Video Game Design Courses

If you are interested in training for a career in the computer and video game industry, you have a number of options available. The specific program you choose will depend on your career goals, your schedule and your budget. Available options include certificate programs, as well as ones offering an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. People who are interested in working in a supervisory or management capacity should consider continuing their education to the Master’s degree level.


Two Guys Playing Video Games on Couch

Certificate programs in Video Game Design and Development focus on this particular aspect of the industry. Students can choose to study at home at their own pace with this type of program or attend classes. On completion of the program, they would be qualified for an entry-level position with a computer or video game company. Some people who choose these types of programs are interested in gaining the knowledge needed to develop their own games.

A number of schools offer Associate’s degree programs in video game design or game and applications development. Some students start their education at this level and then transfer to a Bachelor’s degree program, while others enroll in the course to prepare them for entry-level positions in the industry.

At the Bachelor’s degree level, there are a number of programs that give students the knowledge they need to work in various aspects of the video game industry (examples below):

At the Master’s degree level, students can build on what they learned as an undergraduate. They focus their studies on a particular area and this level of education is attractive to people who want to qualify for positions where they are working as a lead on a computer or video game project.

The growing computer and video game industry has also led to several specialty schools opening their doors. These schools offer programs that include state of the art labs where students who are working on design and development projects can practice what they have learned, as well as get practice working on a project as part of a team.

Our Top 20 Video Game Colleges

  1. University of Southern California
  2. University of Utah
  3. DigiPen Institute of Technology
  4. Drexel University
  5. Rochester Institute of Technology
  6. Savannah College of Art and Design
  7. Parsons The New School of Design
  8. Massachusetts Institutre of Technology
  9. New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
  10. Carnegie Mellon University
  11. University of California, Santa Cruz
  12. Michigan State University
  13. University of Pennsylvania
  14. Columbia College Chicago
  15. Full Sail University
  16. University of Central Florida
  17. Shawnee State University
  18. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  19. Cornell University
  20. University of California, Irvine

Before making a decision about which program is best, a prospective student should consider whether they learn best in a classroom situation or if they have the drive and discipline for distance learning. Some people decide to complete an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and continue their education while holding down a job, and this is an option worth considering.

Learn More: Careers in the Video Game Industry

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