| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Central Florida | Florida |
| 2 | Savannah College of Art and Design | Georgia |
| 3 | University of California, Santa Cruz | California |
| 4 | DigiPen | Washington |
| 5 | Michigan State University | Michigan |
| 6 | Drexel University | Pennsylvania |
| 7 | University of California, Los Angeles | California |
| 8 | University of Florida | Florida |
| 9 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Massachusetts |
| 10 | University of Texas at Dallas | Texas |
| 11 | Miami University | Ohio |
| 12 | University of Denver | Colorado |
| 13 | University of Advancing Technology | Arizona |
| 14 | Bradley University | Illinois |
| 15 | Columbia College Chicago | Illinois |
| 16 | Quinnipiac University | Connecticut |
| 17 | University of Connecticut | Connecticut |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Wisconsin |
| 19 | University of Silicon Valley | California |
| 20 | Fairleigh Dickinson University | New Jersey |
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 2025.
University of Central Florida (UCF) is home to the College of Sciences. Within the college is the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM), which houses a Digital Media BA program with tracks in Game Design, and Web and Interactive Media. Across all tracks, students will work, learn, and collaborate in the Communication and Media Building which houses 112,000 square feet of state-of-the-art studio and classroom space. This includes Studio 500—one of the largest soundstages and motion capture studios on the east coast. Study abroad opportunities and career development resources are also available to all students.
The Digital Media BA program at UCF has basic core and advanced level core requirements. Students in both tracks will complete all requirements, which consists of 51 credit hours in games and games-related courses. Examples include Game Design; Casual Game Production; Modeling for Realtime Systems I-II; Game Design Tools and Plugins; Creative industries; Evolution of Video Games; Physical Computing; Game Optimization and Performance; Digital Sculpting; and Game Level Design.
The Digital Media BA program culminates with the Game Design Capstone completed across two workshop courses. For this final project, students will work in teams to design, produce, and testing games using iterative design techniques and professional tools.
Graduates of the Digital Media BA program at University of Central Florida are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of game design and development, interactivity, visualization, simulation, and entertainment. Program alumni have been hired by more than 300 companies.
Examples include Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Cartoon Network, Walt Disney Imagineering, Epic Games, Nintendo, Rockstar Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Iron Galaxy Studios, Electronic Arts (EA), Marvel, Gameloft, Apple, Universal, Sony, Zynga, Google, Lockheed Martin, WB Games, Unity Technologies, and Blur Studio.
Located in Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) provides more degrees and specializations than any other art and design school in the U.S. This fully accredited, nonprofit institution also houses six galleries that focus on fashion, film, educational events, and special collections.
For students seeking a games BA, Savannah College of Art and Design provides a BA in Game Development. Students in the program have opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships with local and national studios. Students will also work individually and in teams to complete projects on campus and in state-of-the-art customized facilities within the SCAD Digital Media Center and Montgomery Hall.
Launched in the Fall of 2009, the SCAD Digital Media Center is a 60,000 square feet facility that houses SCAD Film Studios, an in-house theater, a green screen lab, and a real-world studio environment. The Center sits in the former home of the Atlanta TV Station WXIA. Montgomery Hall has more than 130,000 square feet of space including studio classrooms; 800+ computers; stop-motion sets; a green-screen stage; motion-capture technology; and AR/VR labs.
Other program benefits include quarterly meetings with industry professionals from studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Zynga, and Activision Blizzard. During these meetings, SCAD game design students have the opportunity to interview and present their portfolios.
The Game Development BA is a 180 credit hour program, including 50 credits in the major. To enhance the degree, students may select 20 credits of free electives. Course examples include Digital Communication; Programming; Game Design; Game Art; Game Tech; Digital Design Aesthetics; and Game Development Studio I. Students can complete the program in person at the Atlanta or Savannah campus or online through SCADnow. Courses stream online in real time or students may access the courses on their own schedule.
Graduates of the Game Development BA program at Savannah College of Art and Design are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of game design and development, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), animation, film and video, software development, education, research, advertising, and more.
Program alumni are routinely hired places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Apple, Epic Games, Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, Gearbox Software, Microsoft, Adobe, YouTube, Meta, Zynga, Sucker Punch Productions, Firaxis Games, and Bethesda.
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.
The Art and Design-Games and Playable Media BA (BA AGPM) is a top choice for designers seeking a bachelor of art degree. The program provides 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 is the Capstone Project consisting of a game or other interactive experience, and an exhibition.
Graduates of the Games @ UC Santa Cruz BA program are prepared to pursue roles in all areas of game design and development. Games @ UC Santa Cruz alumni 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.
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 the Game Design BA. Students in this multidisciplinary program 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 curriculum for the DigiPen Game Design BA 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.
Graduates 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.
Michigan State University (MSU) is home to the College of Communication Arts and Sciences (ComArtSci). Serving more than 4,500 students across five departments, the College of ComArtSci provides BA, BS, MA, PhD, minor, and certificate programs in the arts and sciences of communication.
The ComArtSci Department of Media and Information (MI) houses a Game Design and Development program (GDD). Established in 2005, the program provides a Games and Interactive Media BA with opportunities to gain hands-on experience with businesses and non-profit organizations in areas such as video game design, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), information technology, and human-computer interaction (HCI).
BA student’s also have access to the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab and the GEL Lab. Both facilities are outfitted with state-of-the-art technology for designing prototypes, learning new techniques, and to advance research on the individual and social impacts of digital games.
Other program benefits include the opportunity to participate in game development and testing projects; complete an internship; participate in group research projects; and engage with industry professionals through visiting artist talks. Students have interned at places such as Insomniac games, Apple, ABC Studios, Will Winn Games, Fabrik Entertainment in LA, The Daily Show, BrainSurf Informatics, Gray Television, DaySmart Software, Re-Source Partners, and MOSAIC Unity Center.
The Games and Interactive Media BA at MSU is a collaborative, project-based program with three focus areas including Game Design; Game Development; and Games Graphics and Animation. All areas explore video game production, board games, emerging interactive media, AR/VR, special effects, artistry, the design process, and management. Examples of required courses include Games and Interactivity; Media and Sketching Graphics; Games and Society; Methods for Understanding Users; and Bringing Media to Market.
Students in the Game Design focus area will take additional courses such as Game Level Design; Serious Game Design Studio; Building Virtual Worlds; Game Design and Development I-II; and Game Interface Design. Course examples for Games Graphics and Animation include Concept Design for Games, Film, and TV; Advanced 3D Modeling; Advanced Three-Dimensional Computer Animation; and Compositing and Special Effects.
Game Development students will take courses such as Game and Interactive Media Development; Introduction to Programming I-II; Matrix Algebra with Computational Applications; and Building Innovative Interfaces. Across all focus areas, students have opportunities to work on real-world projects with partners such as Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, Blizzard Entertainment, Insomniac Games, Bungie, and Rockstar Games.
Students will graduate from the MSU Games and Interactive Media BA program with a professional portfolio of projects across a wide variety of works. Program alumni are prepared to pursue titles such as Game Designer, 2D Artist, Game Scenario Writer, Interaction Designer, Game Developer, Technical Artist, Game Programmer, Producer, Level Designer, Usability Engineer, Technical Designer, Project Manager, UI/UX Designer, and Quality Assurance Specialist.
Drexel University (Drexel) houses one of the nation’s largest cooperative education programs. Founded in 1919, the program was among the first of its kind. Student in Drexel’s mandatory co-op program can gain up to 18 months of work experience in their chosen field—all before graduation. Co-op experiences can be completed at local and national companies or overseas in places such as Greece, London, Ghana, Hong Kong, and Spain.
A leader in technology, in 1983, Drexel became the first university to require all entering students to have microcomputers, and in 2000 it became the first university to operate fully wireless campus—indoors and out. In addition, the school launched the first mobile Web portal service for students in 2002, and the first university portal app (DrexelOne Mobile) in 2011. DrexelOne was offered across all platforms.
Drexel University is also home to the College of Computing and Informatics (CCI), home to the Computer Science BA with an optional track in Game Programming and Development. The curriculum for the program is hands-on with courses led by accomplished industry professionals. Course example for the Game Programming and Development track includes Serious Game Development; Game Engine Programming; Experimental Game Development; Computer Game Design and Development; Game AI Development; and Game Development Workshop I-II.
BA students also have access to state-of-the-art production facilities and studios. Examples include the 1200 square feet Animation Capture and Effects Lab (ACE-Lab); computer labs outfitted with advanced graphics workstations; the Immersive Research Lab (IRL) for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and immersive media projects; the Entrepreneurial Game Studio (EGS); screening rooms; the URBN Center, which features an open floorplan, shared making spaces, and innovative labs and studios; the Center for Games, Artificial Intelligence, and Media Systems (GAIMS Center); and a theme-park quality motion simulation platform.
The Computer Science BA at Drexel University culminates with a full-year capstone project. Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in PC game design, serious games, console game design, game art, mobile game design, and simulation and job training, among others.
More than 80% of Drexel gaming graduates and nearly 90% of dual degree graduates are currently working in an area directly related to game design and development. Drexel CCI alumni have been hired at places such as Rockstar Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Gameloft, Pixar, Microsoft Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Disney Imagineering, Lockheed, Xbox Game Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Digital Domain, Disney Interactive, Razorfish, NCSoft Corporation, Zynga, BioWare, and Comcast Corporation.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is home to the School of Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts). Serving 1,200 students UCLA Arts houses the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA) and 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. DMA 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 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 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.
In addition, UCLA Game Lab is supported by sponsors such as the HP, ZBrush, National Endowment for the Arts, Unity, Leap Motion, NVIDIA, Oculus, and HTC.
The DMA BA program at UCLA culminates with the Senior Projects course, where students will complete an individual project that focuses on games, media arts, or design. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions 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.
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.
University of Florida (UF) is home to the College of the Arts (COTA). Established in 1925 through the School of Architecture, COTA houses the Digital Worlds Institute; the Schools of Art and Art History, Music, and Theatre and Dance; and the Center for Arts in Medicine. These academic units are accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD); the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM); the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST); and the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
The Digital Worlds Institute houses the interdisciplinary Digital Arts and Sciences (DAS) program leading to a DAS BA (BADAS). The program requires 120 credit hours of study. Course examples include Introduction to Digital Technologies; Game Development; Principles of Digital Visualization; Game Content Creation; Creating Mobile Games; Foundations of Digital Culture; Game Design and Production; 3D Animation Techniques; Interaction & Usability; Game Systems Development; and Digital Storytelling.
The culminating experience for the program is the DAS project. The BADAS can be completed on campus or 100% online through UF Online.
Graduates of the BADAS program at University of Florida are prepared to pursue titles such as Game Designer, Digital Storyteller, Technical Animator, Level Designer, Software Engineer, Game Artist, Motion Graphics Animator, Visual Effects (VFX) Artist, and Character Modeler.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks and Microsoft. Some graduates also go on to pursue graduate studies, teach, or launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a Top 25 STEM college that houses one of the nation’s oldest games and interactive degree programs—Interactive Media and Game Development (IMGD). The school is also home to the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDigi). Launched in 2011, MassDigi is a center for education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development in the Massachusetts games industry.
MassDigi programs and labs include the Reverse Internship/Sabbatical, where students can work on projects in teams of college and university students; the Virtual Production Laboratory; the Education Working Group; the Summer Innovation Program (SIP); and Live Code, which allows students to work on real games in the market.
Launched in 2004, and part of the School of Arts and Sciences, the IMGD program at WPI provides a BA degree that allows students to immerse in the entire game development process alongside industry advisors and faculty researchers. The IMGD BA also has concentrations in Design (board game design, narrative design, digital design); Technical Art (motion capture, 3D rigging, animation, pipeline management); Visual Art (2D animation, 3D modeling and animation, interactive art installations); and Writing (world building, narrative structure, character building).
As part of the IMGD program, all students will explore the artistic and technical aspects of game development, as well as art, science, music, and math. Course examples include The Game Development Process; Storytelling in Interactive Media and Games; Critical Studies in Media and Games; Game Audio; Technical game Development; and Novel Interfaces for Interactive Environments.
Other program benefits include co-op experiences and professional internships; project-based learning (team-based game projects); access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the IMGD Interaction Lab, Foisie Innovation Studio, the Intentional Design Studio (IDeaS), and the Digital Art and Fabrication Studio—FabLab; and participation in gaming activities, competitions, and conferences. Examples include the International Game Developers Association (IGDA); the annual PAX East Game Festival; Game Jam; the Diversity in Games Club; the Game Developers Conference (GDC); and the MassDiGi Game Challenge.
The IMGD BA program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute culminates with a final project. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of game design and development. WPI alumni are routinely hired by companies and studios such as Rockstar Games, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Google, Microsoft, Epic Systems, HubSpot, BrainCo, Raytheon Technologies, NextGen Interactions, Kaon Interactive, and Jitterbit.
University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is home to the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (The Bass School or Bass). Established in 1975, Bass is a Houdini Certified School that serves more than 1,960 students enrolled in over 45 majors, minors, and certificate programs. Among the school’s programs is an Animation and Games BA.
Students in this 120 credit hour program have access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the 155,000 square feet Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Building and the Game Lab; Render Farm; CG Animation Lab; experimenta.l.; Games Research Lab; Motion Capture Studio; Games and Media Library; Narrative Systems Research Lab; Surround Studio; The Studio for Mediating Play; Animation Lab; 3D Studio; Mixed Media Lab; MoGraph Lab; Escape Pod Studio; VAST Lab; and the 3D Studio.
The Animation and Games BA takes place in a studio environment. Students in this program will explore games and digital animation, including social gaming, 3D computer animation, motion capture, educational games, motion graphics, and real time entertainment. Course examples for the program include Digital Art and Design Foundations; History of Games; Programming for Digital Artists; Animation and Game Fundamentals; Scripting for Animation I; Time-Based Media; Scripting for Games I; History of Visual Effects; Design; and Animation Origins and Techniques.
To complement the major and core curriculum, BA students may select 30 credit hours of prescribed and free electives. Examples include Sound Design for Games; Virtual Environments I-II; Mobile Game Development; Rigging I-II; Game Design I-II; Motion Capture Lab; Game Studies I-II; Experimental Animation; Scripting for Games II; Escape Pod Studio; Games and Narrative I-II; Real Time Texturing; Computer Animation I-III; Digital Effects; Collaborative Modeling; Storyboarding; Level Design I-II; Virtual Reality; Immersive Technologies Lab; Digital Sculpting; and Game Production Lab I-II.
The Animation and Games BA at UT Dallas culminates with a Capstone Project course.
For students seeking a broad program with a flexible curriculum, The Bass School houses an Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) BA program, with an Emerging Media Arts (EMA) concentration. Students have access to electives such as Game Design I; Game Studies I; Sound Design for Games; Modeling and Texturing; Motion Design I-II; and Virtual Environments.
Programming for Digital Arts; Code Plus Culture; Time-Based Media; and Computer Modeling for Digital Fabrication are examples of required and major courses for the BA. This 120 credit hour program culminates with a Capstone Project course.
Graduates of the ATEC BA and Animation and Games BA programs at University of Texas at Dallas have been hired at places such as Pixar, Apple, DreamWorks, Google, Disney, Toyota, and Capital One. Program alumni have also gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
The College of Creative Arts at Miami University (Miami U) houses the Department of Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD), which provides access to more than 50 games courses; an honors program with special course selections and the opportunity to work and collaborate with the same cohort for four years; and the ETBD internship program. Participation in the program is mandatory.
Students have access to more than 20 local game studios. Examples include Green Door Games, Max Gaming Technologies, SGM Games, Few Remain, Ganbaru Games, Funky Visions, Wraith Games, MouseMouse Media, Multivarious Games, and Aertherbyte Studios, Inc.
The ETBD Department also provides access to state-of-the-art production facilities and labs such as the Huge Immersive Virtual Environment (HIVE); John Smale Interactive Visualization Lab and Center; and the Esports Lounge and Arena.
Within the department is an ETBD BA with Digital and Applied concentrations. Consisting of 63 credit hours, both concentrations allow students to study games through required courses. Students in the Digital concentration will also have opportunities enhance their game studies through electives.
Course examples for the Digital concentration include Introduction to Game Design; Intermediate Interaction Design; Introduction to Game Programming; Art and Digital Tools; and Introduction to Game Studies. Elective examples include Software Construction; Electronic Music; Software Engineering; and Visual Fundamentals-Design and Composition
The Applied concentration consists of courses such as Intermediate Interaction Design and Development; Introduction to Game Programming; Art and Digital Tools; Advanced Interaction Design and Development; Collaborative Laboratory; and Introduction to ETBD.
The Emerging Technology in Business and Design BA program culminates with the Senior Degree Project and Emerging Technology Practicum for the Digital concentration. Students in the Applied concentration may choose the practicum or project as the culminating experience for the program.
Miami University ETBD graduates often continue on to graduate school or pursue advanced roles in game design and development, film and animation, game mechanics and technology, visualization and simulations, digital marketing, and UX design, among others.
Miami U Game Design alumni have been hired at places such as Rockstar Games, Nintendo, Amazon Games, LucasArts, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Studios, Google, ZeniMax Media, Gearbox Software, Zynga, Games+Learning+Society (GLS) Conference, Proctor & Gamble (P&G), and Oblong Industries.
University of Denver (DU) is home to the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science (Ritchie School). Established in 1919 as the College of Engineering, the school serves approximately 1,165 students enrolled in more than 25 degree programs across three departments. All Ritchie School students benefit from interdisciplinary and project-based learning labs; access to state-of-the-art production facilities; participation in student organizations such as the DU Game Developers Society, DU Computer Science, Women in Technology, and DU Esports; and ABET accreditation.
The Ritchie School Computer Science Department houses several undergraduate paths to study game design. This includes BA degrees in Game Development; Applied Computing; and Computer Science. All undergraduates may study games and complete the Game Capstone. This 10-week course allows students to design, build, test, and debug a fully working game—from the ground up.
Across programs, students will also take courses such as Introductory Gamer Design; Game Programming I-II; Machine Learning; Programming Languages; Multimedia Systems; Networking for Games; Topics in Computer Graphics; Game Prototyping; Shell Scripting and System Tools; 3D Modeling; Software for AI Robotics; Data Visualization; Software Engineering I-II; Advanced Algorithms; Object-Oriented Software Development; Advanced Unix Tools; and Human Computer Interaction.
All students will have opportunities to participate in University of Denver’s study abroad programs, with more than 120 options in over 20 countries; the internship program; and cooperative education. Past internship employers include The Walt Disney Company, Ball Aerospace, Oracle, NBC Universal, and Charter Communications.
Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as game design and development, the broad technology industry, aerospace and defense, digital marketing, architecture, education, and research. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Lockheed Martin, Google, Amazon, Raytheon, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, LinkedIn, and X.
University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is one of the nation’s few 100% STEM-based universities. The school also houses one of the nation’s only fully accredited Game Design Program (GDP), with degrees across the entire discipline.
Launched in 1995, the UAT GDP provides a BA in Game Design (GD BA) and Game Art and Animation (GAA BA). Programs are provided on campus, online, and in hybrid format. The on-campus programs incorporate a mandatory 15-week internship at a professional studio, company, or non-profit.
Students in the GD BA program will work with programmers and artists to create original games for multiple platforms while working their way through the entire game production pipeline. Course examples include Critical Game Studies; Level Design; Game Scripting for Designers; Monetization and Design Strategies; Game Systems Design; and Deployment Strategies and Project Constraints.
The Game Art and Animation BA explores 2D/3D art and animation for mobile, PC, console, virtual reality, and online platforms. Students in this program also have the opportunity to work their way through the entire game production pipeline while creating original games. Course examples include Game Art and Animation Fundamentals; 3D Modeling Characters and Vehicles; Introduction to Game Art and Animation; Materials, Shaders and Lighting; UI Design and Animation; and 3D Modeling Environments and FX.
In addition to original games, all GAA BA students will complete a professional portfolio and the Student Innovation Project. Graduates of the Game Design programs at University of Advancing Technology are prepared to pursue advanced roles in games for entertainment, serious games, simulation training, digital advertising, animation and film, law enforcement, architecture, television production, science and medicine, aerospace, visualizations, defense, and more.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as the Electronic Arts (EA), the U.S. Department of Defense, Nickelodeon, Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, Bethesda Softworks, Intel, American Gaming Systems (AGS), Twitch, the Game Show Network (owned by Sony Pictures Television), and Gearbox Publishing.
Bradley University (Bradley) has a number of paths to study games. All options emphasize student/faculty collaboration; liberal arts and sciences; study abroad experiences in places such as the UK, Spain, and Australia; and experiential learning opportunities such as NBC Olympics internships and the Bradley University Hollywood Semester.
Open to all Bradley students and majors, the Hollywood Semester highlights guest lectures; excursions to industry events; professional internships; courses led by industry professionals; and networking events. The programs new mentorship initiative also helps connect students with Bradley alumni in Los Angeles.
Bradley University is also home to Slane College of Communications. Housed in Slane’s Interactive Media Department are the production-focused Game Design BA and Game Art BA programs. Students in the Game Design program will create videogames, tabletop games, and more during every semester of the program. The major requires 53 credit hours. Course examples include Survey of Games; Game Design I-II; Appreciating Comics; Game Production I-II; Environmental Storytelling; Introduction to Game Scripting; Film History; Introduction to Game Development; History of Animation; Critical Game Studies; and Fundamentals of Interactive Design.
In addition to a variety of in-demand courses, the Game Design and Game Art BA programs provide mentoring by faculty who have worked on game series such as Riot Game’s League of Legends, Ubisoft’s Far Cry, and Red Faction, developed by Volition. All BA students also benefit from participation in game jams; opportunities to show their work at the annual FUSE exhibit; and hands-on learning with industry software.
The Game Design BA program culminates with three courses totaling 12 credit hours: Prototyping for Capstone; Game Capstone Project I; and Game Capstone Project II. Graduates will leave the program with a publishable game and professional portfolio.
The Game Art BA program at Bradley University explore asset creation, character art, animation, environment art, and concept art. The Game Art major requires 53 credit hours. Course examples include Introduction to Game Development; Character Art; Critical Issues in Interactive Media; 2D for Game Art; New Media History; Drawing 1-2; Game Art Fundamentals; Environment Art; Appreciating Comics, Game Art Development; Critical Game Studies; and Small Group Communication. The Game Art BA program culminates with the Game Capstone Project completed across two courses.
Graduates of the Slane Game Design programs at Bradley University are prepared to pursue careers across industries such as games for entertainment, serious games, animation, live action film, television production, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), aerospace and aeronautics, human-computer interaction (HCI), digital advertising, science and medicine, user interface and user experience (UI/UX), architecture, training simulations, artificial intelligence (AI), education, research, and consulting.
Program alumni have been hired at places such as Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Insomniac Games, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Games, NetherRealm Studios, and Daybreak Game Company.
The School of Design at Columbia College Chicago (Columbia College) provides programs that focus on collaboration, interdisciplinary coursework, and creating projects that utilize the latest state-of-the-art technology, including virtual reality. For students seeking careers in game design, the school houses a Game and Interactive Media Design BA; Game Art and Game Design BA programs; and minors in Game Art, Game Design, and Fashion for Game Art.
Students in all programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment such as The Game Lab; Animation Production Spaces; The Equipment Cave (game consoles, equipment, digital cameras, and more); The Motion Capture Studio; The Sound Studio; and The Open Lab. Other program benefits include artist-in-residence initiatives; workshops; internship opportunities; study abroad experiences; and the opportunity to present senior game projects at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, California, South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Industry Night at Columbia College Chicago, and the Chicago Toy and Game Fair.
The Game and Interactive Media Design, Game Art, and Game Design BA programs at Columbia College Chicago allow student designers and artists to begin building games in the first semester. The curriculums function like today’s collaborative studios, allowing students to develop advanced technical skills. Game Art BA students will focus on character environment and visualization, digital sculpting, level design, motion capture animation, computer generated character modeling, and environment modeling for game content.
Game Design BA students may select a concentration in Game Development or Game Sound. In the junior and senior years of the Game and Interactive Media Design BA program, students will have the opportunity to focus in an area of interest. Across programs, students will take courses such as Programming I-II; Character Visualization for Games; Story Development for Interactive Media; Computer Animation-Keyframing I; Introduction to Game Development; Advanced 3D Digital Sculpting; Game Culture; Shading and Surfacing for Games; Digital Imaging Design; and 2D Motion for Games.
The culminating experience for the Game Art and Game Design BA programs is the Capstone consisting or the Game Level Production course or Game Studio I-II, student’s choice. The Game and Interactive Media BA culminates with an industry-ready game and professional portfolio.
Graduates of the Games programs at Columbia College Chicago are prepared to pursue careers across the game design, animation, live action film, television production, and digital advertising industries, among others. Program alumni have worked with or been hired at companies and studios such as Pixar, Amazon, Sony, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Weta Digital, Netflix, Bungie, Iron Galaxy Studios, Incredible Technologies, Inc., NetherRealm Studios, Jellyvision, and High Voltage Software.
Quinnipiac University (QU) is an Unreal Academic Partner that provides two paths to study games: the Game Design and Development (GDD) BA and the GDD minor. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) the programs provide access to the Game Lab, where students have opportunities to work in multidisciplinary teams to create game prototypes. Activities begin in the student’s sophomore year, culminating in the senior year with the Senior Project and Seminar (capstone experience).
GDD students also have access to the Center for Game Development (CGD), which supports faculty and student games with financial and other resources; and other state-of-the-art production facilities and labs such as the eSports room in Rocky Top, the motion capture lab, and a new lab, lounge, and AR/VR space set to launch during the 2025-2026 academic year.
GDD BA students have the opportunity to participate in the QU in LA program, which consists of a semester-long internship in California interning at companies such as Electronic Arts (EA), Meta, and Blizzard Entertainment. Back at QU, GDD students may also collaborate with partners on unique projects such as educational games for public health workers; educational games about DNA replication; and cybersecurity games.
The GDD BA at Quinnipiac University is a 120-126 credit program that provides the opportunity to take courses in a related area such as Computer Science or Graphic and Interactive Design. Concentrations include Game Design, Spatial Technology, Programming, Art, Management/Production, Writing, and Performance. Students also have the option to add a minor or double major.
Courses for all focus areas include courses that align with the concentration. For example, students in the Performing concentration will take courses such as Acting and Directing for Games and Digital Music Composition, while Art concentration students will take courses such as Drawing for Games and Animation and Game Art Pipeline I-II. Students in all concentrations will take core courses such as Introduction to Game Design; Game Lab I-II; Creativity and Computation; Introduction to Visual Design for Games; Introduction to Game Development; and Professionalism Practice for Game Design.
Electives allow students in all concentrations to enhance the degree. Examples include History of Video Games; Game Design Tools and Process; Critical Game Studies; Interactive Storytelling; Game Lab III: Unreal; Board Game Design; Tabletop PRGs; VR/AR Development for Games; and Audio Narrative.
Graduates of the Game Design and Development programs at Quinnipiac University are prepared to pursue advance roles in all areas of game design and development, animation and film, digital advertising, and other related areas. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Rockstar Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Sesame Street Workshop, Hi-Rez Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Black Rocket Productions, iD Tech, Grover Gaming, SphereGen Technologies, F84 Studios, XR Pediatrics at Yale, Cool Math Games, and Hellosaurus.
The School of Fine Arts (SFA) at University of Connecticut (UConn) is one of approximately 328 schools accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Founded in 1944, the NASAD establishes national standards for degrees in art and design. Within the SFA is the Department of Digital Media Design (DMD), which serves more than 375 students enrolled in BA, BFA, and MFA DMD programs.
All programs take place in a collaborative learning environment consisting of hands-on projects, workshops, and mentoring by visiting artists. Across programs students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities and studios such as the Cintiq Lab, Motion Capture Studio, and the VR/Gaming Studio; clubs such as the Gaming Club and the Game Development Club; and the internship program with opportunities to work at Disney, Pixar, HBO, Adobe, and ESPN.
The DMD BA programs at UConn explores digital media and design applications. This liberal arts degree provides opportunities to take courses in other disciplines from schools such as Engineering and Business. The also allows students to add a minor or double major.
Students in the DMD programs at University Connecticut may add a concentration. Examples include Game Design, Motion Design and Animation, and Digital Film/Video Production. The Game Design concentration explores game development for entertainment, science, education, and research. This may include digital games, carnival and amusement park experiences, geocaching, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), card games, board games, and casino games.
Courses for the program are led by industry professionals. Course examples include Fundamentals of Programming for Game, Web, and Interactive Media Design; Interactive Storytelling; Game Systems Design; 3D Virtual World and Simulations; Game Production; Wearable Electronics and Interactive Objects; Disruptive Technologies; Advanced Game Scripting; and Multiplayer Game Development.
The culminating experiences for BA students are the Portfolio and Professional Development courses, the Senior Project, and participation in the BFA Senior Exhibition. DMD graduates are prepared to pursue positions in all areas of game design, as well as animation, film, television production, simulations, visualization, digital advertising, education, research, and consulting.
Approximately 90% of University of Connecticut DMD graduates are employed in the industry within one year of graduation. Program alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Disney, Epic Games, NBC Universal, Google, Viacom, Blur Studio, Sony Music Entertainment, Adobe, HBO, Verizon, ESPN, Owlchemy Labs, NBC Sports, Deck Nine Games, PreviewLabs, and Worldwalker Games.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-Whitewater) houses a multidisciplinary Media Arts and Game Development (MAGD) program that combines computer science, art, music, and communication. Leading to BA and provided in the Department of Art and Design within the school’s College of Arts and Communication, the MAGD program has three emphasis areas/minors including Gaming Technology, Media Arts, and Communication/Gaming.
The Gaming Technology emphasis explores programming, software development, and real-time interactive graphics. Media Arts focuses on the creation of digital content for special effects, interactive computer games, 3D, motion graphics, and animation.
Communication/Gaming (and Media Art) are also provided as minors for students in the Computer Science BA program in the College of Letters and Sciences’ Department of Computer Science. Communication/Gaming explores games, writing for digital media, audio and video, and emerging technology.
Across emphasis areas, students will take core courses and electives such as Game Development; Motion Graphics Studio; Interactive Communication; Introduction to Media Arts and Game Development; Game Studies and Design; Screenwriting; Drawing for Digital Media; Video Games and Learning; Electronic Music and Sound Design; and Data Structures. All programs culminate with the Senior Capstone.
All MAGD and Computer Science BA (CS BA) students benefit from participation in student organizations such as GAMED (Game and Media Entertainment Developers), Anime, Smash Bros., the Animation Club, Esports, and the Gaming Group of Whitewater; access to state-of-the-art production facilities such as the Motion Capture Studio and a gaming room that hosts weekend-long game jams; and the chance to take part in regional game design expos and competitions such as the MAGD Expo and M-Dev.
Held annually at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the MAGD Expo welcomes leaders in the industry who have developed games such as Transformers, Assassin’s Creed, Madden NFL, Baby Driver, and God of War.
Other MAGD and CS BA highlights include professional internships in the UW-Whitewater Digital Media Lab or off campus at a game, animation, film or media production studio; team-based projects; and the opportunity to study abroad at HAN University in Holland. During the experience, students will collaborate with HAN students on a team game project (from the UW-Whitewater campus), then travel to Holland during the spring semester to complete the game with them.
Graduates of the MAGD BA and CS BA programs at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as game design and development, animation production, 3D art, digital advertising, usability engineering, interface design, mobile app development, motion graphics, multimedia production, visualization, simulation, research, education, and consulting.
MAGD and CS BA alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Amazon, Epic Software, Google, Bethesda Game Studios, IBM, Obsidian Entertainment, Filament Games, Raven Software, JDA Software, Image 360, PerBlue, and Concurrency, Inc. Some MAGD graduates also go on to enroll in a graduate program such as UW-Whitewater's Computer Science MS program. Others have gone on to launch their own studios or freelance businesses.
The Department of Game Design and Development at University of Silicon Valley (USV) provides BA degrees in Game Art and Game Design. Programs are delivered on campus or 100% online. A major component of both options is the Game Studio class where students will spend two semesters collaborating in interdisciplinary teams to work on real client projects. This immersive class takes place in an environment that mimics today’s professional game studios.
Art and technology in the Game Studio includes Maya, advanced version control, ZBrush, issue tracking software, Photoshop, Unreal Engine 4, Python, C# programming language, acting techniques, Illustrator, Unity3D, storyboarding, and Excel. Upon completion of the Game Studio, students will have a completed game (capstone) and professional portfolio.
The USV Game Art BA explores level design, 2D and 3D art, writing for interactive media, art theory, and interactive audio production. Course highlights include Introduction to Game Storytelling; Level Design for Single-Player Games; and Character Rigging.
The Game Design BA at University of Silicon Valley explores storytelling, programming, level design, game engines, and project management. Electives allow students to explore audio, marketing, and user experience. Students may also focus in Game Writing.
Graduates of the Game Art and Game Design programs at University of Silicon Valley are prepared to pursue advanced roles in all areas of game design and development. Program alumni have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Rockstar Games, Pixar, Atari, DreamWorks, Epic Games, Disney, Activision Blizzard, Sony, Cartoon Network, Bethesda, Crystal Dynamics, 2K Games, Double Fine Productions, Bandai Namco Entertainment, and Halo Studios.
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) has several paths to study game design. Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences, houses the School of Art, home to the Film and Animation BA with a Video Game Animation concentration. This hands-on program allows students to switch concentrations while working their way through the curriculum or double concentrate by choosing two options from 3D Animation, 2D Animation, and Video Game Animation. Students can also work across all areas through anywhere from 12-18 elective credit hours, depending on the concentration.
The Video Game Animation concentration is the ideal choice for game designers as highlights 30 credit hours in theory and production courses, plus 15-18 elective credit hours. Examples of required courses include Game Design; Low Poly 3D Modeling; 3D Game Creation Using Unreal; Character Animation Using CAT; 3D Game Creation Using Unity; ZBrush Digital Sculpting; and 3D Environment Modeling. The program culminates with the Thesis I-II courses.
Across all Maxwell Becton College programs, students may participate in FDU’s internship program, which provides opportunities to work at major studios and networks such as DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, NBCUniversal, MTV, Viacom, and ABC. Graduates are often hired by many of these studios and networks. Program alumni have also been hired at places such as Marvel Comics, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Verizon, Tribe Pictures, Pixel Light Digital Media, Whisper Films, Skyline Entertainment, and High 5 Games.
