Video game designers are artistic and creative dreamers. They are also technologically savvy and can make a great living. According to Game Developer Magazine’s annual salary survey, salaried game professionals make an average of around $80,000. Beginning with game descriptions which include plot, character and game play, video game designers work with programmers and artists, collaborating in groups to create exciting video games from beginning to end. After the best game concepts are chosen, different design teams work on the individual components of a game. Having a bachelor’s degree in Video Game Design can equip you to work in any of these specialized groups depending on your specific interest. Become a Lead Designer, Content Designer, Game Mechanic Designer, Level Designer or Writer to get into the nuts and bolts of each new game design. If you are creative, but find your interests leaning more toward programming, a Video Game Degree can land you a job as Lead Programmer, Artificial Intelligence Programmer, Graphics Programmer, Network Programmer, Tools or Interface Programmer. Are you an artist who loves video games? Choose a career as Art Director, Lead Artist, Concept Artist, Modeler or Animator. Other occupations that become available with this degree are Audio Workers, Executives, Producers or Quality Assurance Testers. Each of the bachelor’s degrees on our list has its own unique emphases and specialties and is able to be completed online. The field is open and the gamers are out there waiting for new games and your artistic talent.
Methodology:
- All information is cited from the unbiased, independent NCES.gov’s College Navigator
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE
Program Standouts:
The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Gaming Design at Liberty University Online is offered through Liberty University’s School of Business. The degree program is delivered entirely online through a virtual classroom experience that is flexible, personal and challenging. The online degree in Gaming Design will equip students with technical skills that are necessary for success in the video game industry. The topics studied by students in the Gaming Design degree program range from interactive game development to C# programming, digital imaging and 3D graphics.
Campus Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal loans, scholarships and institutional loans. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: 22%
- Graduation: 47%
Admission Requirements:
- Apply online or download an application for admission
- 50.00 deferred application fee
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts
Program Options and Requirements:
- Optional 3 credit hour internship is available
- 120 total hours are required
- 30 hours must be taken through Liberty University
- 50% (30 hours) of major must be taken through Liberty University
Degree Outcomes:
“As a graduate of the gaming design program, you will be prepared to take on challenging real-world projects in this rapidly growing field.”
Potential fields for the Gaming Design degree at Liberty include:
- Video Game Designer
- Creative Director
- Graphics Director
- Mobile User Interface Designer
- Software Programmer
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE’S BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – GAMING DESIGN DEGREE PROGRAM
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FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts:
The Game Design Bachelor of Science Degree program at Full Sail University is offered completely online and can be completed in 32 months. The program is designed to enhance students’ abilities to work in a game studio environment and is comprised of high-level game design and production courses that will take students “deep into the game development pipeline.” The key concepts covered will range from aesthetics and immersion to usability and game economics. Other basic topics covered will be exciting topics such as storytelling and character development. Career Development advisors and services are available for the students not only throughout their education but also through their entire game design career path. Project and portfolio courses are threaded throughout the curriculum and are dedicated to providing students with a comprehensive learning experience.
Campus Location: Winter Park, Florida
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal loans, scholarships and institutional loans. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Qualified online students at Full Sail University in the Game Design Bachelor of Science Degree Program can receive up to $20,000 with the Momentum Scholarship.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: Open Admission
- Graduation: 44%
Admission Requirements:
- Application and $40 fee
- Documentation of high school graduation or equivalent
- Government issued photo ID
- Verification of English proficiency if primary language
- Interview with Admissions Representative
- Minimum foundation in Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry
- Technology orientation and assessment
- Online education readiness evaluation
Sample Courses:
- Creative Presentation
- World Building
- Psychology of Play
- Historical Archetypes and Mythology
Degree Outcomes:
“You’ll learn how to apply your artistic talents to modern design tools, technology, and production processes.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GAME DESIGN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM AT FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY
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SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART DESIGN
Program Standouts: The Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Design and Game Development at Savannah College of Art Design is offered on campus or entirely online. The online program teaches students who will be on the leading edge of human and machine interaction. The popular presence of gaming on Internet-connected devices requires game designers to understand the experience that users expect of their devices. The online degree helps students to do this. Students will continuously be discovering new ways for users to understand the material and virtual worlds. The interactive design and game development program at Savannah College of Art Design has won the top prize in the E3 College Game Competition for two years in a row. It has also elicited praise from The Princeton Review and Animation Career Review.
“From participation in professional conferences to opportunities to collaborate with industry giants, our students have every chance to capitalize on their passion for interactive design.”
Campus Location: Savannah, Georgia
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal loans, scholarships and institutional loans. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: 70%
- Graduation: 67%
Admission Requirements:
- Online Application
- $40 application fee
- Official SAT or ACT scores
- Evidence of English proficiency
- Official high school diploma
Program Options:
Students may choose to pursue a double major or related minor at Savannah College of Art Design.
Related minors to this degree:
- Interactive design and game development
- Concept art for games
- Character technical direction
- Storyboarding
- Technical direction
Degree Outcomes:
“At SCAD, we give students the tools they need to excel in the most fast-paced workplaces, in the most prestigious roles.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART DESIGN’S BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERACTIVE DESIGN AND GAME DEVELOPMENT.
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ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: The School of Game Development at the Academy of Art University offers an online Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Game Development. The School of Game Development gives students the skills to pursue a career as a game designer by offering hands-on experience creating a professional-quality art and game design or programming portfolio, as well as opportunities to work with other students in the production of artistic and conceptually challenging video games. The Game Programming BS curriculum integrates the engineering and programming techniques used in game creation. Emphasizing math and objective-oriented programming through the use of complex algorithms, students develop strong problem-solving skills, learn to write efficient code, and collaborate with artists and designers to provide the optimal solutions for game design. Graduates of the Academy of Art University’s School of Game Development have been hired by numerous gaming companies including Sony, Riot Games, Telltale Games, Crystal Dynamics, Blizzard and others.
Campus Location: San Francisco, California
Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation; Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: Open Admission
- Graduation: 37%
Course Samples:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Programming for Game Graphics
- Scripting Languages
- Power of Myth and Symbol
Program Options:
Academy of Art University also offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Game Development
Degree Outcomes:
Undergraduate students will meet the following performance criteria:
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Proficiency with Technology Related to Contemporary Game Programming
- Implement, Design and Develop Game Engines, Games and Development Tools
- Produce a Professional Portfolio
“As a game designer, you’ll balance gameplay elements and in-game economy to keep games engaging. You will also improve systems, contribute to features, as well as participate in testing to create immersive worlds and evoke emotions.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN GAME DEVELOPMENT AT ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY.
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Program Standouts:
The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Video Game Art which focuses more on the artistic vision that goes behind game making. The degree program offers a strong foundation in creative and analytical skills. Building on this foundation, the BFA at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design assists students in diving into the many technical and artistic aspects of Game Art. Students will learn to develop their own vision and style while providing the strong visual narratives and creative landscapes that are of such importance to video games and gamers. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design uses industry-standard production software to teach students the nuts and bolts of game design while professors work with students to impart their creative knowledge to the purpose of innovating games of the future. Professors at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design are practicing industry professionals who are highly skilled at refining the expertise of students’ ability to be both technical and creative.
Program highlights include:
- Scriptwriting
- 3D modeling
- Character generation
- Level design
- Character rigging
- Lighting and texture
- Production
- Business ethics and copyrights
Campus Location: Lakewood, Colorado
Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation; North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes:
- Student Loans
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Work Study
- Federal Aid
Not all students qualify for financial aid and assistance.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: Open Admission
- Graduation: 46%
Admission Requirements:
- Interview with an Admissions Counselor
- Submission of portfolio, artist statement, and admissions application
- Submission of the current year’s FAFSA and other Financial Aid documentation
- Submission of official high school and college transcripts (for transfer students)
Program Course Samples:
- Game Creation Fundamentals
- Digital Sculpting
- Game Thesis
- Life Drawing
- Topics in Color
Degree Outcomes:
“From 3D sculpting and modeling to the strategy and psychology of gaming, you’ll come away from the program with a holistic view of the video game art process and be ready to contribute to the exploding creativity of this exciting industry.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT BACHELORS OF FINE ARTS IN VIDEO GAME ART AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE OF ART.
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SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: Southern New Hampshire University’s Online Bachelor of Science in Information Technologies Game Design and Development helps students to mastermind the creation and behind-the-scenes business of video games. The concentration in Game Design and Development combines a foundation in advanced IT curriculum with creativity and the process of game development to give students a competitive edge and usable skills in the real world. Combining a core knowledge of Information Technology and game development programming, Southern New Hampshire University assists students in growing a career in game development or in other industries that use gaming and simulation, such as education, healthcare and public policy. Game genres explored and mastered throughout the game design degree online program are interface design, game theory, game marketing, e-collaboration and e-commerce.
Campus Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal loans, scholarships and institutional loans. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: 92%
- Graduation: 58%
Admission Requirements:
- Undergraduate Application
Course Sample:
- Website Design
- Cyberlaw and Ethics
- Design of Virtual Game Environments
- Interactive Animation
- Leadership
Degree Outcomes:
“The BS in Information Technologies equips you with business knowledge that transcends any one career path, so it will prepare you well for a career in game design and development as well as other fields within the IT industry.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES – GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT AT SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY.
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BAKER COLLEGE ONLINE
Program Standouts: Baker College Online offers a Bachelor of Science in Game Software Development. In this degree program, students are given the tools to produce the games that are played on computers, video consoles, arcades, the Internet, mobile phones, and other devices. Working alone or with a team of other game developers, they learn how to apply their skills and creative gifts to design the game’s look, story and how it plays. Once the framework is developed, they add in the animation, audio and programming, test and debug and finally, produce the game. Baker’s unique Game Software Development program is based on the guidance of employers in the industry. It is updated regularly so that students can learn what it is that the industry actually needs. The curriculum guides students through software engineering, with an emphasis on animation and game developing and gives them a strong base knowledge of programming technologies. As part of the education process, students learn the entire development process from game modeling to animation and programming, to the final senior design project.
Campus Location: Flint, Michigan
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes: federal loans, scholarships and institutional loans. Not all students qualify for financial aid and/or grants.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: Open Admission
- Graduation: 13%
Admission Requirements:
Baker College has a “right-to-try” admission policy which means that:
- All students who have earned a high-school diploma or GED are accepted
- Neither the ACT or SAT are required for admission
An Application and $30 fee are required for admission.
Program Sample Courses:
- Database Fundamentals
- Introduction to Programming
- Game Console Design
- 3-D Character Design
- Game Scripting
- Discrete Mathematics
Degree Outcomes:
“As a graduate, you’ll have both creative and technical experience, and be ready to make an immediate contribution to any game development team.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN GAME SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AT BAKER COLLEGE ONLINE.
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ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH
ONLINE DIVISION
Program Standouts:
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh offers a Bachelor of Science in Game Art and Design. This degree program helps students learn what it takes to became experts in the game creation process. Students use the same kinds of technology that are used by gaming professionals and explore doing what they love and making it into a career. The preparation of students for game design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh includes starting with the fundamentals. Beginning with the principles of design, drawing, and color in both traditional and digital art, students can build skills in game design, level design, 2D concept art, and developing games that will be used in industry-standard engines. Students then explore planning, scope, problem-solving abilities and the economics of creating a market-ready game.
Campus Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation:
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes:
- The Art Grant
- Institutional Grants and Scholarships
- College Bound
- Over Five Years without a tuition increase
- Federal Loans
Not all students qualify for financial aid or assistance.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: Open Admission
- Graduation: 8%
Admission Requirements:
- Application Form
- High School Transcript or GED
- Short Essay about Life Goals
- Interview
Program Sample Courses:
- Digital Imaging
- Life Drawing
- Drawing and Anatomy
- 2D Animation
- Digital Storytelling
- Character and Object Design
- 3D Modeling
Degree Outcomes:
- Core Skills: the ability to apply design and art skills
- Principles of Gaming
- Industry Readiness
- Technology and Production
- Professional Practice
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN GAME ART AND DESIGN AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH.
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FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: Founded in 1902, Franklin University has developed into a school that educates over 10,000 students a year. Franklin’s bachelors degree in Interactive Media Design is offered on site or completely online. The online options at Franklin University are very flexible with either six, 12 or 15-week courses, evening classes and multiple start dates. The Interactive Media Design degree program educates students in developing mobile apps, websites and video games. Including both the technical and non-technical aspects of interactive development, Franklin’s Interactive Media Design major aims to equip its students to deliver solutions throughout the entire development lifecycle of their projects. The degree combines project management expertise with solid design and technology skills. At Franklin University, students will use popular software and technologies such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, HTMS, CSS and JavaScript to create a variety of interactive solutions, including mobile interfaces for iPhone and Android.
Campus Location: Columbus, Ohio
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Types of Aid: As of 2017, financial aid includes:
- Federal Aid
- State Aid
- Institutional Aid
- External Aid
Not all students will qualify for financial aid.
Acceptance and Graduation Rates:
- Acceptance: Open Admission
- Graduation: 6%
Admission Requirements:
A student who meets at least one of the following criteria is eligible for admission as a degree-seeking student:
- Graduate of an accredited high school
- Passed the GED
- Passed a State High School Equivalency Examination
- Completed homeschooling at the secondary level
- Earned a certificate demonstrating a passed examination as the equivalent of a high school diploma
- Has 24 transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
- Has an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution
Program Options:
Franklin University’s interactive Media Design program is specifically designed for transfer students. Interactive media, 3D graphics or visual communication courses can be transferred up to a total of 24 technical credits or up to 94 semester hours.
Degree Outcomes:
- Graphic Design
- Web Design
- Rich Media
- Mobile Design
- Interaction Design
- Concepting
- Project Management
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