| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California | California |
| 2 | University of California, Santa Cruz | California |
| 3 | DigiPen | Washington |
| 4 | Gnomon | California |
| 5 | University of California, Los Angeles | California |
| 6 | University of California, Irvine | California |
| 7 | University of Washington | Washington |
| 8 | College Temporarily Paused by Publisher | |
| 9 | ArtCenter College of Design | California |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | California |
Our 2025 list of the Top 10 Game Design School Programs on the West Coast. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
University of Southern California (USC) is home to the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) and Viterbi School of Engineering. Founded in 1929 by directors and screenwriters such as D.W. Griffith and William Churchill De Mille, the SCA houses eight academic divisions, including Interactive Media and Games (IMGD).
IMGD programs include BFA degrees in Game Development and Interactive Design, Game Art, and Themed Entertainment; Cinematic Arts-Media Arts, Games and Health MA; MFA degrees in Interactive Media and Games, and Interactive Media-Games and Health; and a Game Design and Development MS. The SCA IMGD also provides minors in Game Design; Game Audio; Game Studies; Immersive Media; Game User Research; Themed Entertainment; Game Entrepreneurism; and Documentary.
Founded in 1905, Viterbi School of Engineering (USC Viterbi) houses the School of Advanced Computing (SAC) and more than 30 departments, divisions, centers, initiatives, and institutes. This includes the Technology and Applied Computing (TAC) program and the Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science. Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the TAC provides minors, specializations, and interdisciplinary degrees in more than a dozen disciplines. This includes Technical Game Art, Video Game Production, and Video Game Programming. All can be taken as a minor or specialization.
Also accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, the Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science provides a Computer Science BS (CSCI) with a major in Computer Science Games, and a Computer Science MS with a specialization in Game Development.
The SCA and USC Viterbi programs are collectively known as USC Games. Curriculums are integrated and all programs are part of the same multidisciplinary, collaborative community. Across programs, students will explore the art, design, engineering, and production of games. All classes are immersive and hands-on, with opportunities to work on projects with peers across all degrees.
Courses for all programs are led by accomplished industry professionals and, depending on the program, students may focus in a specific area of games through a formal specialization, minor, or electives.
All USC Games students have access to numerous game development labs open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week; a Mixed-Use Lab featuring systems for VR/AR development, advanced engineering systems, large-scale game testing spaces, and 15 HD monitors with attached gaming consoles; two 100+ person theaters with lobbies that allow students to display their work; and a Console Development Laboratory with PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo development kits.
For master’s degree students, USC’s Interactive Building houses the IMGD Graduate Student Thesis Lab, conference rooms, a Virtual Production Laboratory, two Usability Labs, and the Vive Lab. Between the SCA and USC Viterbi, all students also have access to USC Game Studios—a two-story building that houses more than 100 VR-ready development systems, audio studios, and usability facilities. USC Game Studios is also the main teaching lab for Advanced Game Projects, which is the cross-disciplinary Capstone course for students in all USC Games programs. During this full academic year course, students will work in teams with faculty, peers, and industry professionals to complete a final market-ready project.
Other facilities include the SCA Motion Capture Stage; the Esports Lab; the Ganek Immersive Media Studio; the Game Innovation Lab; the Creative Media and Behavioral Health Center; and the MFA Thesis Lab.
The programs of USC Games culminate with a final project and possible participation in the USC Games Expo. At the end of each year, this event showcases the best student and recent graduate games. This also includes the Advanced Games Projects Capstone and MFA Thesis Projects.
Graduates of the USC Games programs are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of the games industry. Program alumni have gone on to develop and sell their own games; launch their own independent studios; or land a position at a major game studio such as Riot Games or Epic Games. Graduates have also been hired at places such as Disney, Apple, CBS Interactive, and ESPN.
Founded in 1880, University of Southern California is the oldest private research university in the state. When it opened, the school welcomed just 53 students and 10 faculty. Today, USC enrolls approximately 47,000 students served by more than 4,400 faculty members. This makes University of Southern California the largest school by enrollment in the state and the largest private sector employer in Los Angeles.
Students at USC have access to more than 600 graduate and professional programs across 23 schools and divisions. The University of Southern California is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
In 2019, University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz or UCSC) was invited to join the Association of American Universities (AAU). The school became the youngest university to join and one of only five AAU members. UC Santa Cruz is also the first institution in the University of California System to launch an undergraduate game major. Housed in the Jack Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) and known as Games @ UC Santa Cruz, this intensive program has grown from a single undergraduate program to six programs leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD.
Programs are available at the main UC Santa Cruz campus and the Silicon Valley (SVC) campus. Options include the Computer Science BS in Computer Game Design; the Art and Design-Games and Playable Media BA (BA AGPM); the MS in Computational Media; the Digital Arts and New Media MFA; and the PhD in Computational Media or Computer Science and Engineering.
Across all program options, students have access to courses such as Foundations of Video Game Design; Interactive Narrative; Accessible Games; Psychology of Play; Games as Technical Culture; Advanced Programming; Game Design Studio; Creating Digital Audio; Game AI; Algorithmic Music for Games; Game Development Experience; Writing for Game Technologies; Playable Media; Game Data Science; Game Systems; Game Production Studio; Game Technologies; and Business of Games.
All students also have access to Games @ UC Santa Cruz facilities and centers such as the Center for Computational Experience; The Other Lab; the Expressive Intelligence Studio; the Advanced Visualization and Interactive Systems Lab; the Augmented Design Laboratory (ADL); Ludo Lab; the Critical Realities Studio; the Software Introspection Laboratory; and the Social Emotional Technology Lab.
Other Games @ UC Santa Cruz benefits include frequent studio tours; project evaluations by industry professionals; participation in the Annual Games Showcase; interactions with guest speakers from the game design industry; game design internships; study abroad experiences; and networking events.
The culminating experience for BA AGPM and BS students is the Capstone Project. The BS Capstone is an intensive year-long game project where students will work in teams to complete a professional computer game. The BA AGPM Capstone consists of a project and exhibition. MFA and MS students will complete a thesis project, research project, or both. PhD candidates will complete a dissertation.
Graduates of the Games @ UC Santa Cruz BA and BS programs are prepared to pursue roles in all areas of game design and development. Graduates of the MS, MFA, and PhD programs are qualified for leadership roles in game design and development, education, and research, among others.
Across programs, graduates have been hired at companies and studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Amazon, Universal Studios Japan, Google, Ubisoft, TopGolf, NCSoft, Zynga, Tencent, Hi-Rez Studios, Method Studios, Tic Toc Games, WB Games Boston, NetEase Games, Glu, and Toys for Bob.
University of California, Santa Cruz was established in 1965. This global research university serves approximately 18,980 students enrolled in more than 130 programs across 10 colleges and the Graduate Division. University of California, Santa Cruz is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
DigiPen is a Houdini Certified School that launched the world’s first bachelor’s degree in Video Game Technology and Development. Since then, DigiPen has won 57 Independent Games Festival (IGF) awards. This is more than any other school in the world. DigiPen students have also won more than 300 awards for game projects and academic papers.
Today, DigiPen’s game program has expanded to include six options. This includes a BS in Computer Science (CS) and Game Design; a BS in CS in Real-Time Interactive Simulation; a Game Design BA; a Computer Science MS; an accelerated BS/MS program that can be completed in just five years; and a Digital Arts MFA.
Across programs, students have the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams in a studio environment to create software, several original video games, a final project, and market-ready portfolio.
The Computer Science and Game Design BS explores artificial intelligence (AI); system, level, and technical design; user interface design; programming languages; and game design. Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation covers 2D and 3D simulation; game engine software; programming languages; artificial intelligence (AI); software engineering; graphics rendering; and graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
The DigiPen Game Design BA is an interdisciplinary degree that explores design theory, interactive media, games, and applications. Students may select a concentration from six options including Level Design; Technical Design; Systems Design; Narrative Design; User Research; and UX Design.
The Computer Science MS at DigiPen explores game creation (game design, streaming media testing, project management, etc.); advanced computer science (game engine design, advanced animation and modeling, advanced rendering techniques, artificial intelligence, physically-based modeling algorithms, and ray tracing); and physis and mathematics (computational geometry, cryptography, fuzzy logic and sets, number theory, etc.).
The accelerated BS/MS program has two tracks: Thesis and Comprehensive Exam. Both options highlight courses such as Physically-Based Simulation; Graphics; Artificial Intelligence; and Image Processing. Students in both tracks will also complete the Advanced Game Project course. The accelerated BS/MS can be completed in just five years.
The Digital Art MFA at DigiPen allows students to customize a specialization from courses across all DigiPen programs. To specialize in games, MFA students can select courses such as Game Design, Development and Production; Character Rigging; Scripting for Games; Hair and Clothing Simulation; Lighting and Rendering; Organic and Hard Surface Modeling; Advanced Character Creation; and Storyboarding.
Graduates of the Games, Computer Science, and Digital Arts programs at DigiPen are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of games and animation. To date, DigiPen alumni have been credited on over 2,000 commercial video games and they have been hired at more than 1,500 companies.
Examples include Electronic Arts (EA), Insomniac Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Ubisoft Shanghai, Epic Games, Microsoft, Google, Activision Blizzard, Intel, Booz Allen Hamilton, Nintendo, DreamWorks Interactive, Amazon, Walt Disney Imagineering, SpaceX, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Zynga, ArenaNet, Take-Two Interactive, and Bungie.
DigiPen was established in 1988 as a computer simulation and animation company in Vancouver, British Columbia. Today, the school is a technology institute that serves over 1,000 students across campuses in Redmond, Washington; Singapore; and Bilbao, Spain. Programs include 10 undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science; Digital Art and Animation; Engineering; Game Design and Development; and Music and Audio. DigiPen is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
Gnomon has been educating digital artists for nearly 30 years. Located in Hollywood, California—the heart of the entertainment industry—the school is known as the MIT of Visual Effects. Gnomon’s immersive, hands-on programs take place in a studio environment designed to mimic some of today’s top production studios.
For students interested in studying games, the school has a Digital Production BFA and a Digital Production for Entertainment (DPE) certificate. The BFA requires 180 total units, including 135 in career-focused studies and 45 in general education. Students may choose from three specializations including 3D Generalist, Game Art, and Visual Effects (VFX).
Across options, students will receive intensive training in industry software such as Maya, After Effects, Houdini, Marmoset Toolbag, Nuke, V-Ray, Substance Painter and Designer, Unreal Engine, ZBrush, and Photoshop. Course examples include Props and Weapons for Games; Animation and Visual Effects; Storyboarding; Game Creation 1-4; Level Design; Houdini 1-2; Texturing and Shading for Games; Digital Sets; Character Creation for Games; Hard Surface Modeling; Character Rigging Fundamentals, Environment Creation for Games; Dynamic Effects; May Modules; and Animation for Games.
The Digital Production BFA at Gnomon can be completed in as few as three years. For the culminating experience, students will produce a professional demo reel across four courses (Demo Reel 1-4).
The Digital Production for Entertainment certificate at Gnomon is a 147-unit program that can be completed in two years. Five focused areas of study are available and include Game Art; Modeling and Texturing; 3D Generalist; Character and Creature Animation; and Visual Effects Animation. Electives allow students to enhance the curriculum. DPE students will create a market-ready demo reel as the culminating experience for the program.
Graduates of the Digital Production BFA and DPE certificate programs at Gnomon are prepared to pursue advanced roles in game design and development, animation, visual effects, live-action film, and more. To date, Gnomon has more than 900 industry-employed alumni working at major studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts (EA), Marvel Studios, Nickelodeon Animation, Blizzard Entertainment, Amazon Games, Weta FX, Riot Games, DNEG, Digital Domain, Reel FX, Bioware, Framestore, and Naughty Dog.
Established in 1997 by Alex Alvarez, Gnomon opened in a modest classroom location in Hollywood, California. Today, Gnomon sits on a 35,000 square foot lot within the historic Television Center Studio Lot. The school provides degree programs, vocational certificate programs, and 100+ individual courses for professional enrichment or portfolio development. Gnomon is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has several paths to study games in the School of Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) and Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (Samueli School of Engineering). Serving 1,200 students UCLA Arts is home the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA), which houses the DMA BA. This multidisciplinary studio-based program enrolls approximately 22 students per course, allowing for more personalized instruction and attention.
Course examples for the program include Game Design; Interactive Animation; Game Engine; 3D Modeling and Motion; Collaborative Game Lab; Worldbuilding; Experiments in Virtuality; Sonic Media; Art and the Internet; and Design Futures. The program culminates with the Senior Projects course, where students will complete an individual project that focuses on games, media arts, or design.
Samueli School of Engineering at UCLA is home to the Department of Computer Science, which houses the Computer Science BS. This 180 credit hour program allows students to engage in research areas such as Graphics and Vision and Computer Science Theory. For the Graphics and Vision area, the graphics component explores rendering, motion capture, artificial life modeling, and animation for the movie and game industries. Vision refers to texture, shape, motion and illumination; 3D reconstruction from images; object recognition; and real-time vision/control. The Computer Science Theory area focuses on games, online algorithms, design theory, and more.
Course examples for the CS BS include Software Construction; Programming Languages; Theory of Computing; Software Engineering; Introductory Digital Design Laboratory; Computer Systems Architecture; Digital Design Project Laboratory; and Operating Systems Principles. CS BS students may enhance the degree by selecting games or related courses to fulfill elective requirements.
Both DMA and CS BS students may also enroll in game design and development courses through UCLA Extension. Dozens of options are available. Examples include Developing Video Game Narratives; Unity I: 3D Game Design and Game Engines; Intro to Game Development with Godot 4; Composing Music for Video Games; Immersive Experience Design; Blender Foundations for Spatial Media; and Drawing from Videogame Styles.
All DMA and CS BS students may participate in the UCLA Game Lab. Supported by the School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) and the School of Theater, Film and Television, UCLA Game Lab hosts workshops, research, visiting artists, and guest speaker events. The Lab has also collaborated with partners such as organizations, foundations, and individuals to present film series, performance programs, international exhibitions, and other educational activities.
Examples of past partners include the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Bahcesehir University Game Laboratory (BUG) in Istanbul, Turkey; Giant Robot; A MAZE Festival in Berlin, Germany; Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA); Hypercube; Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Los Angeles; and Swissnex.
Graduates of the DMA and Computer Science programs at UCLA work in all areas of game design and development. They can be found at game design studios, software companies, film studios, advertising agencies, marketing firms, government agencies, and academic institutions.
Open to all students with an interest in games, UCLA Game Lab is supported by sponsors such as the HP, ZBrush, National Endowment for the Arts, Unity, Leap Motion, NVIDIA, Oculus, and HTC.
Graduates of the Digital Media and Computer Science programs at UCLA are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of game design and development. They can be found at game design studios, software companies, government agencies, architecture firms, advertising agencies, film studios, and academic institutions, among others.
Across programs, UCLA alumni have been hired at places such as Nickelodeon, Pixar, Walt Disney Imagineering, and DreamWorks, NBCUniversal, Mattel, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Cisco Systems, and Oracle.
Founded on May 23, 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California, UCLA serves approximately 46,675 students from nearly 110 countries. This land-grant institution provides more than 250 programs across 12 professional schools and UCLA College. University of California Los Angeles is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) at University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine or UCI) began as an academic department in 1968. When it opened, the department was the first of its kind in the UC system. In 2004 the school was named for benefactor and billionaire businessman Donald Leroy Bren.
The only computing-focused school in the UC system, the Donald Bren School houses three departments that enroll more than 2,000 undergraduates and 400+ graduate students each year. Departments include Computer Science, Informatics, and Statistics. Across departments, students can earn degrees in areas such as informatics, computer science, software engineering, and game design.
The Department of Informatics houses UCI’s game design programs. Options include the Game Design and Interactive Media (GDIM) BS; and the Computer Science (CS) BS, MS, and PhD programs. Across pathways, students benefit from mentorships; courses taught by globally-recognized industry experts; and partnerships with major studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Disney, Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Cartoon Network, Tencent Games, and Obsidian Entertainment.
Launched as the Computer Game Science major in 2011, the GDIM BS provides hands-on courses that explore areas such game programming, visual design, game design and development, interactive storytelling, data science, and game studies. This 176 credit hour program also explores emerging technologies such as mobile games, tabletop games, and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR).
Course examples for the UCI GDIM BS include Coding in Game Engines; Roleplaying and Improvisational Play; Game Technologies and Interactive Media; Storytelling for Interactive Media; Game Engine Lab; Visual Design Fundamentals; Programming for Games; and Multiplayer Game Systems. Core and open electives allow students to enhance their skillsets and/or develop skills in a related area. Examples include Solo Game Project; Human Computer Interaction; Games Entrepreneurship; Children’s Learning and Media; User interaction Software; Project management; Software Design: Applications; and Professional Studio.
In the final year of the program, students will complete the following courses: Multiplayer Project, Data Analytics for Games and Interactive Media, and Special Topics-Project in Advanced Game Design.
The GDIM BS at UC Irvine culminates with the Capstone Game Project completed across two courses and under the guidance of industry mentors. This team-based project results in a finished game in an area such as entertainment, training, education, or healthcare.
Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in game design and development, serious games, creative technologies, and interactive entertainment. Potential employers include industry partners such as Electronic Arts (EA), Disney, Cartoon Network, Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Obsidian Entertainment, and Tencent Games. Some GDIM alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses, while others have gone on to pursue a graduate degree in interactive media, game design, informatics, or computer science.
The Computer Science MS and PhD programs at UCI Donald Bren are designed for students interested in leadership roles in the games industry (entertainment), serious games (healthcare, training, education), academia, and government. The Computer Science MS is a flexible program with 12 core research areas. Examples include Multimedia and Gaming; Graphics and Computer Vision; Design and Analysis of Algorithms; Programming Languages and Compilers; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; and Scientific Computing.
Students can select several upper division undergraduate courses to complement their chosen research area or areas. Undergraduate course examples include Game Engine Lab; Computer Graphics; Game Design; Modeling and Worldbuilding; Mobile and Ubiquitous Games; and Digital Imaging Processing. Course examples for the MS include Machine Learning; Fundamentals of the Design and Analysis of Algorithms; Visual Computing; Analysis of Algorithms; Principles of Scientific Computing; and Advanced Compiler Construction.
The culminating experience for the UCI CS MS is the research-based thesis project or the comprehensive examination. The thesis option is the ideal choice for students who wish to continue on to the PhD program.
The Computer Science PhD has the same course requirements, access to games courses, and research areas as the CS MS. This broad, flexible program culminates with dissertation defense and final examination.
The Computer Science BS at UC Irvine has nine specializations. Ideal options for game designers include Algorithms (explores areas such as computer games, computer vision, graphics, and artificial intelligence); Visual Computing (graphics, 3D, interactive imaging); Architecture and Embedded Systems (gaming, visualization, high-performance and scientific computing); and General Computer Science (create your own curriculum from upper division CS courses and two project courses).
Course examples across electives, specializations, and projects include Python Programming and Libraries (accelerated); Modeling and World Building; User Interaction Software; Computer Game Development; Formal Languages and Automata; Digital Logic Design; Projects in Advanced 3D Computer Graphics; Programming in C/C++ as a Second Language; and Introduction to Virtual Reality.
The culminating experience for the BS CS program can be a game, simulation, research or other project. Across CS programs, graduates are prepared to pursue roles in the games industry (for entertainment); serious games in areas such as education, training, and healthcare; software engineering and aerospace; data science and engineering; and national defense and cybersecurity.
Founded in 1965, University of California, Irvine employs more than 1,200 faculty members and 10,000 staff, making it the second largest employer in Orange County, California. A public land-grant research university, UCI serves more than 36,000 students enrolled in 224 degree programs across 18 colleges, schools, and divisions.
University of California, Irvine is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The school is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Founded in 1900, the Association comprises the nation’s top research universities.
University of Washington (UW) is home to the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). Within the school are several paths to study game design including the ABET-accredited Computer Engineering (CE) and Computer Science (CS) programs leading to a BS or BS/MS. Across programs students may specialize in one of nearly 20 areas. This includes Graphics, Vision, Games, and Animation.
Course examples include Special Topics in Computer Vision; Interaction Programming; Advanced Topics in Digital Animation; Computational Fabrication; Intermediate Programming Concepts and Tools; Software Design and Implementation; Programming Languages; Computer Programming; and Digital Design. Students in the Graphics, Vision, Games, and Animation have the opportunity to complete a game or other related project for the culminating experience.
University of Washington has an additional option for aspiring game designers with at least two years of college experience or working game designers seeking advancement opportunities in the industry. Developed in partnership with the UW Bothell Digital Future Lab, and approved by UW’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the UW Game Design Certificate (GDC) is an intensive eight-month program that culminates with a game prototype that students can pitch to industry executives.
Courses for the program include Fundamentals of Game Design; Game Mechanics and Systems Design; and Game Studio Roles and Development. Throughout the program, students will conceptualize, create, and complete several other game design projects for their professional portfolios. In addition to a certificate, graduates of the program will earn a digital achievement badge along with separate badges for each of the three required courses. Digital badges can be shared on social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
The CS, CE, and certificate programs provide access to four main labs in the Allen School including the Center for Game Science; UW Reality Lab; UW Graphics and Imaging Lab (GRAIL); and the Animation Research Labs (ARL).
The Center for Game Science produces scientific discovery games, learning games, and academic games. Center research spans fields such as computer games, machine learning, computer graphics, self-adapting HCI, inductive logic programming, program synthesis, data science, intelligent tutors, and crowd-sourcing.
The UW Reality Lab was established in 2018. Lab participants have opportunities to work on research projects in areas such as character animation, lighting and rendering, 3D reconstruction, and computer vision. Other UW Reality Lab features include access to courses such as Virtual Reality Production for Storytelling; Computer Vision; Introduction to Computer Graphics; and Machine Learning; the mentorship program; lectures; the Idea Incubator; and ongoing programs such as The Reality Studio and The Reality Lab. The Reality Studio explores production and storytelling techniques for immersive environments through classes and productions.
GRAIL conducts research in areas such as games, animation, generative AI, computer graphics, virtual reality, computer vision, and computational photography. GRAIL participants have opportunities to work with researchers from Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Adobe.
The multidisciplinary Animation Research Labs is a collaboration between CSE, the Department of Architecture, and the Schools of Art, Music, Drama, and the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS). ARL participants have opportunities to interact with industry experts from Pixar, Xbox Game Studios, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Disney Animation Studios, and Bungie, among others.
Graduates of the Game Design certificate and Computer Science and Engineering degree programs at UW are prepared to pursue roles across all areas of game design and development, the broad technology industry, entertainment, and more.
Computer Science and Computer Engineering graduates are hired by hundreds of different employers each year. Examples include Epic Games, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Boeing, Oracle, Apple, Qualcomm, and Meta. GDC program alumni enjoy an 80% job placement rate. Top employers include Boeing, Microsoft, Bungie, Hi-Rex Studios, and Hourglass Escapes.
University of Washington encompasses more than 500 buildings, over 20 million gross square footage of space, and more than 26 university libraries. Founded in 1861, the school also serves approximately 62,765 students, making it the largest university in the state. With three campuses in Seattle (main), Bothell, and Tacoma, UW provides more than 480 programs leading to over 850 degrees. Programs are housed across 18 colleges and schools.
University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The school is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Engineering at UW is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
ArtCenter College of Design (ArtCenter) houses an Entertainment Design program that leads to a BS. Launched in 2018, the program emphasizes immersive courses and hands-on experience with focus on programming, design languages, the production process, and user experience. Other program benefits include access to state-of-the art production facilities at the Hillside and South campuses; potential internship opportunities at places such as Blizzard Entertainment, Warner Animation Group, Titmouse, Apple, and Mattel; and study abroad experiences at ArtCenter Berlin or partner universities such as Tama Art University in Tokyo, Japan.
Production facilities include professional studios, galleries and other exhibition spaces, workshops, and specialized labs such as Bruce Heavin Media Production Studio; the 908 Shops; and the 31,000 square feet Creative Hub.
The ArtCenter Entertainment Design BS also provides a Game Design track that focuses on teambuilding and collaboration. Consisting of 132 credit hours, the program allows students to select from 30 entertainment-related courses led by professionals from major studios such as Riot Games, Sony, Blizzard Entertainment, and Insomniac Games. Examples include World Building; Design for Multiplayer Games; Transmedia IP Creation; System Design for Games; Mathematics, Economics and Games; User Experience for Games; Storytelling for Games; Unreal Engine for Game Designers; Game Design Challenges; and Games as a Service.
Key courses for the program include Game Development 1-4; Game Concept Development; Level Design 1-2; and Games for Themed Entertainment. During the last two terms, students will complete an individual game project, an advanced game project, the Portfolio and Career Preparation course, and Grad Show Preparation.
Graduates of the Entertainment Design BS program at ArtCenter College of Design are prepared to pursue advanced roles in video game design, animated films, live action films, visual effects, animation for television, visual effects, toy design, and theme park design.
ArtCenter alumni have been hired at major companies and studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks, Insomniac Games, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Pixar, Riot Games, Naughty Dog, Playstation-Sony Interactive Entertainment, Apple, Disney, Marvel Studios, Google, NBCUniversal, Amazon, Marvel Studios, Paramount, Blur Studio, Netflix, IDEO, Halo Studios, Nike, Rivian, and Meta.
ArtCenter College of Design was founded in 1930. With campuses in Pasadena and Los Angeles, California, the school serves 2,385 students from more than 50 countries. ArtCenter students also have access to satellite studios in Petersen Automotive Museum (Miracle Mile, Los Angeles), and Berlin, Germany. Programs include 11 undergraduate options; 10 graduate options leading to an MFA or MS; a joint MS/MBA program; and undergraduate minors for Business, Creative Writing, and Social Innovation students.
ArtCenter College of Design is fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). ArtCenter is also the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly or Cal Poly SLO) is home to the College of Engineering (CENG). Within the college is the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE). Originally part of two departments (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Software Engineering), CSSE became its own department in 2018.
Serving more than 1,250 students, the CSSE Department provides several paths to study game design. All programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Options include the Computer Science (CS) BS, MS, and BS/MS; and minors in Computer Science and Computing for Interactive Arts (CIA).
The CS minor requires 24 credit hours of study, with access to courses such as Game Design; Software Engineering I-II; Computer Animation; and Real-Time 3D Computer Graphics Software. The CIA minor is a cross-disciplinary, 40-unit program provided in partnership with the College of Liberal Arts’ Department of Design. CIA students will take required courses such as Foundation in Digital Art I-II; Digital 3D Modeling and Design; Computing for All I-II. Electives examples include Game Design; Interaction Design; Computer Animation; Advanced Rendering Techniques; and The Art of Mixed Reality; and Collaborative Studio-Storyboarding, Modeling, Animation and Rendering.
Both the CIA and CS programs highlight hands-on learning in a studio-like, collaborative environment that focuses on design-focused and project-centered coursework. Other features include access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs; internship opportunities and co-ops across California's top technology hubs; individual and team projects; study abroad experiences in more than 75 countries; and participation in weekend-long Hackathons where students come together to design software and apps, and collaborate on tech projects.
The CENG also houses a Game Development concentration that’s open to all degree-seeking students. The program consists of 24 credit hours, including 16 in the core. Courses include Game Design; Introduction to Mixed Reality; Video Games and Society; and Interactive Entertainment Engineering. For the remaining credits, students will select from nearly 20 games and games-related courses, and from Math/Statistics electives such as Game Theory; Design and Analysis of Experiments; and Graph Theory.
Games and games-related course examples include Digital 3D Modeling and Design; Real-Time 3D Computer Graphics Software; New Media Arts I-II; Advanced Rendering Techniques; Software Engineering; Computer Animation; Media Arts and Technologies-Storytelling; Artificial Intelligence; and The Art of Mixed Reality; Foundation in Digital Art I-II; and Current Topics in Computer Graphics.
Graduates of the Computer Science and CIA programs at Cal Poly are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as game design and development for entertainment; computer art; visualization and simulation training; programming; aerospace, science and medicine; software development; astronautical engineering; healthcare; and research and education.
Program alumni are often hired by major companies and studios such as NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Electronic Arts (EA), Microsoft, DreamWorks, Amazon, Disney, Boeing, Adobe, SpaceX, Google, Apple, HP, Oracle, IBM, Cisco, Northrop Grumman, Abbot, Raytheon, Yahoo!, Intuit, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Saint Jude Medical, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Amgen, Salesforce, and Applied Medical.
Founded on March 8, 1901, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is part of the 23-campus California State University System. With more than 25 centers and institutes, the school sits on 9,000 acres, making it one of nation’s largest campuses and the second largest campus in California. Cal Poly SLO serves approximately 22,290 students enrolled in more than 150 undergraduate programs and 50+ graduate programs across six academic colleges. California Polytechnic State University is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
