters and creatures for things like video games, movies, advertisements and TV shows. 

Concept Artist

Envision and plan the look and feel of virtual worlds. Visualize and create art for characters, creatures, vehicles, environments and other creative assets.

User Interface (UI) Artist

Design and draw the menus, heads-up display and other navigational components of a game or virtual environment.

Almost anything you need to build or create in the 21st century begins with a model, animation or both, because these tools can help pinpoint design flaws, identify areas of improvement and ultimately reduce costs.

The practical application of these skills is one of the big reasons Danielle Rumbaugh '20 was able to take her career to the next level.

"When I first started the game art program, I worked at a small game company," Rumbaugh said. "Applying the knowledge I learned from SNHU really pushed the limits of what I thought I was capable of."

Learning the ins and outs of industry tools, she made the decision to "jump right in and do it." That attitude ultimately helped her become her own boss.

"Building up these skills was what gave me the courage to start my business and reach out to new companies," she said.

Now, as a contract artist, Rumbaugh has already collected her share of big wins. She's even had her work featured in Aviation Week and Space Technology.

As far as future goals? She's aiming even higher. "I’m hoping that I will eventually be able to work on my first console game as a contract artist," she said.

Job Growth and Salary

Salaries can vary by location, experience and work environment. There are many specialized roles in the gaming industry, each requiring different subsets of skills and responsibilities, making wage estimations difficult to predict.

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According to Newzoo, the global video game industry is projected to grow beyond $218.7 billion by 2024. 1 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% job growth for special effects artists and animators through 2032. 2  

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, special effects artists and animators reportedly earned a median annual wage of $98,950 in 2022. 2

Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Game Art and Development Degree

Why snhu for your online game art degree flexible with no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7. affordable as part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. in fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation. prior coursework could also help you save time and money. snhu’s transfer policy  allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. you could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience , or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you. respected founded in 1932 , southern new hampshire university is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. snhu is accredited by the new england commission of higher education (neche), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.  recently, snhu has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education: u.s. news & world report named snhu the 2021 most innovative university in the north and one of the nation's "best regional universities" awarded the 21st century distance learning award for excellence in online technology by the united states distance learning association (usdla) a $1 million grant from google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth network at southern new hampshire university, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities. 93.6% of online students would recommend snhu (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). discover why snhu may be right for you . admission requirements expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. that’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials: completed free undergraduate application prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you test scores are not required as part of your application acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms . how to apply if you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going: complete a free undergraduate application submit any additional documents required work with an admission counselor  to explore financial options  and walk through the application process if you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email [email protected] . if (typeof accordiongroup === "undefined") { window.accordiongroup = new accordion(); } accordiongroup.init(document.getelementbyid('e523a39be0dd41a5ac1e7a92fd01125c')); take your career to the next level.

Danielle Rumbaugh

"When I first started the game art program, I worked at a small game company. Applying the knowledge I learned from SNHU really pushed the limits of what I thought I was capable of."

Courses & Curriculum

Our curriculum was designed to help you become proficient with design tools like Adobe Software Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and 3DS Max. Armed with these tools, you'll build an eye-catching portfolio that includes original character and creature designs. You'll also gain demonstrated experience designing interactive 3D environments.

Courses mirror the standard workflow pipeline used in the industry for the production of art assets. You'll apply these skills to multiple video game platforms, including web, console, PC and mobile, so you'll be ready to hit the ground running in a fast-paced industry.

Additionally, our expert faculty of gaming vets can share their broad experience within the gaming industry.

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

General education.

All undergraduate students are required to take general education courses , which are part of SNHU's newly redesigned program, The Commons. The goal of The Commons' curriculum is to empower you with some of the most in-demand skills, so you can succeed not only in your academic career, but in your personal and professional life too.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments .

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

Minimum Hardware Requirements Component Type   PC (Windows OS)   Apple (Mac OS)   Operating System  Currently supported operating system from Microsoft.   Currently supported operating system from Apple.  Memory (RAM)  8GB or higher  8GB or higher  Hard Drive  100GB or higher  100GB or higher  Antivirus Software  Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students.  Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students.  SNHU Purchase Programs  Visit Dell   Visit Apple   Internet/ Bandwidth  5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency  5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency  Notes:   Laptop or desktop?   Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.  Note:   Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.  Office 365 Pro Plus  is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for  Microsoft 365 plans  for business, education and government.  Antivirus software:  Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.  if (typeof accordionGroup === "undefined") { window.accordionGroup = new accordion(); } accordionGroup.init(document.getElementById('f756dce5bd874c61855f6f6e92d88470')); Game Art & Development Required Hardware & Software Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite This package includes Maya, 3ds Max, Motion Builder and Mudbox. Students can download these products for free under an educational agreement through  Autodesk . System Requirements Operating system:  Windows 10 64-bit operating system CPU:  Intel i5/i7/Xeon technology or AMD equivalent Graphics hardware:  Refer to Autodesk's recommendations for  Maya and Mudbox RAM:  A minimum of 16GB of RAM is required, but 32GB is highly recommended and will become increasingly necessary with each annual release of new versions of Autodesk applications. Disk space:  19GB free disk space Note that some Autodesk products included in the Entertainment Creation Suite may be available for Apple ®  Mac OS ® X operating systems. Students may elect to run non-native software (most notably 3ds Max) on Windows ® through Apple's Boot Camp ® or Parallels Desktop ® systems. Students who wish to obtain Windows ® 10 may do so through  Azure Dev Tools .  Adobe Creative Cloud This package includes Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat and more. Students can download these products for a reduced monthly cost through SNHU's  OnTheHub store . System Requirements The requirements below are listed for Photoshop and Illustrator. Given that current system requirements can change without notice from Adobe, it is best to consult the most up-to-date requirements on the  Adobe website . Component Type Mac Specifications  PC Specifications  Operation System  Mac OS® 10.13 (High Sierra), macOS version 10.12 (Sierra) or Mac OS X version 10.11 (El Capitan)  Windows 10 operating system  CPU  Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support  Intel® Core 2 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor; 2 GHz or faster processor  RAM  A minimum of 8GB of RAM is required, but 16GB is highly recommended and will become increasingly necessary with each annual release of new versions of Adobe applications  A minimum of 8GB of RAM is required, but 16GB is highly recommended and will become increasingly necessarily with each annual release of new versions of Adobe applications  Disk Space  4GB or more of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system)  2.6GB free disk space  Display  1024 x 768 display (1280x800 recommended) with 16-bit color and 512MB or more of dedicated VRAM; 2GB is recommended  1024 x 768 display (1280x800 recommended) with 16-bit color and 512MB or more of dedicated VRAM; 2 GB is recommended  Graphics  OpenGL 2.0-capable system  OpenGL 2.0-capable system  if (typeof accordionGroup === "undefined") { window.accordionGroup = new accordion(); } accordionGroup.init(document.getElementById('e6d43d467beb4353a9f3d4b5c5ca3118')); University Accreditation

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bachelor of creative arts game design

25 Best Bachelor’s in Game Design Degree Programs

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bachelor of creative arts game design

Video games have gone far, far beyond mind­less enter­tain­ment and time-killing diver­sion. They’re that, of course – and enthu­si­asm for video games has cre­at­ed a glob­al indus­try pro­ject­ed to reach $925 bil­lion by 2032. But game art, design, and devel­op­ment is becom­ing cen­tral to all kinds of indus­tries, from med­i­cine (with doc­tors and nurs­es train­ing on sim­u­la­tions) to edu­ca­tion (with the gam­i­fi­ca­tion of learn­ing) and even the mil­i­tary (with sim­u­lat­ed train­ing and drone war­fare becom­ing key to pro­tect­ing forces). Stu­dents learn­ing to pro­gram and design today will be trans­form­ing indus­tries in ways we can’t even pre­dict tomorrow.

Stu­dents look­ing for the best video game design degree pro­grams have a lot of schools to choose from, and the list is grow­ing year­ly. Com­put­er sci­ence depart­ments, engi­neer­ing schools, art and design col­leges, and many more have devel­oped gam­ing pro­grams and majors for game design. An on-cam­pus pro­gram at the best game design col­leges gives stu­dents access to cut­ting-edge labs, indus­try-expe­ri­enced men­tors, and con­nec­tions that will make their career tran­si­tion seam­less. The Bachelor’s Degree Cen­ter rank­ing of the top game design col­leges is intend­ed to guide stu­dents there.

Methodology: Ranking the Best Video Game Design Degree Programs

The first step for Bachelor’s Degree Cen­ter edi­tors was a sweep­ing search for all of the accred­it­ed video game art, design, and devel­op­ment pro­grams avail­able at the bachelor’s lev­el. From there, we ranked pro­grams accord­ing to the fac­tors we con­sid­er most impor­tant for judg­ing a bachelor’s degree pro­gram. We use five fac­tors, with data drawn from IPEDS, Col­lege Score­card, and Niche stu­dent reviews: Aver­age Alum­ni Salary, Employ­ment Rate, Grad­u­a­tion Rate, Rep­u­ta­tion, and Tuition Cost.

With these five fac­tors, stu­dents can feel con­fi­dent that their pro­gram com­bines qual­i­ty, stu­dent sat­is­fac­tion, and real job mar­ket impact for an all-around great invest­ment .

1. Georgia Institute of Technology

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Geor­gia Insti­tute of Technology’s BS in Com­pu­ta­tion­al Media, from the Ivan Allen School of Lit­er­a­ture, Media & Com­mu­ni­ca­tion, has set the stan­dard for gam­ing edu­ca­tion. Stu­dents grad­u­ate pre­pared for reward­ing careers in Spe­cial Effects Cre­ation, Aug­ment­ed Real­i­ty, 3D Mod­el­ing, and Inter­ac­tive Game Sim­u­la­tion, among oth­ers. Poten­tial intern­ships for stu­dents in the video game design degree are avail­able with IBM Boe­ing, Microsoft, Sapi­ent Nitro, and Gen­er­al Motors, among oth­ers. Course­work includes Prin­ci­ples of Inter­ac­tive Design, Ani­ma­tion, and Con­struct­ing the Mov­ing Image.

Geor­gia Tech was estab­lished in 1885 as the Geor­gia School of Tech­nol­o­gy, bring­ing mod­ern sci­ence and engi­neer­ing to the South. Geor­gia Tech is a space-grant insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing with satel­lite cam­pus­es in Savan­nah, France, Chi­na, Sin­ga­pore, and Ire­land. The school oper­ates with six col­leges and is ranked in the top ten of pub­lic nation­al schools in the country.

What We Like: Geor­gia Tech’s Cen­ter for Media Stud­ies is an inter­na­tion­al mod­el of the most inno­v­a­tive, trans­for­ma­tive research into applied tech­nol­o­gy. Degree: BS in Com­pu­ta­tion­al Media

Geor­gia Insti­tute of Technology

2. University of Pennsylvania

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Pennsylvania’s Penn Engi­neer­ing offers a Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence in Engi­neer­ing in Dig­i­tal Media Design. UP’s game art degree has been designed from an inter­dis­ci­pli­nary approach comb­ing course­work from com­put­er graph­ics, com­put­er sci­ence and cours­es in fine art. Degree grad­u­ates from UP’s video game design degree have found reward­ing jobs with Elec­tron­ic Arts, Google, Pixar, and Dreamworks.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Penn­syl­va­nia was estab­lished in 1740. It is con­sid­ered a Colo­nial Col­lege, one of nine schools estab­lished before the sign­ing of the Dec­la­ra­tion of Inde­pen­dence, and was found­ed on Ben­jamin Franklin’s con­cepts of Enlight­en­ment sci­ence and rea­son. Its urban cam­pus is home to near­ly 21,600 stu­dents and more than 4,600 fac­ul­ty mem­bers. UP holds the claim that it was the first insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing with both grad­u­ate and under­grad­u­ate pro­grams in the country.

What We Like: As an inter­dis­ci­pli­nary pro­gram, Penn’s DMD pro­gram puts an empha­sis on the kind of over­lap and col­lab­o­ra­tion that defines mod­ern media and game devel­op­ment. Degree: BSE in Dig­i­tal Media Design

Penn Engi­neer­ing

3. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

bachelor of creative arts game design

Worces­ter Poly­tech­nic Institute’s Inter­ac­tive Media & Game Devel­op­ment degree pro­gram is offered as either a Bach­e­lor of Arts degree or a Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence degree. The Bach­e­lor of Arts in Game Design offers empha­sis paths in ani­ma­tions, tech­ni­cal artistry and sculpt­ing, and design. The BS degree pro­gram takes a more in-depth look at com­put­er game devel­op­ment from the per­spec­tives of com­put­er sci­ence, art, math, Eng­lish, and music. WPI’s stu­dents com­pete in nation­al gam­ing events and build game sys­tems to meet course requirements.

Worces­ter Poly­tech­nic Insti­tute was estab­lished in 1865. This pri­vate insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing focus­es on the edu­ca­tion of tech­ni­cal research and applied sci­ences. WPI is con­sid­ered one of the first engi­neer­ing insti­tu­tions of high­er learn­ing in the nation. The school’s sub­ur­ban cam­pus is locat­ed in the Com­mon­wealth of Mass­a­chu­setts’ 2nd largest city, Worcester.

What We Like: Among WPI’s many research ini­tia­tives, some of their most admirable work improves math edu­ca­tion for chil­dren using smart­phones and games. Degree: BA or BS in Inter­ac­tive Media & Game Development

Worces­ter Poly­tech­nic Institute’

4. University of Southern California

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern California’s video game design degree pro­grams offers either a Bach­e­lor of Arts in Inter­ac­tive Design or a Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence in Com­put­er Sci­ence (Games). The Bach­e­lor of Arts in Game Design pro­gram is offered through the Cin­e­mat­ic Arts School. The Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence pro­gram is avail­able through Viter­bi School of Engi­neer­ing. The game art degree pro­grams required the com­ple­tion of 128 cred­it units, which includes USC’s core cur­ricu­lum required for all bac­calau­re­ate degree programs.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern Cal­i­for­nia was estab­lished in 1880 and holds the dis­tinc­tion as a sea grant and space grant uni­ver­si­ty. It holds the dis­tinc­tion as the old­est pri­vate research insti­tu­tions of high­er learn­ing in the state and the largest pri­vate employ­er for the city of Los Ange­les. USC has played a major part in devel­op­ing South­ern Cal­i­for­nia into the enter­tain­ment cen­ter of the world, and pro­grams feed into Hol­ly­wood, the music indus­try, and the tech indus­try — includ­ing, of course, video gaming.

What We Like: With its loca­tion and rep­u­ta­tion, USC is able to pro­vide stu­dents with men­tor­ship from some of the top play­ers in the video game indus­try — and access to career-mak­ing intern­ships and jobs. Degree: BA in Inter­ac­tive Design or BS in Com­put­er Sci­ence — Games

Uni­ver­si­ty of South­ern California

5. North Carolina State University

bachelor of creative arts game design

North Car­oli­na State University’s BS in Com­put­er Sci­ence degree includes an empha­sis in Game Devel­op­ment, from one of the South’s most renowned engi­neer­ing schools. Stu­dents explore the his­tor­i­cal, tech­no­log­i­cal, and sci­en­tif­ic fun­da­men­tals required to devel­op com­put­er gam­ing pro­grams and seri­ous edu­ca­tion­al pro­grams. NC State’s video game design degree requires degree can­di­dates to com­plete 121 cred­it hours of core cur­ricu­lum and video game design coursework.

North Car­oli­na State Uni­ver­si­ty was estab­lished in 1887 under the Mor­rill Land Grant Act. It holds the dis­tinc­tion of being a flag­ship Land Grant, Sea Grant, and Space Grant pub­lic insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing. NC State’s 2,100+-acre urban cam­pus is home to more than 35,000 stu­dents and 2,300+ fac­ul­ty mem­bers. NC State oper­ates with twelve colleges/academic divi­sions. The school is rec­og­nized as a “more selec­tive” school with a 46% accep­tance rate for the incom­ing class of 2019.

What We Like: NCSU’s Com­put­er Sci­ence Depart­ment was one of the first in the nation, and helped shape the Research Tri­an­gle — and those con­nec­tions make sure NCSU com­put­er sci­ence grad­u­ates have their pick of jobs.

Degree: BS in Com­put­er Sci­ence — Game Development

North Car­oli­na State University

6. University of Texas at Austin

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Austin’s BS in Com­put­er Sci­ence with a Game Devel­op­ment Con­cen­tra­tion degree pro­gram is one of the best gam­ing pro­grams in the world, and it’s about to get bet­ter. In 2020, UT Austin will offer a brand-new video game design degree – a BS in Arts & Enter­tain­ment Tech­nolo­gies. UT Austin’s new cut­ting-edge game art degree pro­gram is offered in part­ner­ship with the school’s Depart­ment of Com­put­er Sci­ence with the Depart­ment of Arts & Enter­tain­ment tech­nolo­gies. Ani­ma­tion Career Review rec­og­nizes UT Austin’s game design pro­gram among the top 10 offered by pub­lic insti­tu­tions of high­er learning.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Austin was estab­lished in 1883 and is the flag­ship uni­ver­si­ty of Texas. It is also a mem­ber school of the Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas sys­tem. In the 21st cen­tu­ry, Austin has seen mas­sive growth as a lead­ing tech hub, with major events like SXSW and an influx of star­tups and major cor­po­ra­tions bring­ing inter­na­tion­al attention.

What We Like: Only Cal­i­for­nia has more video game stu­dios than Texas — and Austin has more career oppor­tu­ni­ties in game devel­op­ment than any­where else in the state.

Degree: BS in Com­put­er Sci­ence — Game Devel­op­ment Concentration

Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Austin

7. Northeastern University

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Col­lege of Arts, Media and Design offer North­east­ern University’s BFA in Game Art & Ani­ma­tion degree pro­gram. NU’s Khoury Col­lege of Com­put­er Sci­ences offers a BS in Com­put­er Science/Game Devel­op­ment. Northeastern’s video game design degree pro­grams pre­pare stu­dents to excel at visu­al arts in game pro­duc­tion through rig­or­ous course­work and coop­er­a­tive work expe­ri­ence. The Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence degree option requires the com­ple­tion of 133 cred­it units and a coop­er­a­tive experience/internship in order to grad­u­ate. Career oppor­tu­ni­ties include web design, inter­ac­tion design, and design entre­pre­neur, among others.

North­east­ern Uni­ver­si­ty was estab­lished in 1898. North­east­ern Uni­ver­si­ty oper­ates from sev­er­al cam­pus­es in the city of Boston. These include the cam­pus­es of Fen­way-Ken­more, Back Bay, South End, and Rox­bury; where more than 25,000 stu­dents. NU offers a renowned coop­er­a­tive pro­gram to its stu­dents, which coor­di­nates full-time study with hands-on work experience.

What We Like: Northeastern’s Khoury College’s coop­er­a­tive edu­ca­tion pro­gram makes sure every stu­dent gets hands-on expe­ri­ence, and more than two-thirds are already employed at graduation.

Degree: BFA in Game Art and Ani­ma­tion or BS in Com­put­er Science/Game Development

North­east­ern University

8. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Rens­se­laer Poly­tech­nic Institute’s BS in Games & Sim­u­la­tion Arts/Sciences (GSAS) degree pro­gram comes from the renowned Hass School of Human­i­ties, Arts & Social Sci­ences. RPI’s video game design degree requires the com­ple­tion of 128 cred­it units of course­work to grad­u­ate. Course­work includes Data Struc­tures, Cal­cu­lus for Archi­tec­ture, Game Sto­ry­telling, Addi­tion­al­ly; degree can­di­dates are required to com­plete a GSAS Research Project. The game art degree offers sev­er­al con­cen­tra­tions – Com­put­er Sci­ence, Cog­ni­tive Sci­ence, Writ­ing, Elec­tron­ic Arts, Man­age­ment, and Music.

The Rens­se­laer Poly­tech­nic Insti­tute was estab­lished in 1824. It is a pri­vate space coast insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing in Troy with two addi­tion­al satel­lite cam­pus­es in Gro­ton and Hart­ford, CT. RPI oper­ates with five colleges/schools fur­ther divid­ed into near­ly 40 depart­ments. RPI’s 250+-acre urban cam­pus over­looks the Hud­son Riv­er and is home to near­ly 8,000 stu­dents. The schools include Human­i­ties, Arts & Social Sci­ences, Man­age­ment and Tech­nol­o­gy, Engi­neer­ing, Archi­tec­ture, and Science.

What We Like: The Hass School has pio­neered dig­i­tal human­i­ties and stands as an inter­na­tion­al mod­el of inter­dis­ci­pli­nary learn­ing and research.

Degree: BS in Games and Sim­u­la­tion Arts and Sciences

Rens­se­laer Poly­tech­nic Institute

9. Michigan State University

bachelor of creative arts game design

Michi­gan State University’s BA in Media & Infor­ma­tion allows stu­dents the oppor­tu­ni­ty to explore the many ways to trans­form the pow­er of the media using com­put­er sci­ence tools to design pow­er­ful mes­sages. MSU’s Bach­e­lor of Arts in Game Design degree requires the com­ple­tion of 120 cred­it units divid­ed between MSU’s core bac­calau­re­ate require­ments and the game art degree require­ments. Michi­gan State Uni­ver­si­ty video design pro­gram requires the com­ple­tion of a cap­stone project from more than ten offered cap­stone courses.

Michi­gan State Uni­ver­si­ty was estab­lished in 1855 as the result of the Mor­rill Land Act. MSU holds the dis­tinc­tion of being one of the first insti­tu­tions of high­er learn­ing to offer sci­en­tif­ic agri­cul­ture edu­ca­tion. Michi­gan State University’s 10,000-acre cam­pus is home to more than 50,000 stu­dents and more than 12,000 staff and fac­ul­ty. The cam­pus includes a Cyclotron Lab, a Plan­e­tar­i­um, a Botan­i­cal Gar­den and Per­form­ing Arts Center.

What We Like: MSU is home to some of the most cut­ting-edge labs in the field, includ­ing the Behav­ior Infor­ma­tion Tech­nol­o­gy (BIT) Lab and the Games for Enter­tain­ment and Learn­ing (GEL) Lab.

Degree: BA in Media and Information

Michi­gan State University

10. Indiana University

bachelor of creative arts game design

Indi­ana Uni­ver­si­ty Bloomington’s (IU) Media School offers a BS in Game Design degree pro­gram. IU’s video game design degree pre­pares grad­u­ates to cre­ate engag­ing designs that can be used to teach or enter­tain the world. Course­work cov­ers top­ics that include design & pro­duc­tion, game pro­duc­tion, art & sound, game the­o­ry strate­gies, all while stay­ing cur­rent with emerg­ing design tech­nolo­gies. Stu­dents of the IU’s Media School are required to par­tic­i­pate in a 3‑semester team-relat­ed work­shop with the objec­tive to build from pro­to­type to pub­lish­ing, a ful­ly func­tion­ing game.

Indi­ana Uni­ver­si­ty was estab­lished in 1820. IU oper­ates across nine cam­pus­es through­out the state of Indi­ana. The com­bined stu­dent enroll­ment for Indi­ana Uni­ver­si­ty exceeds 100,000 stu­dents. IU’s Bloom­ing­ton cam­pus is home to near­ly half the school’s entire enroll­ment and is con­sid­ered the flag­ship cam­pus of the university.

What We Like: GameDev@IU is a stu­dent-run club open to all stu­dents who are inter­est­ed in game design, not just majors; stu­dents learn new skills and devel­op games for fun and enrich­ment. Degree: BS in Game Design

Indi­ana University

11. University of California, Irvine

bachelor of creative arts game design

The BS in Game Sci­ence at Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, Irvine’s Don­ald Bren School of Infor­ma­tion & Com­put­er Sci­ences is a video game design degree explor­ing the world of game design from sev­er­al per­spec­tives – Gam­ing, Com­put­er Sci­ence, and Math. Degree grad­u­ates in the UC Irvine Game Sci­ence pro­gram build sev­er­al com­plete video games through­out the stan­dard cur­ricu­lum. Stu­dents can opt for a focus on mobile games, mod­el­ing, and world-build­ing with­in the game art degree pro­gram. Course­work cul­mi­nates with a cap­stone game project, with sum­mer intern­ships available.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, Irvine was estab­lished in 1965. It is one of the ten mem­bers schools orga­nized under the Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia sys­tem. Along with oth­ers in the UC sys­tem (arguably the finest pub­lic uni­ver­si­ty sys­tem in the world), UC Irvine holds the dis­tinc­tion as being con­sid­ered a Pub­lic Ivy school. UC Irvine’s 1,500+-acre cam­pus is home to more than 35,000 stu­dents and more than 11,000 staff/faculty.

What We Like: In recent years, Irvine has emerged as a tech hub, draw­ing on con­nec­tions to Sil­i­con Val­ley and build­ing a rep­u­ta­tion for entre­pre­neur­ship — all of which means job-mar­ket suc­cess for graduates.

Degree: BS in Com­put­er Game Science

Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, Irvine

12. New York University

bachelor of creative arts game design

The world-class Tisch School of the Arts offers NYU’s BFA in Game Design degree pro­gram. NYU’s Bach­e­lor of Arts in Game Design pro­gram is designed to pro­vide each stu­dent an in-depth look of video game design from a cul­tur­al, tech­no­log­i­cal, and design-lensed per­spec­tive. The game design pro­gram offers flex­i­bil­i­ty as stu­dents have the option to design a sched­ule that suits meet their time needs. New York University’s BFE Game Design degree cul­mi­nates with a 2‑semester project; with a team or as an inde­pen­dent project.

New York Uni­ver­si­ty was estab­lished in 1831. His­tor­i­cal­ly, the school’s cam­pus began in Green­wich Vil­lage, locat­ed on the west­ern por­tion of down­town Man­hat­tan, and for near­ly two cen­turies has helped set the cul­tur­al and intel­lec­tu­al pace for the city. NYU is rec­og­nized among the top inter­na­tion­al uni­ver­si­ties by sev­er­al rel­e­vant edu­ca­tion publications.

What We Like: NYU offers the best of both worlds, art/design and tech; the Tisch School of the Arts is one of the fore­most names in art and design, and the NYU Game Cen­ter is a cen­ter for the indus­try and research. Degree: BFA in Game Design

13. Bradley University

bachelor of creative arts game design

Bradley University’s Slane Col­lege of Com­mu­ni­ca­tions & Fine Arts offers sev­er­al game art degree pro­grams. These include a Bach­e­lor of Fine Arts in Ani­ma­tion and Game Design, a Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence in Inter­ac­tive Media, and a Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence in Game Design. Each bac­calau­re­ate degree pro­grams offers degree can­di­dates var­i­ous minors like Ani­ma­tion, Inter­ac­tive Media, and the Design of User Expe­ri­ences. Bradley University’s game art degree pro­gram requires the com­ple­tion of 124 cred­it hours. Course­work includes Game Pro­duc­tion, Inter­ac­tive The­o­ries, Con­cepts and Prac­tices, and Crit­i­cal Game Stud­ies, among oth­ers. Aca­d­e­m­ic require­ments include a cap­stone project before graduation.

Lydia Moss Bradley, a local phil­an­thropist, estab­lished Bradley Uni­ver­si­ty in 1897. Bradley University’s 80+acre urban cam­pus is home to more than 4,350 stu­dents study­ing from five schools that offer 100+ under­grad­u­ate degrees and anoth­er 30+graduate pro­gram. Bradley Uni­ver­si­ty is one of the first insti­tu­tions of high­er learn­ing in the coun­try to offer an inde­pen­dent school ded­i­cat­ed to inno­va­tion and the art of entrepreneurship.

What We Like: Bradley Uni­ver­si­ty was built on tech­nol­o­gy and busi­ness, and stu­dents in Bradley’s video game devel­op­ment pro­grams have some of the most state-of-the-art labs and stu­dios in the nation. Degree: BFA in Ani­ma­tion & Game Design, BS in Game Design, or BS in Inter­ac­tive Media

Bradley Uni­ver­si­ty

14. University of Texas at Dallas

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Dal­las BA in Arts Tech­nol­o­gy & Emerg­ing Com­mu­ni­ca­tion (ATEC) pro­vides stu­dents with an edu­ca­tion­al path­way that focus­es on Games. This video game design degree allows stu­dents to explore the required crit­i­cal think­ing and artis­tic approach to under­stand how game play­ers learn from games and how games per­pet­u­ate social con­structs. Degree can­di­dates learn their craft in cut­ting-edge on-cam­pus stu­dios and labs.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Dal­las was estab­lished in 1969 and is a mem­ber school of the Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas Sys­tem. UT Dal­las’ near­ly 500-acre main cam­pus is less than 20 miles from down­town Dal­las. The school was orig­i­nal­ly a research exten­sion of the famed tech com­pa­ny, Texas Instru­ments (TI) known as the South­west Cen­ter for Advanced Stud­ies. At TI’s bequest, the school was giv­en to the state of Texas to estab­lish a tech-cen­tered research uni­ver­si­ty in the boom­ing city.

What We Like: If it wasn’t obvi­ous enough, UT Dal­las knows tech­nol­o­gy, and the mas­sive Dal­las-Fort Worth met­ro­pol­i­tan area pro­vides grad­u­ates access to For­tune 500 com­pa­nies and some of the top tech star­tups in the US.

Degree: BA in Arts, Tech­nol­o­gy, and Emerg­ing Com­mu­ni­ca­tion — Games concentration

Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Dallas

15. New Jersey Institute of Technology

bachelor of creative arts game design

The New Jer­sey Insti­tute of Technology’s (NJIT) Ying Wu Col­lege of Computing/College of Archi­tec­ture & Design offers a trio of mul­ti­dis­ci­pli­nary video game design degree pro­grams — the Bach­e­lor of Arts in Dig­i­tal Design, Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence in Infor­ma­tion Tech­nol­o­gy, or a Bach­e­lor of Sci­ence in Com­put­er Sci­ence. Each game art degree pulls from the IT and design dis­ci­plines in a col­lab­o­ra­tive effort to teach game pro­duc­tion, design, and pro­gram­ming. NJIT’s game devel­op­ment program’s course­work includes Game His­to­ry, 2D and 3D Game Engine Pro­gram­ming, and Vir­tu­al Real­i­ty, among others.

The New Jer­sey Insti­tute of Tech­nol­o­gy was estab­lished in 1881 as a pub­lic research insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing. NJIT is a poly­tech­nic uni­ver­si­ty with a 50-acre cam­pus in down­town Newark. NJIT’s urban cam­pus is locat­ed less than one-half hour to Man­hat­tan by pub­lic trans­port. The New Jer­sey Insti­tute of Tech­nol­o­gy is a Sea Grant university.

What We Like: NJIT’s inter­dis­ci­pli­nary pro­grams give stu­dents the free­dom to adapt and grow with­out being nar­row­ly defined — a val­ue in the ever-chang­ing tech industry.

Degree: Mul­ti­dis­ci­pli­nary pro­gram: BA in Dig­i­tal Design, BS in Infor­ma­tion Tech­nol­o­gy, or BS in Com­put­er Science

New Jer­sey Insti­tute of Technology

16. Stony Brook University (SUNY)

bachelor of creative arts game design

Stony Brook University’s BS in Game Pro­gram­ming degree pro­gram, from the Col­lege of Engi­neer­ing & Applied Sci­ences, also offers an accel­er­at­ed option where stu­dents can earn their BS/MS in only five years. SUNY Stony Brook’s video game design degree requires stu­dents to com­plete course­work that includes Com­put­er Graph­ics, Script­ing Lan­guages, Com­pu­ta­tion­al Geom­e­try, and Secu­ri­ty Fun­da­men­tals. Addi­tion­al­ly, degree grad­u­ates must also com­plete one of three final projects – Senior Hon­ors Research Project, Research in Com­put­er Sci­ence or Intern­ship I Com­put­er Science.

Stony Brook Uni­ver­si­ty is a mem­ber school of the State Uni­ver­si­ty of New York sys­tem. It was estab­lished in 1957 and is a space-grant and sea-grant uni­ver­si­ty. SUNY Stony Brook is the largest employ­er in all of Long island, NY. The school’s 1,000+-acre sub­ur­ban cam­pus is home to more than 26,000 stu­dents. Stony Brook is a mem­ber of the Brookhaven Nation­al Laboratory’s (a nuclear reac­tor) man­age­ment team.

What We Like: Stony Brook’s Depart­ment of Com­put­er Sci­ence has played a defin­i­tive role in the devel­op­ment of com­put­er tech­nol­o­gy, and con­tin­ues to inno­vate in research and learning.

Degree: BS in Game Programming

Stony Brook University

17. University of Utah

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Utah’s BS in Games degree pro­gram is part of the inno­v­a­tive Enter­tain­ment Arts & Engi­neer­ing (EAE) Inter­dis­ci­pli­nary Teach­ing Pro­gram. U of U’s game art degree brings an inter­dis­ci­pli­nary approach to the art of game design — film stud­ies and com­put­ing. Stu­dents grad­u­ate pre­pared to enter the fields of soft­ware design and devel­op­ment, game learn­ing envi­ron­ments, and/or the devel­op­ment of dig­i­tal health­care tools for soci­ety in gen­er­al. U of U’s video game design degree requires the com­ple­tion of 121 cred­it units to graduate.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Utah was estab­lished in 1850 and is cur­rent­ly flag­ship insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing for the state of Utah and a space grant uni­ver­si­ty. The school’s 1,500+-acre cam­pus is only two miles to down­town Salt Lake City and home to near­ly 32,000 stu­dents. U of U oper­ates with sev­en­teen colleges/schools that offer pro­grams through near­ly 155 departments.

What We Like: UU’s Enter­tain­ment Arts and Engi­neer­ing (EAE) Inter­dis­ci­pli­nary Teach­ing Pro­gram is a mod­el of con­tem­po­rary tech edu­ca­tion, com­bin­ing exper­tise from many fields to prac­ti­cal application.

Degree: BS in Games

Uni­ver­si­ty of Utah

18. Quinnipiac University

bachelor of creative arts game design

Quin­nip­i­ac University’s Bach­e­lor of Arts in Game Design pre­pares stu­dents to enter the design facets of gam­ing, vir­tu­al real­i­ty, edu­ca­tion­al tools, and even the world of eSports. Quin­nip­i­ac University’s, accord­ing to the Prince­ton Review, is rec­og­nized among the top game design inter­na­tion­al pro­grams. Stu­dents are pre­pared to enter the game design field as a usabil­i­ty tester, a design­er, and or writer.

Quin­nip­i­ac Uni­ver­si­ty is a pri­vate insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing that was estab­lished in 1929. It was born out of a need cre­at­ed when North­east­ern Uni­ver­si­ty aban­doned its local pro­grams. Quin­nip­i­ac Uni­ver­si­ty oper­ates from two cam­pus­es, in Ham­den and North Haven, CT. The New Haven cam­pus is home to the renowned Quin­nip­i­ac Uni­ver­si­ty Polling Insti­tute. Quinnipiac’s total stu­dent enroll­ment is approx­i­mate­ly 9,000.

What We Like: Quinnipiac’s 2016 grad­u­at­ing Game Design class had a 100% place­ment rate for jobs, grad­u­ate school, or start­ing their own com­pa­ny with­in 6 months.

Degree: BA in Game Design and Development

Quin­nip­i­ac University

19. Marist College

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Depart­ment of Com­put­ing Tech­nol­o­gy offers Marist College’s BS in Games & Emerg­ing Media degree pro­gram that delves deeply into the design and cre­ation of games through var­i­ous emerg­ing media options. Degree grad­u­ates for Marist’s video game design degree select from three ded­i­cat­ed con­cen­tra­tions: Design, Writ­ing & Cul­ture, and Tech­ni­cal Devel­op­ment & pro­gram­ming. Marist’s game art degree requires the com­ple­tion of 120 cred­it units. Marist game design stu­dents have the oppor­tu­ni­ty to par­tic­i­pate in the Play Inno­va­tion Lab.

The Marist Broth­ers estab­lished Marist Col­lege in 1929. The Marist Bro­kers are a reli­gious broth­er­hood affil­i­at­ed with the Catholic Reli­gion. Marist College’s cam­pus sits along the east­ern banks of the Hud­son Riv­er. The school oper­ates study sites across the work in more than 25 coun­tries and a branch cam­pus in Italy. Marist Col­lege formed an ear­ly part­ner­ship with the near­by busi­ness giant IBM; who pro­vid­ed impres­sive equip­ment and soft­ware contributions.

What We Like: Marist’s Play Inno­va­tion Lab gives stu­dents a space to put their design and devel­op­ment skills to use for fun, from design­ing board games to pro­gram­ming mobile apps.

Degree: BS in Games and Emerg­ing Media

Marist Col­lege

20. University of Central Florida

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Cen­tral Flori­da offers a BA in Dig­i­tal Media-Game Design con­cen­tra­tion. UCF’s game art degree is rec­og­nized by the Prince­ton Review & Kiplinger’s as one of the country’s best val­ue insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing. Addi­tion­al­ly, Forbes Mag­a­zine con­sid­ers the Uni­ver­si­ty of Cen­tral Flori­da as one of the country’s most afford­able uni­ver­si­ties. Stu­dents who plan to move on to a grad­u­ate video game design degree at UCF should know that UCF’s grad­u­ate game devel­op­ment degree pro­gram is ranked first in the world.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Cen­tral Flori­da was estab­lished in 1963 as a state uni­ver­si­ty called Flori­da Tech­nol­o­gy Uni­ver­si­ty. UCF holds the dis­tinc­tion of hav­ing more stu­dents enrolled on cam­pus than any oth­er insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing in the nation. UCF’s main sub­ur­ban cam­pus is more than 1,400-acres and home to more than 68,400 stu­dents. It is a space-grant uni­ver­si­ty, being locat­ed only 34 miles from Florida’s Space Coast.

What We Like: One of the most diverse schools in the US — with half of the stu­dents iden­ti­fy­ing as minor­i­ty — UCF is help­ing increase diver­si­ty in the video game indus­try as well.

Degree: BA in Dig­i­tal Media — Game Design

Uni­ver­si­ty of Cen­tral Florida

21. Rochester Institute of Technology

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Rochester Insti­tute of Technology’s cut­ting-edge School of Inter­ac­tive Games & Media offers a BS in Game Design and Devel­op­ment. Stu­dents who grad­u­ate from RIT’s game art degree pro­gram are pre­pared for reward­ing careers in the many facets of the pro­fes­sion­al gam­ing indus­try. These include spe­cial­ties in visu­al­iza­tion, sim­u­la­tion, and dig­i­tal edu­ca­tion­al tools. Appli­cants pos­sess­ing pre-approved asso­ciate degrees (i.e. engi­neer­ing sci­ence, lib­er­al arts or com­put­er sci­ence) will receive trans­fer cred­its as earned. Stu­dents have the option of earn­ing their under­grad­u­ate and grad­u­ate degrees in an accel­er­at­ed fash­ion, if aca­d­e­m­i­cal­ly eligible.

The Rochester Insti­tute of Tech­nol­o­gy is a pri­vate insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing that was estab­lished in 1829. RIT was cre­at­ed as the result of the merg­er between the Rochester Athenaeum and the Mechan­ics Insti­tute. Stu­dents esti­mat­ed that RIT’s Brick City cam­pus, built pri­mar­i­ly of brick, con­tained over 14,600,000 bricks. The school’s nine col­leges pro­vide degrees to near­ly 20,000 stu­dents each year.

What We Like: RIT stu­dents do at least two blocks of coop­er­a­tive edu­ca­tion, tak­ing full-time, paid jobs with cor­po­rate part­ners to hone their skills in real life.

Degree: BS in Game Design and Development

Rochester Insti­tute of Technology

22. Drexel University

bachelor of creative arts game design

The renowned West­phal Col­lege of Media Arts & Design offers Drex­el University’s BS in Game Design & Pro­duc­tion that is rec­og­nized among the top four nation­al games pro­grams by the Prince­ton Review. The cur­ricu­lum includes a vig­or­ous dive into the many spe­cial­iza­tions with­in the realm of dig­i­tal media. Addi­tion­al­ly, video game design degree can­di­dates must also com­plete a half-year coop­er­a­tive project to grad­u­ate. The coop project is the back­drop upon which stu­dents can apply their new­ly acquired skill-set in the indus­try of their choice.

Drex­el Uni­ver­si­ty was estab­lished in 1891. It is a pri­vate research insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing found­ed by the renowned businessman/philanthropist Antho­ny Drex­el. Drexel’s urban cam­pus is locat­ed in the City of Broth­er­ly Love, and home to near­ly 24,400 stu­dents. Drex­el Uni­ver­si­ty offers stu­dents a coop­er­a­tive edu­ca­tion­al oppor­tu­ni­ty by work­ing in his or her field of inter­est while earn­ing their degree.

What We Like: Drexel’s exten­sive gov­ern­ment and pri­vate indus­try con­nec­tions give stu­dents the oppor­tu­ni­ty to work on real projects and ini­tia­tives for an in-depth experience.

Degree: BS in Game Design & Production

Drex­el University

23. University of Wisconsin-Stout

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Wis­con­sin-Stout Game Design and Devel­op­ment pro­gram has received accred­i­ta­tion from the Nation­al Asso­ci­a­tion for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). UW-Stout offers both a BFA in Game Design and Devel­op­ment or a BS in Com­put­er Sci­ence-Game Design and Devel­op­ment. UW-Stout’s unique­ly inter­dis­ci­pli­nary pro­gram explores tech­ni­cal and artis­tic approach­es to gam­ing, edu­ca­tion, and train­ing con­tent. Cours­es are entire­ly project focused, allow­ing our stu­dents to devel­op key skills in com­mu­ni­ca­tion with dif­fer­ent areas in game production.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Wis­con­sin-Stout is a state insti­tu­tion of high­er learn­ing that was estab­lished in 1891. UW-Stout’s 120+-acre rur­al cam­pus is home to near­ly 9,500 stu­dents. The school oper­ates with three col­leges the Col­lege of Arts, Com­mu­ni­ca­tion, Human­i­ties and Social Sci­ences, the Col­lege of Edu­ca­tion, Hos­pi­tal­i­ty, Health Y Human Sci­ences, and the Col­lege of Sci­ence, Tech­nol­o­gy, Engi­neer­ing, Math­e­mat­ics & Management.

What We Like: NASAD accred­i­ta­tion is the high­est stan­dard in design edu­ca­tion, giv­ing stu­dents the assur­ance that their cre­den­tials will be rec­og­nized anywhere.

Degree: BFA or BS in Game Design and Development

Uni­ver­si­ty of Wisconsin-Stout

24. University of Denver

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engi­neer­ing & Com­put­er Sci­ence offers the Uni­ver­si­ty of Denver’s BA in Game Devel­op­ment. DU’s Bach­e­lor of Arts in Game Design course­work inte­grates the dis­ci­plines of art and com­put­er pro­gram­ming. Degree grad­u­ates earn their degree by explor­ing the role of 3D tex­tur­ing and mod­el­ing using vir­tu­al angling tech­niques. Pro­gram­ming course­work explores scor­ing meth­ods and ani­ma­tion. DU’s game art design pro­gram requires the com­ple­tion of a Cap­stone project — each stu­dent will build, debug and cre­ate a com­plete work­ing dig­i­tal game.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Den­ver was estab­lished in 1864 and holds the dis­tinc­tion as the old­est pri­vate uni­ver­si­ty that oper­ates inde­pen­dent­ly in the Rocky Moun­tain area of the coun­try. The school’s 120+-acre arbore­tum-type cam­pus is locat­ed approx­i­mate­ly five miles from the hus­tle and bus­tle of Denver’s down­town. DU con­sis­tent­ly ranks among the top nation­al uni­ver­si­ties, accord­ing to US News.

What We Like: Minor­i­ty stu­dents are giv­en the sup­port they need by the Ritchie School’s Equal­i­ty in STEM, Nation­al Soci­ety of Black Engi­neer­ing, and Soci­ety of Women Engi­neers organizations.

Degree: BA in Game Development

Uni­ver­si­ty of Denver

25. University of California, Santa Cruz

bachelor of creative arts game design

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, San­ta Cruz Jack Baskin School of Engi­neer­ing offers a BS in Com­put­er Game Design and a BA in Art & Design-Games & Playable Media. The BS game art degree com­bines the fields of com­put­er sci­ence, music, and art in the cre­ation of com­put­er games. The BA game art degree requires the com­ple­tion of a 12-month game project man­aged in a team envi­ron­ment. Prince­ton Review rec­og­nizes the UCSC game design pro­gram among the top 18 pro­grams in the country.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, San­ta Cruz is one of ten mem­ber schools of the Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia sys­tem. The school’s 2,000-acre cam­pus is locat­ed along the Pacif­ic Coast, less than 80 miles from San Fran­cis­co. Near­ly 20,000 stu­dents attend class­es along UCSC’s rolling hills that over­look Mon­terey Bay.

What We Like: In addi­tion to the Cen­ter for Games & Playable Media, UC San­ta Cruz offers one major advan­tage for game design stu­dents — the San Fran­cis­co Bay Area.

Degree: BS in Com­put­er Game Design or BA in Art & Design: Games and Playable Media

Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, San­ta Cruz

How Do I Become a Game Designer or Developer?

Video game design­er edu­ca­tion require­ments depend on the stan­dards of the gam­ing com­pa­ny. You cen become a game design­er with a high school diplo­ma or first-year expe­ri­ence. Until recent­ly there was no bach­e­lor of game design, and few design­ers start with a video game design bach­e­lor’s degree. While spe­cif­ic details may vary based on the com­pa­ny, you can expect game design­er qual­i­fi­ca­tions to focus on your edu­ca­tion, as well as a port­fo­lio demon­strat­ing your real-world skills in action. A bachelor’s degree in game design or game devel­op­ment will assist with your long-term career goals.

In some cas­es, employ­ers look for spe­cial­ized video game design­er train­ing through cer­ti­fi­ca­tion pro­grams as well as tra­di­tion­al degree pro­grams. The key to any work in video game design or devel­op­ment is game design skills. You need to devel­op the pro­gram­ming skills to cre­ate the dig­i­tal world involved in video games. Graph­ic design cours­es are also key. A spe­cial­ized degree in game design will help you start your career by learn­ing the spe­cif­ic skills involved in cre­at­ing a video game, like lev­el design and mul­ti­me­dia design. Pro­gram­ming degrees with a focus on game design or game devel­op­ment will also improve your oppor­tu­ni­ties by ensur­ing you have the skills to devel­op a game. The best degree for game design may not even be called a “bach­e­lor’s degree in video game design.”

What Does a Video Game Designer or Developer Do?

Video game pro­fes­sion­als take on dif­fer­ent roles based on their spe­cif­ic inter­ests and goals. A video game design­er focus­es on the cre­ative aspects of the video game. For exam­ple, they draw out the char­ac­ters and design the appear­ance of the sur­round­ing envi­ron­ment. Video game pro­fes­sion­als on the design side take on the cre­ative tasks with a focus on sto­ry, quests, char­ac­ter devel­op­ment, and the design ele­ments of the game.

A video game devel­op­er focus­es on the prac­ti­cal aspects of the video game. They work as pro­gram­mers to breathe life into the char­ac­ters, set­tings, and artis­tic vision of the game design­er. While some video game pro­fes­sion­als take on a mix­ture of both roles, you should be aware that in most com­pa­nies, a design­er is not the same as a devel­op­er. One focus­es on cre­ative aspects to the gam­ing expe­ri­ence while the oth­er focus­es on the pro­gram­ming aspects. Both jobs play a sig­nif­i­cant role in the final out­come of the game, so you will want to eval­u­ate your options before you decide on the path that fits your per­son­al interests.

In either case, in the field of game design you need an aware­ness of the tech­ni­cal aspects of soft­ware devel­op­ment, such as game mechan­ics, game­play, arti­fi­cial intel­li­gence, and user interface.

What Makes a Good Video Game Development Program?

When you decide to focus your edu­ca­tion on the best video game design col­leges, you want to make sure that you find the best col­leges for video game design for your goals. The best game design col­leges have spe­cif­ic advan­tages over col­leges with­out a video game design major.

The top game design col­leges have greater tech­no­log­i­cal tools for stu­dents in the class­room. They offer com­put­er labs with up-to-date tech­nol­o­gy and com­put­ers. Video game design schools help stu­dents learn the basic pro­gram­ming skills they need for a suc­cess­ful career in game design and devel­op­ment. Game devel­op­ment col­leges also have expe­ri­enced teach­ers who have worked in game design and know the indus­try. They teach stu­dents from their own expe­ri­ences and skills.

You also want to look for schools with intern­ship pro­grams or access to jobs with­in the indus­try. The best pro­grams offer hands-on expe­ri­ence to help stu­dents devel­op their skills and han­dle the tasks asso­ci­at­ed with game design. You do not want to focus on pro­grams or schools that have lim­it­ed oppor­tu­ni­ties to work with pro­fes­sion­als in the industry.

Find­ing the right video game design col­lege or pro­gram depends on your goals for your career. When you want to work in game design, you need an under­stand­ing of the cre­ative aspects of the gam­ing expe­ri­ence. You need to devel­op the sto­ry and char­ac­ters of the game. Going into game devel­op­ment requires the tech­ni­cal skills to focus on pro­gram­ming. You want a col­lege or pro­gram that offers advanced edu­ca­tion in tech­ni­cal skills as well as hands-on expe­ri­ence through intern­ships and men­tor­ship programs.

Some of the oth­er biggest names include Full Sail, Savan­nah Col­lege of Art and Design, and Digipen Insti­tute of Technology.

Relat­ed Rank­ings: 15 Best Online Game Design Degree Bach­e­lor’s Pro­grams 10 Fastest Online Game Design Degree Bach­e­lor’s Pro­grams 10 Most Afford­able Game Design Degree Bach­e­lor Programs

15 Best Online Train­ing and Devel­op­ment Programs

Webster Alert: Due to an unexpected shift in the winter storm, the Webster Groves campus will close at 1:30 p.m. today, Feb. 16, 2024. Students with classes this afternoon should contact their professors for further instructions. Employees who can bring work computers home to finish essential tasks should do so. Emerson Library will be closed, but the 24/7 computer lab will be accessible to students with an ID card. The University Center will close at 1:30 p.m. All on-campus dining will close except Marletto’s, which will offer normal dinner hours. All Family Weekend activities scheduled for today have been canceled. All regularly scheduled activities for Saturday are still scheduled. The University will continue to monitor weather conditions and send updates as necessary. 

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Bachelor of Arts in Games and Game Design

School of communications | department of media arts.

Bachelor of Arts in Games and Game Design — In Person

Join Us at Webster

Develop your 'a' game at webster.

Webster University’s Bachelor of Arts in Games and Game Design features comprehensive, real-world learning to prepare you for an exciting career in the game industry. With our video game design degree, you’ll develop skills in game design and implementation across all platforms, including computer and video games, mobile games and analog games. As a Games and Game Design major, you’ll explore the world of video and traditional games from multiple perspectives.

Webster’s bachelor’s in Game Design will immerse you in the practices of team-focused game development. You’ll collaborate with fellow students to create games that align with your interests, such as animation or mobile games. This approach will give you a deep understanding of the principles, tools and techniques critical to creating captivating games. In addition to hands-on game development courses, you’ll also explore the business of games, game design ecosystems and the principles of gamification.

Our video game design program provides you with insights into the social responsibilities of game designers. In addition, throughout your bachelor’s in Game Design program, you’ll build a strong portfolio of creative works to impress prospective employers.

Brian Pham

“Webster has connected me with my current company, and I am grateful as I will have a good amount of experience upon graduation. The school puts effort into getting students into their careers.”

BA in Games and Game Design, 24

Game Design Reel

Watch our Games and Game Design Degree students' reel from the 21-22 academic year.

[Beginning with a black display, text appears on screen using a glitch transition.]

Text on screen: WEBSTER GAME DESIGN

[Electronic dance music begins slowly, ramping up to full volume.]

[The text on screen fades as a first-person shooter video game appears, the player making their way down a dark, futuristic hallway, shooting at obstacles.]

[The music continues as the video begins to cut to 3-5 second intervals of different video games:

  • Using the entire screen as field of view, a laser brings a coffee mug closer and then smashes it on the ground
  • A track-and-field platform game located in ASTRO KITTY STADIUM with the player jumping over hurdles
  • An old, cliché two person fighting game with players’ HP draining after each hit — one wins as they knock the other out ‘KO’
  • A colorful platform game with ascending levels where the player blows up objects for items inside or to destroy an enemy turret
  • A humanoid shaped black figure runs around searching a neutral-colored area
  • A player-controlled airplane fights against other jets and enemies from a bird’s eye view of a pink, purple and blue city
  • A shooting gallery type game, the player controls a space craft trying to avoid oncoming asteroids
  • A racing game with a futuristic jet flying through a desert map taking harsh turns and drifting
  • Another shooting gallery, an object with two arms moves side to side and twists to avoid oncoming spheres
  • A “shoot ‘em up” game, the spaceship centered in the screen produces a trail as it continually turns, eventually capturing an enemy ship
  • Another shoot ‘em up game, the player is a stationary child shooting at zombies with a slingshot in a school setting]

[The example clips of student-made video games speeds up, leaving approximately two seconds between each cut.]

[A colorful platform jumping game with a dwindling timer cuts to another platform game, this time with two lives and no timer.]

[The video changes to a side-scrolling game with a player walking on a path using arrow keys before cutting back to another platform game as the player jumps and shoots lasers at a large horse-like enemy.]

[Another first-person shooter appears, using a scope to see through a dumpster in a badly lit alley and fades into a second first-person shooter. This game has a handgun as the player approaches a skeleton and shooting at it.]

[The skeleton begins to move toward the player who moves backward. The skeleton then glows red and flies through the field-of-view as the game transitions to a black screen.]

[Text appears on screen with a glitch transition as the music fades out.]

Text on screen: WEBSTER-GAME-DESIGN.ITCH.IO

[The text disappears using another glitch transition and the video ends with a black screen.]

Play Games by Our Game Design Majors

Browse through the selection of games designed and developed in our classes by our students. All are available for play online.

WEBSTER GAME DESIGN ON ITCH.IO

Choose Webster for Your Bachelor’s in Games and Game Design

Earn a top-ranked game design degree.

When you choose Webster, you can be confident that you’re joining a program recognized for its excellence in preparing students for success in the thrilling world of video game design. In fact, as of 2023, we’re ranked No. 2 for video game design colleges in Missouri, according to Animation Career Review , an online resource dedicated to providing aspiring animation students with information on the best schools in the field.

Benefit From Best-In-Class Facilities

Our School of Communications complex houses a state-of-the-art media production and education facility . This includes the first virtual cinema wall in the region, which our game development courses use to create virtual backdrops within Unity and Unreal. Studio facilities include an audio and video production/recording suite, sound stage, workshop space, photography studio, gallery and labs for animation, game design and video postproduction, as well as flexible teaching spaces.

Two students designing a computer game.

Develop Your Individual Aesthetic

As a Webster Game Design major, you’ll have the opportunity to cultivate and refine your own unique artistic style and creative vision. Through hands-on experience, you will not only learn the fundamental principles of game design, but also have the freedom to explore and develop your individual aesthetic to graduate with a broad portfolio of game design work.

Learn From Industry Experts

Webster’s Game Design degree program is led by industry professionals who bring real-world experience to the classroom. Our instructors have backgrounds in both analog and digital games, specializing in narrative design, video game design, programming, level design, sound design, art and animation. And with class sizes limited to 15 students, you’ll receive the personalized attention you deserve. Additionally, our game development courses host visiting game designers — like Connor Brown, senior-level designer for “The Last of Us, Part II” and “God of War: Ragnarok” — to share practical insights for successful careers in the game industry.

Personal Career Advising

All Game Design majors have a full-time faculty adviser to guide them through their Webster career. With experience in the game industry and connections to game companies, your game design college adviser will provide you with the support you need to reach your goals in the classroom and in your career.

Find out more about the overall curriculum, electives, learning outcomes and more.

Program Details

Explore our catalog for more details about courses and admission requirements for our Games and Game Design degree.

Our BA in Games and Game Design program is offered at our main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri. Our Geneva, Switzerland campus offers a minor in Game Design.

What Can You Do With Your Games and Game Design Degree?

Webster’s bachelor’s in Games and Game Design opens up a world of exciting career possibilities. With the booming growth of the gaming industry, there is a high demand for skilled professionals in various areas. Thanks to this demand, graduates have a bright future, including salary. In May 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed the median salary for special effects designers and animators as $78,790 per year.

Opportunities for graduates are promising, as well. Graduates can pursue careers as game designers, where they conceptualize and create innovative gameplay experiences, or become video game developers, who are responsible for programming and coding the mechanics of games. 

Post-graduation, our game design program students can work in the industry with companies such as Riot Games, Insomniac Games and Activision. Webster alumni include Zach Ridings, Another Reality Studio (AR and VR apps); Sean Mercer, FedEx (designs employee team-building games); Gabrielle Novak, Pixel Press; and Keiran (Samantha) Falvey, lead artist at Lost Light Games.

With new technologies and platforms constantly emerging, the gaming industry offers a wide range of job opportunities such as:

  • Game Designer
  • Game Developer
  • Level Designer
  • Narrative Designer
  • Character Artist
  • Sound Designer
  • Quality Assurance Tester

A student playing a video game with a console.

Related Degree Programs

  • Animation (BA)
  • Interactive Digital Media (BA)
  • Film, Television and Video Production (BA)
  • Scriptwriting (BA)

Get Started on Your BA in Games and Game Design

Take the next step toward earning your bachelor’s in Games and Game Design. We are here to help you get started.

Learn more about our academic programs and our main campus and locations .

Connect with our admissions counselors and academic advisors .

Apply to Webster and take the next steps for financial aid and scholarships.

Contact the Admissions Office to Find Out More

If you have more questions about the program, your application or other enrollment-related inquiries, contact our Admissions Office .

Call 314-246-7800 or 800-753-6765 or send an email to [email protected].

Bachelor of Arts in Game Design

Ready. headset. go.

In our Bachelor of Arts in Game Design degree program, we’ll take you on an epic journey through hands-on, collaborative adventures. 

PROGRAM OFFERED ON-CAMPUS OR ONLINE

Learn the secrets of logic, balance, storytelling, programming, and level design. It’s all about practical experience with game engines, project management, and rocking awesome projects with your fellow students. Your final challenge? A mind-blowing two-semester capstone project where interdisciplinary teams create gaming magic. With a range of electives, you can further develop your programming, game writing, marketing, user experience, art, or audio skills. Get ready to unleash your creativity and become the ultimate game design hero!

Game Design Degree Highlights & Outcomes

Articulate and demonstrate game design principles and best practices through the development of engaging, interactive media.

Demonstrate understanding of proven game storytelling principles while employing narrative-related tools, techniques, and best practices.

Implement, test, and critique user-centered design experiences and interfaces within interactive media.

Collaborate effectively and ethically as part of multidisciplinary projects and demonstrate professionalism in diverse team environments.

Demonstrate a career-ready understanding of game design and production through a published portfolio and professional identity.

Join Our Alumni Ranks

USV Bachelor of Arts in Game Design alumni have gone on to work at some of the most prestigious studios in the video game industry. 

Tech Pack™ Your Essential Creative Toolkit

Picture this: Your files, multimedia masterpieces, and coursework are all at your fingertips, 24/7. That’s the magic of Tech Pack™, available exclusively for Gaming Degrees and Audio Certificate & Diploma students.

What’s in the box? A sleek laptop and media creation software tailored to your program, keeping you in sync with the ever-evolving industry standards. And it’s yours to keep after you graduate, setting you up for success in the future. Whether you’re crafting the next big game or working on mind-blowing multimedia projects, Tech Pack™ has your back.

The exact components of your Tech Pack™ might vary based on what’s available when we ship it out. No worries – it’s all part of your total education cost. Oh, and about the software? You’ll need to do a quick download using your USV email. Just a heads-up, there might be a small cost involved. Keep it in the loop!

What's included*:

*Pricing and package specifications are subject to change.

Option: Get Your Game On with USV's Game Writing Focus

Hey, future game changers! Ready to dive deep into the heart of storytelling in video games? Our Game Writing focus is where the magic happens. Guided by a rockstar industry veteran, you’ll learn the ropes of game writing and narrative design – the hottest roles in game dev today.

Success Stories? We've Got Plenty!

Some Game Writing grads are now rocking narrative roles at studios like Blizzard, Magic Tavern, and even FableLabs. Our Game Writing champs have been owning the GDC Game Narrative Review competition for six years, snatching five Gold-level awards!

What Will You Learn? Oh, So Much Fun!

Dive into game story and narrative analysis. Craft epic cutscenes. Plan and write those iconic game "barks." Craft branching dialogues and gripping stories. Create your own intellectual property (I.P.). Work within existing I.P. Direct voice talent like a pro. Develop your very own narrative-driven game. Learn the art of crafting a killer game writing portfolio site.

More Perks? You Bet!

Get personal mentorship from Professor Skolnick himself. Field trips to top game studios (when available). Connect with at least eight industry pros beyond USV (think design, narrative, game writing).

The Game's Afoot!

In a world of gaming programs, we're the rare breed with a whole track dedicated to this red-hot game development discipline. Don't just make games – write 'em like a pro!

Electives crafted for future digital storytellers. The mastermind behind it all? Evan Skolnick!

Meet Your Prof

Evan skolnick: the game wizard behind blockbusters.

Evan Skolnick? He’s not your average storyteller. With a whopping 25 years of combined experience in crafting stories and game development, this guy’s been everywhere – from Marvel to Activision to Lucasfilm. He’s not just a writer; he’s a game writer and an international speaker, sharing his wisdom with over a thousand game development pros.

But that’s not all – Mr. Skolnick’s got some serious game credits under his belt. Think Cuphead , Star Wars: Battlefront , The Walking Dead: A New Frontier , Mafia III , Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 , and a whole lot more!

Oh, and did we mention he’s an author, too? Yep, you can find his book Video Game Storytelling published by Penguin Random House.

And here’s the kicker – at USV, he’s the brains behind the Game Writing concentration, the hottest program on the West Coast. Evan Skolnick – where storytelling meets gaming innovation!

Game Design Student Work

Potential game design career options.

  • Game Designer
  • Level Designer
  • Narrative Designer
  • Game Writer
  • Content Editor
  • Quality Assurance (QA) Tester

Learn On-Campus or Online

Our Bachelor of Arts in Game Design degree program is available on-campus or 100% online. Whether taking classes at the USV campus or learning from the comfort of your own home, you will experience multiplayer support of our award-winning curriculum. 

Learn more about our Game Design School

Learn from the best, real world learning. for reels..

In Game Studio, students work in teams for external clients, adding actual games that ship to their portfolio. Project-based learning leads to real-world results. 

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  • Program Finder

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Game Design

  • Faculty Highlights

Learn How To Make Your Own Game at NYFA

In NYFA’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game Design program, students build fundamental knowledge in the art, technology, design, narrative storytelling, and business of video games. Through hands-on, project-based learning, students study the key elements that make up video game genres and how they are employed effectively to create a successful game.

Under the guidance and direction of professional game designers, students learn how to engage and immerse players in a gameplay experience, establishing a strong foundation of skills in playable system design, game writing, playcentric design, systems literacy, narrative design, original play mechanics, game analysis, and 3D art.

Students will create a playable, portfolio ready game per semester using industry best practices, including Agile and Scrum. By the conclusion of the BFA, students have a portfolio with their best work that demonstrates their growing creative and technical skills.

NYFA Student Game Design Highlight Reel thumb

Related links

New York Film Academy’s BFA in Game Design program is offered at our Los Angeles campus.

Start dates

  • August, 2024
  • January, 2025
  • September, 2025
  • January, 2026
  • August, 2026

Interview with Los Angeles Chair, Brandii Grace

Game design school alumni.

bachelor of creative arts game design

Junliang Zhang

Visual Effects | Director | Writer

bachelor of creative arts game design

Yuanyuan Zhu

3D Animation & VFX Artist | Game Design

bachelor of creative arts game design

Guillermo Quesada

3D Animator | VFX Artist | Game Designer

The BFA in Game Design program is offered at NYFA Los Angeles. During the program, students take advanced courses and practical workshops that teach them how to deconstruct any game experience. Students also learn game prototyping, playtesting, iteration, presentation, and collaboration, and the key elements that make up specific video game genres. As they create their own games, students practice writing code and creating art assets and game animations and how those inform the process of designing and producing games. The curriculum includes:

  • The framework to create a project per semester
  • Instruction and mentorship from our experienced faculty of professional Game Designers
  • Access to industry-standard equipment and software
  • The ability to attend exclusive guest speaker events with industry experts such as Game Designers, Filmmakers, 3D Animators, and and more

To learn more about the BFA program, see NYFA’s Course Catalog , or request more information.

Degree Details

NYFA’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game Design is an eight-semester, full-time study undergraduate program offered at NYFA Los Angeles. By completing the Bachelor’s degree in three years, students save one year of study and enter the field of their choice a year early. NYFA makes this accelerated schedule possible by allowing students to complete three full-length semesters each calendar year.

During their time at NYFA, game design students create a range of original content for their portfolio. These projects are designed to teach students how to design video games on all platforms, including PC, console, portable, Internet, iPhone and iPad. Students also create working software with their peers, supported by an instructor who assists them with hands-on coding, completing a two-semester Collaborative Thesis Project and a Collaborative Thesis Project II, which includes a 30-page game design wiki, written story materials, and polished working software. To learn more about the types of projects BFA students complete, visit our projects page.

Liberal Arts and Sciences

NYFA’s Game Design BFA is a liberal arts education that emphasizes the same general education credits as other BFA programs. In addition to their game design classes, students take courses in the humanities, social science, natural science, and the history of media to gain general critical thinking and problem solving skills. Studies in the humanities develop skill in interpreting and understanding the human condition. Courses in science and world cultures develop students’ understanding of the diverse interpersonal and societal forces that shape people’s lives and stories. Prospective game design students can learn more about BFA requirements on NYFA’s Liberal Arts and Sciences overview page.

The BFA in Game Design program is available at NYFA Los Angeles.

Featured Content

Nyfa game design faculty: interview with brandii grace, new york film academy named top 25 school for game design & animation, a conversation with nyfa alum jeffrey lay on what it’s like to create a video game funded by a kickstarter campaign and the exciting world of ‘titanreach’, masters of game design series: exploding kittens creator elan lee shares his story with nyfa, masters of game design series: bill roper talks games with nyfa, new york film academy (nyfa) game design presents ‘death stranding’ game deconstruction dinner, new york film academy (nyfa) bfa 3d animation & vfx students arina andriushchenko & nathan hacker work on ‘borderlands 3’ holiday video, new york film academy (nyfa) welcomes veteran game developer tony barnes, new york film academy game design (nyfa) welcomes disney imagineer jonathan ackley, new york film academy (nyfa) game design welcomes veteran writer & game designer john zuur platten , student showcase.

Please note: Equipment, curriculum, and projects are subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most recently published campus catalog for the most up-to-date curriculum.

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Get Game Design Major and college bachelors degree information

Game Design Overview

Bloomfield College features the No. 1 game design program in New Jersey  according to The Princeton Review  and is a Top 50 program nationwide.

Each year the college holds Global Game Jam, which sees contestants attempt to create a stand-alone game in just 48 hours. In addition, the college is entering the world of Esports and will feature three teams of five students starting in Spring 2019.

When you major in game design, you’ll build the knowledge and hands-on skills to become an expert game designer or developer. If you have a passion for games and want to turn it into a profession, Bloomfield’s game design major is a good fit for you.

Please review the  recommended sequences of courses.

CONCENTRATIONS:

What you’ll study:.

Drawing, game design methodology, computer imaging, 2D and 3D design

What you can do:

Design games for video game platforms, computers or smartphones.

Students have interned at:

  • Bloomfield College's game design program is the No. 2 program in the state.
  • The college is starting an Esports team in Spring 2019.
  • The college hosts Global Game Jame each year.
  • The game design program is practice-orientated and focuses on real projects.
  • You’ll work on collaborative team-based projects that mimic real-world game development.
  • More than half of game design students join the Game Development Club which work together to create two games every semester.

You could be …

Contact information.

GJ Lee

  • B.F.A., New Jersey City University
  • M.P.S., ITP, Tish School of Arts

BFA, New Jersey City University MPS, ITP, Tish School of Arts

GJ Lee is a multidisciplinary artist and game designer. She uses a practiced-based research approach to explore and understand complex subjects. The results mostly take on the form of games, installations, and performances. Her works and collaborations have been exhibited and played at Stedelijk Museum 's-Hertogenbosch, La Gaite Lyrique, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and The Museum of the Moving Image.

She is the co-founder of The Sheep’s Meow, an independent game development studio and community organization that focuses on making game creation inclusive and accessible. She’s co-organized and produced community-driven events such as the NJ Arcade and NYC Arcade– some of which are the largest of their kind.

She has a BFA in Painting and Drawing with a co-major in Mathematics from NJCU and an MPS from NYU Tisch's Interactive Telecommunications Program.

Courses taught: CAT 209 - Digital Game Design CAT 208 - Visual Design for Games CAT 408 - Pre-Capstone: Game Development CAT 420 - Capstone

Blake Andrews portrait

  • B.A. Pratt Institute
  • M.A. New York University

Blake Andrews is a game designer, illustrator, animator, and educator living in Brooklyn, New York. Blake has been publishing short experimental web games since 2013 on websites like  itch.io  and Glorious Trainwrecks. Their most publicized game, Scrapeboard (featured at alt.ctrl.gdc & MAGFest, mentioned in The New Yorker, and appearing in a Michael Reeves video), is an alternative controller game where players ride a real skateboard to defeat enemies. They have taught game design at Bloomfield College, Pratt Institute, and New York University. Blake has been involved with installations and events at New York’s independent video game arcades, Babycastles, Wonderville, and Red Parry. 

Bloomfield College Seal

Samuel Leigh is a professional Game Designer / Programmer who specializes in creating Interactive Fiction and experimental multiplayer games in the Unity game engine. He has worked as a freelance programmer for numerous startups in NYC as well as at ViacomCBS on Nick Jr properties.

RJ Reyes portrait

RJ Reyes has worked in the video games industry since 2004. He started as a QA tester in THQ, and in 2008 he got his first production job in Sierra Online / Vivendi Games. Since 2008, he’s worked as a producer for companies both big and small, including Amazon Games, Disney, Spin Master Toys, Mattel, and multiple indie studios.

RJ began his career as a game dev educator in 2020. He enjoys teaching new devs about the basics of game development and what to expect in the industry, and he especially enjoys helping devs advance their careers.  

Steven Yoo's image

  • MS in Integrated Digital Media, BS in Computer Engineering New York University Tandon School of Engineering, SUNY Albany

Steven Yoo graduated from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering in 2020 with an MS in Integrated Digital Media.  He also holds a BS in Computer Engineering from SUNY Albany. Before joining the department, he developed and taught Game Design & AR/VR for 3 years at New York University and SUNY Westchester. Steven uses his passion for teaching and learning to become knowledgeable with current trends and technology to help his students to learn the latest tools to make their game and AR/VR development easier. Steven's research interests lie in the area of using new interactive media and technology to enhance user experience and engagement. Emerging technologies in game design, virtual reality, augmented reality and mobile devices offer exciting new possibilities for presenting user experience and engagement.

" An important part of college is community, and it seems that each Bloomfield class is composed of great community-builders. Collaboration is important in the creative arts and media, ad Bloomfield students are generous collaborators."

 – Peter Gordon, Bloomfield CAT faculty

"A game is a series of interesting choices."

– Sid Meier, game designer

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Northeastern University

Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Game design, bfa.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design is designed to provide students with the skills to communicate ideas and emotions through interactive media. The focus of the BFA degree is exploring games as an aesthetic and expressive form through critical analysis and creative, reflective practice. Anticipating emerging trends in the video and analog game industries—including broader platforms, audiences, and distribution channels—students will be oriented toward developing games and playful media in an independent creative context. Curriculum is geared to cultivate students’ unique creative voices through courses that apply theoretical analysis to game-development practices across a range of media. Students are exposed to a wide variety of genres and contexts, as well as alternative ways of thinking about games content, platforms, and asset production.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the  Universitywide Requirements .

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the  NUpath Requirements .

NUpath requirements Creative Expression/Innovation (EI), Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), and Analyzing/Using Data (AD) are met through the major course requirements. All other NUpath requirements must be met through electives.

Required Courses

Game design major credit/gpa requirement.

Complete 92 semester hours for the major with a 2.000 GPA.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops

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bachelor of creative arts game design

Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Design - Game Design Track

Colorful seen from a student video game mockup

You’re part of a generation raised on gaming: collecting home consoles, collaborating in MMORPGs, playing smartphone strategy games, watching and competing in eSports, riding the waves of augmented reality and virtual reality. At some point in your life, you might have looked around to see dozens of other aspirational game designers among your friends and peers. Here you are, actually pursuing that dream—and preparing to entertain the gamers of the future.

Program Overview

ArtCenter’s game design major, a track within the Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Design degree, equips you for the fierce consumer competition and fast-paced development environment of today’s gaming industry. When you emerge from the program, you’ll stand out to potential employers with an interdisciplinary skill set, firm grounding in industry-standard game production practices, and demonstrable game development and problem solving experience that illustrates your capacity as a creative developer and as a leader. Whether your goal is to work for a AAA game studio or an indie game developer, you’ll possess the skills necessary to stand out and thrive.

What You’ll Learn

ArtCenter’s video game design major firmly grounds you in where games have been, what they’re capable of today, and where they’re going to be in the future—with your help. In the program, you will tackle all aspects of video game design with training in the production process, programming, user experience, and design languages. With a focus on hands-on experience, our curriculum provides ample opportunity to practice navigating artistic expression, worldbuilding and original art. With an emphasis on career readiness, you will also have opportunities to identify and work within gaming business models (e.g., premium, free-to-play, season passes) and study the economics and service potential of games. You’ll even get a chance to tackle real-world challenges to solve clients’ complex design problems.

Key Courses

  • Game Dev 1-4
  • Games for Themed Entertainment
  • Level Design 1, 2
  • Game Concept Development
  • Advanced Game Project 1, 2

Teamwork and Collaboration

At ArtCenter, we know that industry pipelines are all about collaboration. Game Design students will work on multiple video game projects and collaborate with Animation, Concept Design, and Illustration students. These collaborative projects emulate the real-world studio experience and provide excellent portfolio and resume material.

Careers in Game Design

A game design bachelor’s degree equips you to thrive in dynamic, leading edge, and experimental game development studios. The portfolio and expertise you develop at ArtCenter will position you for success with both AAA and indie game studios. You’ll be ready to collaborate on everything from text-based point-and-clicks to open-world soon-to-be-classic-RPGs in roles like:

  • Game Designer
  • Game Developer
  • Level Designer
  • Narrative Designer
  • Game Director
  • System designer

Your journey toward a career in Game Design starts here.

Learn more about this Entertainment Design track.

/Game design student work

Game Development 3

Christophe gomez.

A multitalented producer, Gomez has made games for platforms ranging from the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga to iOS and Android entries of many of EA’s most popular franchises, including Tetris, Need for Speed and The Sims .

bachelor of creative arts game design

Leading the Pack: A Look at ArtCenter’s New Game Design Track

A player interacts with Kitchen Kauldron

Kitchen Kauldron

In Kitchen Kauldron, an immersive game designed by a team within ArtCenter's Game Design program, players dare to join Wendy the Witch's kitchen crew to save her failing food truck.

Earn Your Bachelor’s in Game Design at ArtCenter

The game design major empowers you to thrive in a highly coveted, highly collaborative career. You’ll stand out to potential employers with a suite of interdisciplinary skills, entertainment industry expertise, and demonstrable game development experience that illustrates your capacity as a creative and as a leader.

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James Paick

Designing a Life of Play

game prototype

Take the first step toward a career in game design.

  • BFA in Game and Entertainment Design

You are here

  • Undergraduate

Student Work

Career outcomes.

Acquire the skills of game prototyping, playtesting, iteration, presentation, and collaboration with Otis College's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game and Entertainment Design program. Through hands-on instruction, you will develop valuable skills in concept art, Modeling, texturing, lighting, and Pipeline Game Engine integration. You will learn industry standard pipelines involved in creating the first visual representations of characters, environments, and props for games and films. By combining art, animation, computer technology, sound design, story development and game design, graduates emerge from the program with the skills required to design the gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters of interactive games, applications, and websites.

REQUEST INFORMATION

Alina Lalik Game Environment Concept

Using a creative setting that challenges, inspires, and perfects the talents of students, our courses empower you to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing industry.

Dylan Han - Unreal Engine, Vietnam Jungle

Otis College Game and Entertainment Design faculty are accomplished artists and industry professionals dedicated to supporting the success of students throughout their academic journey.

Nick Vidal Concept Art

Our talented students are sophisticated game designers creating work that showcases real world application and fearless experimentation.

Game Design Scenery Concept

As a BFA in Game and Entertainment Design student, you can apply your game design skills to a range of design challenges within the games industry.

Nick Vidal Concept Art

Contact us for more information about the program, learning experience, or to get all of your questions answered about the admissions process.

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Calling All Creatives: Explore a Career in Digital Art or Video Game Design!

Calling All Creatives: Explore a Career in Digital Art or Video Game Design!

Calling All Creatives: Explore a Career in Digital Art or Video Game Design!

If you are creative and enjoy the expressive power of visual imagery, then a career path in  Art & Design  could be for you!

At Raritan Valley Community College, you can prepare for a career that allows you to combine artistic abilities with technical skills, such as Graphic & Interactive Design, Video Game Design & Development, and more. Let’s explore these in-demand programs!

Video Game Design & Development

Video game creators design and code video games, which could include everything from creating the concept, to executing the technical design, to testing for bugs, and more. 

According to Recruiter.com, vacancies for video game design careers have increased by 5.31 percent nationwide since 2019. Demand is projected to go up, with 32,090 new jobs expected to be filled by 2029. This represents an annual increase of 2.28 percent over the next few years.  Payscale reports the  average salary in 2024 for a Video Game Designer is $69,076.

RVCC offers associate degree programs in both  Game Art  and  Game Development , allowing students to focus on specific aspects of the field. Students have access to well-equipped studios and the latest computer software and hardware as they learn in-demand skills and become immersed in industry standard art techniques and game design technologies.

  • Game Art:  RVCC’s  Game Art A.S. program  trains students in industry standard art making techniques and technologies specific to game design and related interactive media. Students also will be exposed to digital video production, audio production, and other multimedia skills. The program prepares students who are interested in transferring to Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs at four-year institutions and professional technical and art schools. 
  • Game Development: RVCC’s  Game Development A.S. program  provides students with an understanding of the video game and interactive simulation industry as well as an understanding of how these tools shape and are shaped by our society. The program prepares students for entry-level positions in game systems design and programming, quality assurance testing, virtual and augmented reality creation, and interactive simulation and data visualization. 

Interested in how to become a video game designer? Learn more about RVCC’s  Game Art A.S. program  here and  Game Development A.S. program  today.

Graphic & Interactive Design 

RVCC’s  Graphic & Interactive Design A.S. program  is intended for students who wish to pursue careers in graphic design or digital art. 

  • What is digital art?  Digital art—sometimes called computer art—is any artistic work that uses digital technology as part of the creative process.
  • What is the difference between graphic design and digital art and design? Graphic design focuses more on communicating a message using different graphics, fonts, and images, while digital art focuses more on executing artistic visuals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, and employment of graphic designers is projected to grow 3 percent during that same period. 

RVCC’s Graphic & Interactive Design program trains students in two-dimensional graphics, new media graphics, and motion graphics. The program prepares students who intend to transfer to Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) programs at four-year institutions and professional schools of art.  

Interested in  how to become a digital artist ? Learn more about RVCC’s  Graphic & Interactive Design A.S. program  today. 

Attend Our  Spring Open House

RVCC is hosting its   Spring Open House  on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 9am – 12pm. Join us to explore our programs and classes, tour the campus, discover how to apply for financial aid, learn how to transfer colleges, and more. Register  today !

The RVCC Difference

Have you been researching “best schools for digital arts or game design near me?” Raritan Valley Community College is your answer! 

RVCC is ranked the #1 community college in New Jersey by WalletHub.com and Intelligent.com.  Conveniently located for students in Somerset County  and Hunterdon County, NJ, RVCC  offers  more than 90 high-quality programs, including associate degree programs and professional certification opportunities across a variety of fields .  For further information on RVCC, visit  www.raritanval.edu .

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Earn your degree at RVCC

RVCC does not discriminate in its educational programs or activities regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, disability or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state and local laws. For information regarding Title IX and Section 504, contact Cheryl Wallace, Vice President of Human Resources & Administration at 908.526.1200 x8260 or   [email protected].  To report a Bias & Discrimination Incident Report intent click here .

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Games at Northeastern

Games at Northeastern

Game Design

Bachelor of fine arts, program spotlight.

Student Journey/Core Courseflow

Semester Breakdowns

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design is designed to provide students with the skills to communicate ideas and emotions through interactive media. The focus of the BFA degree is exploring games as an aesthetic and expressive form through critical analysis and creative, reflective practice. Anticipating emerging trends in the video and analog game industries—including broader platforms, audiences, and distribution channels—students will be oriented toward developing games and playful media in an independent creative context. Curriculum is geared to cultivate students’ unique creative voices through courses that apply theoretical analysis to game-development practices across a range of media. Students are exposed to a wide variety of genres and contexts, as well as alternative ways of thinking about games content, platforms, and asset production.

bachelor of creative arts game design

STUDENT JOURNEY

Core course flow.

Games and Society

Learn about the history of games in the context of their players and creators.

Foundations of Game Design

Learn the basics of game design by focusing on the user’s experience.

Game Studio

Put your game design and development skills to the test by working on a large scale game with 50+ students.

Game Interface Design

Learn how to design interfaces for players, from the screen to controllers, to audio cues.

Level Design and Game Architecture

Learn to design 3D levels focusing on real world architectural principals and discovering fundamental game design patterns in the process.

Rapid Idea Prototyping for Games

Game Concept Development

Work with a small team to master the process of iterating on a game design.

Game Design Capstone

Tie all of your progress as a designer together working on a larger scale project of your own design. Produce a large portfolio piece!

SEMESTER BREAKDOWN

Required for certain electives

Requires prerequesite

Fall Semester

Art and Design at Northeastern | (ARTF 1000)

Color and Composition | (ARTF 1122)

Movement and Time | (ARTF 2220)

Movement and Time Tools | (ARTF 2221)

First-Year Writing | (ENGW 1111)

Games and Society | (GAME 1110) 

Spring Semester

Animation Basics (ARTD 2370)

Animation Tools (ARTD 23701)

Foundations of Game Design | (GAME 2500)

Introduction to Game Research Methods (GAME 2650)

Summer Semester

Art + design elective, art history elective.

Programming Basics | (ARTG 2260)

Professional Development for Co-op (EEAM 2000)

Game Studio | (GAME 2950.)

Game Interface Design | (GAME 3300)

Game Aesthetics and Critical Play Elective

Game design and development elective.

Complete two of the following as long as prerequisites have been met.

Experimental Game Design | 
(GAME 1850)

Research in Game Design | 
(GAME 2991)

Generative Game Design | (GAME 4460)

Topics in Game Design | 
(GAME 4000)

Game Production | (GAME 4600)

Narrative for Games | (GAME 2355)

Games Criticism and Theory | (GAME 2750)

Games and Social Justice | (GAME 2755)

Designing Imaginary Worlds | (GAME 4155)

Complete three of the following as long as prerequisites have been met.

Topics in Media Arts 
(ARTD3000)

Character Design for Animation 
(ARTD 3472)

Observational Drawing 
 (ARTF 1120)

Physical Computing (ARTG 3250)

Animation for Games 
(ARTD 3473)

Experience and Interaction (ARTF 2223)

Experience and Interaction Tools 
(ARTF 2224)

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Bachelor of Creative Arts (Game Production)

Study game production at flinders.

Build a career making games.

A hands-on degree with an emphasis on the creative aspects of gaming, in this degree you'll develop an in-depth knowledge of the games industry, the game design pipeline and the history, aesthetics and societal impact of games and gaming. Through the creation of assets and topics in game art, game narrative and game design, you'll develop the essential skills in game production using industry standard software and game engines.

You'll work alongside industry and collaborate with other students on real-world games and VFX projects, developing the highly sought after and transferrable skills that employers want. At the end of this degree, you'll be skilled in critical analysis and reflection of the game creation process, preparing you for a fulfilling career in this growing industry.

What you will study 

Download brochure 

How to apply 

Portfolio, CV and written statement.

Certificate IV or above

  • – Bedford Park

3 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) Deferrable: Yes

  • 2024: $11,600
  • – March
  • – July

Student and ATAR profile 

Save course

3 years full-time Deferrable: Yes

  • 2024: $32,900

Entry requirements by country 

*Available at Flinders' Adelaide City Campus at Festival Plaza  from 2024.

*Available at Flinders' Adelaide City Campus at Festival Plaza  from 2024.

Why study Game Production at Flinders?

  • The gaming industry has seen huge growth since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and is tipped to be worth $464.4 billion AUD by 2026*
  • Be taught by industry-leading, practising creative specialists who specialise in digital games and games production
  • Gain work experience as part of your study with built-in industry engagement opportunities
  • Build highly sought after transferrable, innovative and creative skills to enhance your career opportunities
  • Graduate with a portfolio of high quality creative work
  • Build your connections and networks before you graduate within the closely connected South Australian creative community
  • Study in state-of-the-art facilities, such as The Void – a motion-capture and virtual reality lab
  • Collaborate with other Creative Arts areas on major creative projects.

*PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2022-26

^the rookies awards 2021, your career.

With the gaming industry tipped to be worth $464.4 billion AUD by 2026*, there is no better time than now to start your career in this growing industry. Take your first step into a career in game production and learn the latest skills to enhance your career prospects.

Potential occupations include:

  • Game artist
  • Game designer
  • Concept or character artist
  • Game writer
  • Game tester
  • Game critic/journalist/blogger
  • Independent game creator
  • 3d modeller
  • Texture artist
  • Level designer
  • Game UI designer
  • Games focussed 2d and 3d animator
  • Game narrative designer
  • Environment artist
  • Game testing and QA

Potential employers include:

  • Game studios
  • Interactive design studios
  • Animation studios
  • Visualisation studios
  • freelance work and independent productions

*PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2022-26 

What you will study.

On completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate conceptual, practical and technical skills to produce interactive assets at industry standard
  • Collaborate and communicate effectively within collaborative production and planning teams within game production pipelines
  • Demonstrate knowledge of industry standard software, games engines, and production practices
  • Articulate creative concepts, and apply critical reflection, judgement, and problem solving skills relating to creative practice
  • Effectively plan and adapt knowledge and skills to different phases of the game production process
  • Give, receive and apply constructive feedback on major creative projects

View study program

View study program (Festival Plaza)

This course equips students with the professional skills in asset production for interactive media, specifically games. Students will gain experience working with industry standard software packages and game engines and will have opportunities for collaboration on games and VFX projects.

A hands-on degree with an emphasis on the creative aspects of game production

develop an in-depth knowledge of the games industry, the game design pipeline and the history, aesthetics and societal impact of games and gaming.

ATAR and Student Profile Information

The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2023. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes: <5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced study in this course in Semester 1, 2023 including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background groupings are based on educational background, not basis of admission. Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes: <5 – the number of students is less than 5 N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

World #15 Visual Effects School

The Rookies Awards 2022

World #6 2D Animation School

Ranked in the World's Top 27 Creative Media & Entertainment Schools and Colleges

World #8 Concept Art & Illustration School

How to apply

Choose your preferred course.

Check the entry requirements.

(See fast facts at top of the page and additional entry requirements)

Consider the admission pathways available to you.

Choose other courses to include in your preferences.

Visit SATAC and submit your application.

Applicants must also submit:

  • a supporting statement - responding to why they wish to study the course
  • a Curriculum Vitae - including details of publications, performance, work history, training or other experience they consider relevant to their application
  • a portfolio - examples of original work in film, video production, creative written work, photography, art work, graphic design and/or production management materials.

Download additional application requirements

Applicants can apply for this course using Year 12 qualifications, previous higher education study, TAFE/VET qualifications, or through adult entry (STAT/Foundation Studies/tertiary preparation course). Find the entry path that’s right for you.

Explore our pathways

When choosing your preferences through SATAC, other Flinders degrees you might want to include in your list are:

  • Bachelor of Media Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts .

Select your course.

(See fast facts at top of the page and additional entry requirements )

Check your eligibility for credit .

Apply online.

Obtain certified documents.

Submit your application and documents.

View further details

If you don’t meet our English language entry requirements and need to improve your English language proficiency, you can do so through Flinders University Academy – or our approved English Language Instruction Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) providers.

This means that you can attend the required English language tuition at approved ELICOS providers and gain direct entry into university without an IELTS or TOEFL test.

Find out more

If you don’t meet our academic entry requirements, you can still gain entry to Flinders University through Flinders University Academy. With a range of diplomas, foundation and English language courses, students can find a direct pathway into the destination degree of their choice. 

Course enquiries

Want more information about studying at Flinders University? Contact us to find out more – we’d love to help you decide if Flinders University is the right choice for you.

For all course enquiries phone or email us or complete the course enquiry form.

1300 354 633

[email protected]

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U of Regina students in creative technologies and design programs have new degree, diploma options

Creative technologies and design program offers 2-year diploma and 4-year degree.

Two girls stand, arms pointed in different directions. They both have on a virtual reality goggles headset with controllers in both hands.

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The University of Regina announced Friday that students in the expanded creative technologies and design programs will now have the opportunity to explore new degree and diploma options.

"Creative technologies and design is ideal for students who really have an interest in sort of the connections between art, design, technology and culture," said Charity Marsh, a media professor and coordinator for the program.

"You can be practice-based in your study and you can think theoretically about it. You learn to think about technology and the arts in new ways."

The diploma in creative technologies is a two-year program offered through the faculty of media, art and performance. Courses completed from the diploma can also go toward receiving a creative technologies and design degree, which is a four-year program. 

The program's aim is to help students develop technical skills across a variety of formats that are adapting amid technological changes. The faculty prides itself on its small class sizes and hands-on projects that students can work on collaboratively.

Art and technology

Students will dabble in a range of platforms including virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D animation, robotics, digital storytelling, AI and computer game design.

"VR is certainly about education and learning and we know that we see virtual reality being used, for example, in medical and health studies," said Marsh. 

"Students from all different areas come together and they learn to sort of talk across the disciplinary languages. They learn to talk to each other and build and make together and they push each other, right, in different kinds of ways that are really important for the learning process."

Two  girls are standing, one is holding an ipad and filming the other student.

The University of Regina was the first university in Canada to originally launch a creative technologies program. The new degree programs are unique in Saskatchewan and across the Prairie provinces. 

"It's a really exciting time for students to be in creative technologies and design at the University of Regina. We are just taking on all of these new technologies and even old technologies and just being innovative and curious and experimenting and really being playful," Marsh said.

  • Virtual reality improves reality for northern Indigenous students
  • UNB using virtual reality to help train LPNs to become RNs without having to relocate

David Dick, dean of the faculty of media, art and performance, says the addition of the program will open many doors for future careers.

"Our students are serious about gaining skills as artists, developers, designers, scientists, theorists, entrepreneurs and practice-based scholars," Dick said in a news release issued Friday.

"They learn to think about technology and the arts in new ways, and thrive in the exploration of digital culture."

The creative technologies program is interdisciplinary, meaning it is open not only to MAP students, but to those in other areas of study too, such as students in computer science, engineering and arts.

"Students explore digital culture while working in and with interactive media and installation," said Marsh.

Related Stories

  • 'A constant worry': Regina woman still waiting for cancer diagnosis nearly 1 year later
  • This scientist is integrating AI technology with over 500 African languages
  • New education program to boost number of Black teachers in Nova Scotia
  • U of R reviving journalism program, extending scope to include communications

Syracuse.com

Company news: Pinckney Hugo Group announces 10 recent promotions

Pinckney Hugo Group announced promotions in three of their departments.

>> Send us your company’s news about People in Motion

Creative Services

  • Trisha Freeman , of Pennellville, was promoted to creative director. Freeman was previously an associate creative director and has been with the agency for more than 13 years. She has a bachelor of fine arts degree in advertising design from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University .
  • Elaina Bruno of Lee Center, was promoted to associate creative director. Bruno was previously a senior art director and has been with the agency for more than 11 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the State University of New York at New Paltz .
  • Kim Venuti of Solvay, was promoted to associate creative director. Venuti was previously a senior art director and has been with the agency for 10 years. She has a bachelor of fine arts degree in visual communications from Cazenovia College .
  • Katie Coffey , of Camillus, was promoted to senior art director – production manager. Coffey was previously a senior art director and has been with the agency for more than seven years. She has a bachelor of fine arts degree in communications design from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at SU .
  • Terence Hoverter , of Camillus, was promoted to director of dev ops. Hoverter was previously a senior digital developer and has been with the agency for more than nine years. He has a bachelor’s degree in information sciences and technology from Penn State Harrisburg .
  • Kristin Rolfe , of Camillus, was promoted to associate creative director. Rolfe was previously a senior digital designer and has been with the agency for more than five years. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Le Moyne College .

Client Engagement

  • Olivia Reagan , of Fayetteville, was promoted to senior account manager. Reagan was previously an account manager and has been with the agency for more than four years. She has a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Marist College and a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in public relations from the College of Saint Rose .
  • Scott Roberts, of Memphis, was promoted to senior account manager. Roberts was previously an account manager and has been with the agency for more than four years. He has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the State University of New York at Cortland .
  • Matt Perry , of Syracuse, was promoted to account manager. Perry was previously an assistant account manager and has been with the agency for nearly two years. He has a master of business administration degree from the Madden School of Business at Le Moyne , a master’s degree in international public relations from Cardiff University in Wales, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Le Moyne .
  • Makenna Reilly , of Liverpool, was promoted to account manager. Reilly was previously an assistant account manager and has been with the agency for nearly two years. She has a bachelor’s degree in management from Cazenovia College .

Pinckney Hugo Group is a full-service integrated marketing communications firm. It has clients in a broad range of industries.

If you’d like to submit an item about People in Motion at your organization, send a press release including photo, to [email protected] with Company News in the subject field. We publish news about people with ties to Onondaga, Cayuga, Madison and Oswego counties. See all recent Company News items.

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit syracuse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

IMAGES

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    bachelor of creative arts game design

  2. Year13

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  3. Game Design

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  4. Game Design Bachelor's Degree

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  5. GAME DESIGN BACHELOR

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  6. Bachelor of Game Design

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COMMENTS

  1. Top 20 Schools with Game Design Bachelor's of Arts (BA) Degree Programs

    What are the top Game Design BA programs for 2022? Ranking School State For our undergraduate degree rankings, we have evaluated game design schools and programs with the best Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Bachelor of Science (BS) options.

  2. Game Design BFA

    Game Design BFA You love games. You fill notebooks with your plans for video game levels you'd like to make. Or you spend entire weekends role-playing goofy adventures with your friends. You run an online blog where you analyze the latest and greatest game releases. Or perhaps you just can't stop doodling ideas for new video game characters.

  3. BA in Game Design

    The BA in Game Design program is for creative-minded students who are deeply curious to understand the behavior and psychology behind games and eager to learn the skills and methods for designing fun and engaging interactive systems.

  4. Top 20 Schools with Game Design Bachelor's of Arts (BA) Degree Programs

    What are the top game design BA programs for 2023? Ranking School State For our undergraduate degree rankings, we have evaluated game design schools and programs with the best Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Bachelor of Science (BS) options.

  5. Bachelor of Creative Technologies

    Bachelor of Creative Technologies - Game Art Create beautiful environments and characters and use these assets to develop immersive experiences to share with people in an industry that is bigger than the music and movie sectors put together.

  6. Game Art Degree Online

    As an online game design degree that zeroes in on game art, this program can help you build a portfolio of compelling front-end game designs. You'll use industry-standard 3D and 2D graphic software to learn and apply game design and game art principles such as: 3D modeling and sculpting. Lighting, shading and texturing.

  7. Your Guide to Game Design Degrees

    At the bachelor's degree level, you can earn your Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in game design, game development, or interactive media. Instead of a BFA, some schools will offer a Bachelor of Science. In that case, your program may emphasize more of the technical aspects of game development, such as programming, rather than art and story development.

  8. 25 Best Bachelor's in Game Design Degree Programs

    Degree Programs Find a bachelor's degree I want my Video games have gone far, far beyond mind­less enter­tain­ment and time-killing diver­sion. They're that, of course - and enthu­si­asm for video games has cre­at­ed a glob­al indus­try pro­ject­ed to reach $925 bil­lion by 2032.

  9. Bachelor of Arts in Games and Game Design

    Webster University's Bachelor of Arts in Games and Game Design features comprehensive, real-world learning to prepare you for an exciting career in the game industry. With our video game design degree, you'll develop skills in game design and implementation across all platforms, including computer and video games, mobile games and analog ...

  10. Bachelor of Arts In Game Design

    In our Bachelor of Arts in Game Design degree program, we'll take you on an epic journey through hands-on, collaborative adventures. PROGRAM OFFERED ON-CAMPUS OR ONLINE Learn the secrets of logic, balance, storytelling, programming, and level design.

  11. What Is A Game Design Degree?

    A bachelor's degree in game design teaches creative and game development skills, equipping designers to create the storylines and artwork that enhance video games. Graduates can work in...

  12. BFA in Game Design

    NYFA's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Game Design is an eight-semester, full-time study undergraduate program offered at NYFA Los Angeles. By completing the Bachelor's degree in three years, students save one year of study and enter the field of their choice a year early. NYFA makes this accelerated schedule possible by allowing students to ...

  13. Game Design

    What you'll study: Drawing, game design methodology, computer imaging, 2D and 3D design What you can do: Design games for video game platforms, computers or smartphones. " An important part of college is community, and it seems that each Bloomfield class is composed of great community-builders.

  14. Game Design, BFA

    Academic Catalog 2023-2024 Home › Undergraduate › College of Arts, Media and Design Art + Design Game Design, BFA Undergraduate Admission Information for Entering Students Financial Information Academic Policies and Procedures University Academics School of Architecture Art + Design Art, BA Design, BFA Media Arts, BFA Studio Art, BFA

  15. Bachelor's in Game Design Program

    A game design bachelor's degree equips you to thrive in dynamic, leading edge, and experimental game development studios. The portfolio and expertise you develop at ArtCenter will position you for success with both AAA and indie game studios.

  16. BFA in Game and Entertainment Design

    news events hoot creative economy report self-service sustainability extension admissions faq explore los angeles housing and residential life library. Acquire the skills of game prototyping, iteration, presentation, and collaboration with Otis College's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design program.

  17. Calling All Creatives: Explore a Career in Digital Art or Video Game

    Game Art: RVCC's Game Art A.S. program trains students in industry standard art making techniques and technologies specific to game design and related interactive media. Students also will be exposed to digital video production, audio production, and other multimedia skills. The program prepares students who are interested in transferring to Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and Bachelor of ...

  18. Game Design, BFA

    The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design is designed to provide students with the skills to communicate ideas and emotions through interactive media. The focus of the BFA degree is exploring games as an aesthetic and expressive form through critical analysis and creative, reflective practice. Anticipating emerging trends in the video and analog ...

  19. Bachelor of Creative Arts (Online Delivery)

    The approximate total cost for the Bachelor of Creative Arts online degree program for Canadians, Permanent Residents and for international students outside of Canada, at the current tuition rate is $28,500*. may be available for BCA students. The Bachelor of Creative Arts program runs throughout the year, which is divided into four academic ...

  20. Bachelor of Creative Arts (Game Production)

    A hands-on degree with an emphasis on the creative aspects of gaming, in this degree you'll develop an in-depth knowledge of the games industry, the game design pipeline and the history, aesthetics and societal impact of games and gaming.

  21. Best Online Graphic Design Degrees 2024

    Graphic designers usually need a bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field. ... arts and entrepreneurship, and creative health collaborations. The Institute serves more than 5,300 ...

  22. Mitu-masi

    Creative life is represented in the form of a theater and vocal studio. Our students work in modern design and architecture laboratories. Business games, mock trials and other simulations are regularly organized for our law students. Stands with network equipment are installed for our students specializing in system administration.

  23. U of Regina students in creative technologies and design programs have

    The University of Regina announced Friday that students in the expanded creative technologies and design programs will now have the opportunity to explore new degree and diploma options.

  24. Marina Williams

    Creative, detail-oriented, and self-motivated professional with a proven track record in media, film, and technology. ... Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Publishing and Journalism. 2002 - 2007. New ...

  25. Company news: Pinckney Hugo Group announces 10 recent promotions

    She has a bachelor of fine arts degree in advertising design from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Elaina Bruno of Lee Center, was promoted to associate creative ...

  26. Meet Moscow's new arts manager, Megan Cherry

    She earned a master's degree from UI's fine arts program in 2015. "Moscow is a place where talent wants to live," she said about the decision to relocate to Moscow. "We don't move to a city just to get a job." Experience: Worked commercially as an interior finisher. Taught art appreciation at North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene.

  27. Music, cinema and more: how the city helps creative industries

    The city supports creative industries not only financially, but also in promoting their products and services across the country and the world, providing market analytics, education, creating infrastructure for successful work, conditions for the formation of a creative community. Creative industries include such areas of the economy as the art ...