Top 20 Game Design Schools and Colleges in the South – 2025 College Rankings

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. At the graduate level, the NSCM provides an Interactive Entertainment MS through UCF’s Florida Interactive Academy (FIEA). 

Students in all FIEA and NSCM Programs at University of Central Florida 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. 

The Interactive Entertainment MS at University of Central Florida’s FIEA is a 30 credit hour program that focuses on game design, 3D artistry, teamwork, programming, problem-solving, and project management. Throughout the program, students will work in teams with industry mentors across courses that cover technical art, level design, 3D animation and modeling, prototyping, game design, motion capture, technical design, software engineering, pre-production, post-production, and legal and ethical issues. 

All students may specialize in Art, Production, or Programming. Each specialization requires nine credit hours. Courses for the Art specialization include Digital Asset Creation; Advanced Digital Asset Creation; and Digital Asset Portfolio Development. Production specialization courses include Production Design I-II, and Media Distribution. Students in the Programming Specialization will take Game Programming Fundamentals; Advanced Game Programming; and Applied Programming Mechanics. 

Students in all specializations will complete the 12 credit hour MS core consisting of Production for Media; Rapid Prototype Production; Experimentation, Application, and Innovation in Games; and Preproduction and Prototyping. Course examples across specializations include Digital Asset Creation; Production and Design; and Advanced Game Programming. 

All Interactive Entertainment students will complete the Game Design Practicum or Digital Venture Practicum. The Game Design Practicum is an internship/full-time job. For the Digital Venture Practicum, students will build a start-up. The program culminates with the Capstone/Interactive Entertainment Project, where students will work in teams of 15-20 to develop their own games and interactive projects. Many FIEA students publish their games through avenues such as Xbox or Steam, resulting in their first published title. 

Graduates of the Digital Media BA and Interactive Entertainment MS programs 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.

University of Central Florida was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University (FTU). Roughly five years later, the school opened with just under 2,000 students. Today, University of Central Florida serves approximately 69,820 students, making it the largest university by enrollment in the state of Florida, and one of the top 10 largest universities in the U.S. 

More than 13,130 faculty, adjuncts, and staff members deliver nearly 600 degree programs across 13 colleges and dozens of departments. University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). 

Full Sail University has a full suite of game design programs that function like today’s production studios. Options include the AAS and BS degrees in Game Art, Game Design, and Game Development; a BS in Game Business and Esports; a BS in Simulation and Visualization; an Interactive Technology BS completion program with concentrations in Game Design, Game Development, and Simulation and Visualization; and an MS and certificate in Game Design. 

With the exception of the Simulation and Visualization BS which is available on campus only, all programs can be completed on campus or online. 

In addition to gaining production experience in a real-world studio environment on the Full Sail University campus, all games, interactive technology, and simulation and visualization students have opportunities to work off campus at local and national studios through the school’s internship program. Courses for the program are also project-based and immersive providing additional opportunities to gain hands-on experience. 

Course examples across undergraduate options include Creative Presentation; Motion Capture; Game Animation I-II; Art Creation for Games; Prototyping and the User Experience; Game Mechanics I-II; Advanced Game Characters; Data Visualization and Modeling Engine Development; Systems Design; Prototyping and Content Creation; Scripting for Game Designers I-III; Programming I-II; Game Architecture; 3D Content Creation; Game Systems Integration; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Game Production Tools; Computer Graphics; Software Engineering; Game Balancing; Applied Human-Computer Interaction; Digital Logic; Game Engine Development; and Professional Writing. 

All undergraduate programs culminate with the project and portfolio. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in all areas of game design and development, animated films, live-action film, simulation, and visualization, among others. 

The Game Design MS at Full Sail University provides the opportunity for students to customize a track to match their career goals. All students will explore all roles in the production pipeline as well as game effects; test simulation; video game development for computers, networks, and console; animation; and narrative design. Course examples include game design, producing, research, and publishing. Course examples for the program include Game Production Tools; Methods and the User Experience; Game Design; Asset Management; Game Usability and Testing; Advanced Production Techniques; and Quality Assurance. 

The Full Sail Game Design MS culminates with the Thesis Portfolio course, where students will produce a publishable thesis paper and participate in a research presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in game design and development, animation and film, software development, simulation, visualization, graphic design, and advertising, to name a few. 

Full Sail University graduates have been hired at studios such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Nickelodeon, Disney, Universal Studios, ESPN, Miramax, MTV, and Bunim Murray. Alumni have worked on games such as Fortnite; Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II; Destiny 2; Horizon Forbidden West; Apex Legends; and Overwatch 2.

More than 350 Full Sail graduates were also credited on 30+ projects nominated in over 20 categories at the 2023 Game Awards. Thirty-five Full Sail graduates contributed to nine winning projects in 15 categories including Best Narrative and Best Game Direction for Alan Wake 2; Innovation in Accessibility for Forza Motorsport; Best Score and Music for Final Fantasy XVI; Best Ongoing Game and Best Community Support for Cyberpunk 2077; and Best Audio Design, Hi-Fi Rush. 

Full Sail University launched in 1979 as a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio that provided workshops. Today, the school sits on a 210-acre campus less than 20 miles from downtown Orlando and Universal Studios. Serving approximately 21,000 students, Full Sail provides graduate certificates and degree programs at all levels. Full Sail University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). 

Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) is the only freestanding art and design school in the state of Florida. For students interested games, the school has BFAs in Game Art and Virtual Reality Development. Students in both programs have opportunities to gain hands-on industry experience working on real world projects through RCAD’s experiential learning initiative—INDEX.

INDEX activities take place in the classroom, the Design Center, studio labs, the Maker Space, and through the ART Network. INDEX also highlights client competitions, immersive experiences, internships, elective courses, and volunteering. All students also benefit from industry critiques by successful visiting artists and participation in the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. 

The Game Art BFA program at Ringling College of Art and Design follows the studio model of teaching, which emphasizes learning by doing. Students in this 120 credit hour program will work on team projects to develop collaborative, technical, and communication skills. Students will create works in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the latest software used by both AAA and indie studios. Examples include Houdini, Adobe Substance Suite, Unreal Engine, Maya, and ZBrush. 

Of the 120 credit hours required to complete the Game Art BFA, 48 are in the major. Course examples include History of Game Art; Digital Painting for Game Art; Game Design I-III; Color and Perspective Drawing; 2D and 3D Design; Visual Development for Games I-II; Programming for Artists; 3D for Games I-IV; Development of Art and Ideas; and 3D Modeling. 

The Game Art BFA culminates with the Game Thesis Project completed across four courses including Game Thesis Preproduction; Game Thesis Project 1A; Game Thesis Project 1B; and Game Thesis Project II. The Thesis totals 15 credit hours. 

The Virtual Reality Development BFA at Ringling College of Art and Design is a 120 credit hour program that focuses on the creation, design, and analyzing of immersive experiences. This includes mastering story structures; utilizing game engine technology in the creation of immersive experiences; innovating VR ideas; navigating the production pipeline for 3D VR; and utilizing specific software for creating 3D databases. Through projects and coursework, students will also master the art of communication, develop collaboration skills, and become well-versed in professional practices. 

Of the 120 credit hours for the Virtual Reality Development program, 51 credits are dedicated to the major. Course examples include Introduction to Virtual Reality; 2D and 3D Design; Concept Development for Virtual Worlds; Immersive Media Design I-IV; 3D Technical Art; Iterative Design; Visual Scripting; Programming for Immersive Media; and Visual Development: UI/UX Design. 

Open electives totaling 12 credit hours allow students to enhance the degree by specializing in an area of interest. Students may also select six credit hours of general electives and 12 elective credits in art and design history. 

The RCAD Virtual Reality Development BFA culminates with the VR Thesis/Capstone completed across three courses: VR Thesis Preproduction, VR Capstone Project I, and VR Capstone Project II. This culminating experience totals 15 credit hours. 

Graduates of the Game Art and Virtual Reality Development BFA programs are prepared to pursue careers in game art, design, development, and programming; virtual reality design, development, and programming; and user interface/user experience (UI/UX) design; architecture; military and law enforcement; education and training; advertising and marketing; art and design; healthcare and fitness; sports; tourism and travel; wellness; and automotive. 

The Game Art BFA attracts recruiters from major studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Epic Games, Riot Games, and Bungie. RCAD Game Art graduates have been hired at these and other major companies and studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Rockstar Games, Microsoft, Hasbro, Netflix, Bethesda, Naughty Dog, and Meta. 

Virtual Reality Development graduates have the opportunity to work at places such as Epic Games, ILM Immersive (Lucasfilm’s storytelling studio), Microsoft, General Motors (GM), Meta, Kinetic Vision, Baobab Studios, 3D Forensic, Immersive Health Group, Vu Studios, Halon Entertainment, AECOM, and Mote Marine Labs. 

Founded in 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit college that began as a collaboration between circus baron John Ringling and Dr. Ludd M. Spivey—then president of Southern College. The school launched as a remote branch of Southern College named The School of Fine and Applied Art of the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum. Around 75 students and 13 faculty members arrived for the school’s first class. 

Today, Ringling College of Art and Design sits on a 48-acre campus that serves approximately 1,670 students enrolled in 11 different majors leading to a BFA degree, two majors leading to a BA, and 10 minors. In addition, RCAD recently launched an undergraduate Artificial Intelligence (AI) certificate. This is the first program of its kind at an art and design college. 

Ringling College of Art and Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

North Carolina State University (NC State) is home to the College of Engineering, which houses the Department of Computer Science (CSC). Within the department is a Computer Science BS (CSC BS) accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. This engineering- and CSC-based program has a Game Development concentration consisting of 21 credit hours of games-focused courses. Of this, nine credit hours are electives, allowing students to create a focus within the concentration. 

CSC BS students also have access to The Digital Games Research center (DGRc). Launched in May 2007, the DGRc explores research and education in games and games technologies. In this collaborative environment, students can work on projects with game developers and game studio teams that focus on everything from artificial intelligence (AI) to mobile games. The DGRc has partnerships and licensing agreements with game studios and game engine developers across the U.S. 

Other DGRc features include participation in the Games and Visual Narratives Showcase, and the Game Developers Conference (GDC); access to the new Games and Visual Narrative Suite; and the Visual Narrative Initiative (VNI)—a research cluster established in 2015. 

Course examples for the program include Game Engine Foundations; Science Fiction; Computer Graphics; Introduction to Computing – Java; Game Studies; Foundations of Interactive Game Design; Software Engineering; Computer Models of Interactive Narrative; Fantasy; Visual Thinking; C and Software Tools; Communication for Engineering and Technology; Building Game AI; Music Composition with Computers; Automata, Grammars, and Computability; and Computational Visual Narrative. 

All CSC BS students must complete the team project in Senior Design as the culminating experience for the program. Projects are supported by the Senior Design Center and industrial sponsors. This means, students will gain valuable experience working with industry representatives. 

Graduates of the CSC BS programs at North Carolina State University are prepared to pursue positions at game design studios, technology firms, film studios, advertising agencies, and universities, among others. NC State games and other alumni have been hired at places such as Epic Games, NBC Universal, Apple, Microsoft, IDEO, Razorfish, IBM, Spark Plug Games, BBC, Mighty Rabbit Studios, Duke Energy Corporation, BBC, Pentagram, Yahoo!, SAS Institute, GlaxoSmithKline, Nike Creative, and Cisco.

North Carolina State University was established in 1887 as a land-grant institution focused on agriculture and engineering. Today, the school is a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). With 9,000 faculty and staff members, NC State serves more than 36,000 students, making it the largest university in the University of North Carolina System and one of the largest employers in the state.

Students at NC State have access to more than 300 degree programs across 12 colleges, 68 departments, and The Graduate School. North Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte or Charlotte) hosts an annual Global Game Jam (GGJ) , where student teams have the opportunity to produce games within a 48-hour time period. The school houses the student club known as Game Developers at UNC Charlotte, along with online Bootcamps led by artists from places such as Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Ubisoft, and Electronic Arts (EA). Club activities include collaboration meetings, workshops, and symposium talks. 

UNC Charlotte also has several paths to study game design. In addition to clubs, bootcamps, and the GGJ, students in all programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs such as the Gaming Lab at J. Murrey Atkins Library; Gaming and Mixed Reality Lab; UNC MAKERSPACE; Visualization Lab; Interaction Design (INDE) Lab; Intelligent, Multimedia, and Interactive Systems (IMI) Lab; Human Computer Interaction Lab (HCI LAB); UNC Charlotte Machine Learning Lab (CHARMLAB); and the Robotics Lab. 

The Game Design programs are provided across two colleges including the College of Computing and Informatics (CCI) and the College of Arts and Architecture. The CCI houses UNC Charlotte’s largest department—Computer Science (CS). Within the department is a Computer Science BS with an AI, Robotics, and Gaming Concentration; a Computer Science MS; and Game Design and Development (GDD) certificates at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Coursework for the certificate programs may be used towards the Computer Science BS or MS programs. 

Course examples across programs include Game Design and Development Studio; Advanced Algorithms; Individual Study in AI, Robotics, and Gaming; Computer Graphics; Advanced Game Design and Development; Virtual and Augmented Reality; AI for Computer Games; and Real-Time Rendering Engines.

The College of Arts and Architecture at UNC Charlotte houses the Department of Art and Art History. Within the department is an Art BFA with a Digital Media concentration. This program features advanced studio coursework, allowing students to customize a focus from electives such as Game Design and Graphics; Advanced 3D Modeling; Interactive Art and Design; and 3D Modeling and Animation. 

The Art BFA also includes the nine credit hour Senior Experience. Courses include Senior Seminar; Senior Thesis I: Creative Research; and Senior Thesis II: Advanced Creative Practice. The Senior Experience culminates with the BFA Thesis Show (Senior Exhibition). 

Graduates of the Computer Science, Game Design, and Digital Media programs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte are prepared to pursue positions in fields such as games and entertainment, animation, simulation and visualization, multimedia, computer science, art and design, programming, advertising, software development, and education.

The East Coast Gaming Conference (ECGC) held at UNC Charlotte provides opportunities to network with game industry professionals. Charlotte Games alumni have been hired at places such as Epic Games, Red Storm Entertainment, Insomniac Games, Lucid Dream, and CrossCom. 

University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public research university and the third largest school in the 16-campus University of North Carolina system. Founded in 1946, the school serves approximately 31,090 students enrolled in more than 200 programs across eight colleges and Interdisciplinary Studies. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). 

Louisiana State University (LSU) is home to the College of Engineering. Accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the college provides several paths to study game design. At the undergraduate level, students can enroll in the Digital Media Arts and Engineering (DMART) or Digital Media Arts and Engineering Technology (DMAET) minors. At the graduate level, students can earn a MS in Digital Media Arts and Engineering (MS DMAE). 

Across all programs, students have 24/7 access to the DMAE LAB. Examples of available software, hardware, and resources include YoYoGames GameMaker; state-of-the-art Alienware workstations; Autodesk Maya; Adobe, Epic Unreal, and SideFX Houdini; a 1,500 square feet OptiTrack motion capture system; Audio Recording Studios; and Microsoft Visual Studio. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the LSU Global Game Jam. 

The DMART and DMAET minors are provided in collaboration with the School of Art; Manship School of Mass Communication; the School of Music; the Department of Computer Science; the English Department; and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Both minor options complement any art, computer science, or engineering program. 

Students in these interdisciplinary, 21 credit hour programs can choose from a variety of electives to support their goals. Examples include Creative Coding; Video Game Design; 3D Modeling; Virtual Space and Motion; Applied Interactive Graphics; Video Game Prototyping; Human-Computer Interaction (HCI); Interactive Computer Graphics; 3D Animation; Digital Arts I-IV; Interface Design and Technology; Scientific Information Visualization; Digital Media Programming; Moving Image; and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

The culminating experience for the LSU DMART and DMAET minors is the capstone. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams to complete a game prototype or digital media application, from idea to finished product. The capstone class totals three credit hours. 

The MS DMAE is a 45 credit hour (12 course) program that can be completed in just 22 months. Students in this program will complete a series of team-based projects using professional tools and pipelines. Industry software tools include Nuke, Unity, Houdini, and Maya. Course examples for the program include Interactive Design, Rapid Prototyping and Innovation; Digital Media Production and Management; Advanced Programming and Digital Art I-II; Principle Production Workshop; and Interactive Production Team I-II. 

Halfway through the LSU MS DMAE program, students will complete a Digital Media Internship. The culminating experience for the program is the Capstone Production Team course, where students will complete an approved final project.  

Graduates of the Digital Media Arts and Engineering programs at Louisiana State University are prepared to pursue advanced roles in areas such as game design and development, game software engineering, visual effects (VFX), film and animation, interactive sound design, digital illustration, 3D modeling, visualization and simulation, web development, user interface/ user experience (UI/UX) design. 

Louisiana State University was founded on January 2, 1860 as the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy. The flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System, LSU serves approximately 39,670 students enrolled in more than 330 programs across 18 colleges, schools, and centers, and LSU Online. Louisiana State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). 

University of South Carolina (USC) is the flagship university of the state of South Carolina. Within the school is the College of Arts and Sciences. The largest college at UofSC, Arts and Sciences houses the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD), which provides a Media Arts BA and minor. The 18 credit hour Media Arts minor explores media arts production and digital media arts fundamentals. Students may select more than half of the courses from areas of interest such as video game design, sound production, or screenwriting. 

The SVAD Media Arts BA is a multidisciplinary program with two concentration options: Media Production and Media Studies. Both areas attract students interested in areas such as video game design, animation, film production, and comics studies. Course examples for the program include Video Game Design; Animation; Sound Art; Manga and Anime; Digital Compositing; Narrative; Screenwriting; Mobile Platforms; Digital Media Arts Fundamentals; Moving Image-Experimental; and Special Topics in Media Arts. All SVAD classes are held in an 85,000-square-foot facility known as McMaster College. The facility was designed specifically for learning and production in the visual arts. 

Other program benefits include a mandatory School of Visual Art and Design Internship; the creation of a marketable final project; and a final professional portfolio. The internship takes place in a professional environment within the design, media, and visual arts fields. 

Graduates of the SVAD Media Arts program at University of South Carolina are prepared to pursue positions across industries such as games for entertainment, animation and film, advertising and marketing, and television production. Program alumni have been hired at companies and studios such as Marvel, Blizzard Entertainment, Nickelodeon, HBO Films, IBM, Netflix, CBS Television, lD Software, and Kodansha USA. 

The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing at USC has several additional program options for game designers seeking a degree with heavy computer science coursework. Housed in the college’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering are the BS, MS, and PhD programs in Computer Science (CS) and Computer Engineering; and minors in CS and Applied Computing. 

The CS and Computer Engineering prorgams at USC are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Across programs, students will explore the algorithms, techniques, and theories for building software, including fields such as video games, artificial intelligence (AI), computer forensics, scientific computing, networks, enterprise computing, and web applications.  

All CS and Computer Engineering students may complete an internship, co-op, externship, study abroad experience, or several of these. Degree-seeking students may add the Media Arts minor, select several courses from CS electives, and add courses from another major to study games. Course requirements across CS programs include Software Engineering; Computer Architecture; Programming Languages Structures; UNIX/Linux Fundamentals; Robotic Applications and Design; Algorithmic Design I-II; Advanced Programming Techniques; Digital Logic Design; and Professional Issues in Computer Science and Engineering. 

The culminating experience for the CS and Computer Engineering prorgams is a Capstone Computing Project, and professional portfolio of the student’s best work. Program alumni work in areas such as game design and development, software engineering, game programming, mobile app development, and UI/UX design. 

Some of the top employers of USC graduates are Disney, Amazon, Boeing, IBM, Oracle, Techtronic Industries, the U.S. Navy, Ford, Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems, EY, Textron, and United Technologies.  

University of South Carolina was established in 1801 as South Carolina College. One of the nation’s oldest public universities and part of the eight-campus University of South Carolina system, USC serves approximately 36,650 students enrolled in more than 350 degree programs across 16 colleges and schools. University of South Carolina is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). 

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has announced that it will be launching a new Game Design BS for Fall 2026. The program will be housed in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Like many of the creative paths at UAH, the Game Design BS will be a hands-on, multidisciplinary program with professional internship opportunities. Students in this new program will explore coding, animation, psychology of games, art, communications, sound, and the business of games. Graduates will be prepared for careers in entertainment gaming and serious games, among others. 

Currently, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences houses a Game Design and Development minor. Also a multidisciplinary program, the minor requires 30 credit hours across the following areas: Game Computing, Game Animation, Game Design, and Game Sound. Course examples include 2D Animation; 3D Animation; Music Technology; Technical Writing; Hard Surface Modeling; Game Design-Introduction; Usability Studies; Organic Modeling; Technical Art; and Team Game Design I-II. The team project is the culminating experience for the Game Design and Development minor. 

UAH has several additional options for game designers seeking programs with a strong foundation in computer science. Programs are housed in the Computer Science Department—the largest department in the College of Science. Fully accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, options include the Computer Science BS (CS BS); a 24 credit hour Entertainment Computing minor; the Software Engineering MS; and the Computer Science MS and PhD. 

Students in all programs can study games through the Entertainment Computing minor, the Game Design and Development minor, and an extensive list of electives courses. Entertainment Computing is also a concentration within the CS BS program. 

The CS BS with an Entertainment Computing concentration is a 120 credit hour program that explores multimedia, video games, virtual reality, serious games,  and modeling. The concentration consists of 18 credit hours. Course examples include Introduction to Video Game Design and Programming; Animation-Concept Art; Mobile Computing Applications; Artificial Intelligence and Game Development; Animation-Technical Arts; Advanced Computer Graphics; Animation-Visual Story Development; Special Topics in Communication Arts; and Animation-3D Animation. The program culminates with the Senior Project: Team Software Design. 

Across programs, including graduate options, students benefit from access to state-of-the-art teaching, production, and research labs in the areas of gaming and entertainment computing, machine learning and AI, digital forensics, and data science; UAH’s Invention to Innovation Center (I²C) Internship in Technology (InTech) program; and study abroad experiences at places such as Hanyang University in South Korea; University College in Dublin in Ireland; and Politecnico di Torino in Italy. 

Graduates of the Games and Computer Science programs at UAH are prepared to pursue titles such as Game Designer, Concept Artist, Game Programmer, Art Director, Game Engineer, Technical Artist, Game Artist, Modeler, Sound Designer, Animator, Level Designer, Lighting Artist, and Technical Director. Examples of companies that hire UAH Games, Computer Science, and Animation alumni include Riot Games, Microsoft, Pixar, Lockheed Martin, Disney, Google, Nickelodeon, Amazon, DreamWorks, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Hasbro, Blizzard Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Intel, Digital Domain, Apple, Boeing, Cisco Systems, IBM, Oracle, Dell, and General Electric (GE).

The University of Alabama in Huntsville dates back to 1950, when it opened as University of Alabama Huntsville Center. On the first day of classes, the Center welcomed 137 students. Many were World War II Veterans whose G.I. Bills covered the $4 per credit hour tuition. The Center became an autonomous university in 1969. Today, UAH serves approximately 8,745 students enrolled in more than 90 degree programs across seven colleges (including Honors) and the Graduate School. Degrees are provided across more than 100 areas of study. 

University of Alabama in Huntsville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

University of Miami (UM) is home to the New Experience Research and Design Lab (NERDLab). Housed in the School of Communication, this academic game development lab provides opportunities to create games, gain real world-experience, network, and build a portfolio. 

UM’s School of Communication also houses the XR Studio—a state-of-the-art facility for immersive content creation; the Emerging Media Lab where students can create rapid prototypes of games, AR/VR and interactive installations;  the Virtual Experience Simulation Lab (VESL); the User Experience Lab; the Video Game Club; an Esports Team and Program; and the Video Game Collections at the Richter Library. 

In addition to state-of-the-art facilities and labs, the School of Communication houses the Department of Interactive Media, which provides several paths to study game design. Options include the Bachelor of Science in Communication (BSC) in Immersive Media; and Interactive Media BSC; and an Interactive Media MFA. 

Game Design and Interactive Media minors are also available. Both programs require 15 credit hours with access to courses such as Designing Games for Impact; Building Virtual Worlds; 2D Character Design; Introduction to Creative Coding; Advanced 3D Character Design and Motion Capture; and Interaction Design. 

The Immersive Media BSC at University of Miami is a joint program between the Departments of Interactive Media, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering. Students in this program will choose between the Designer and Developer tracks. Course examples include Immersive Storytelling; Building Virtual Worlds; Python Programming for Everyone; Augmented Reality; Writing for Interactive Media; Human-Centered Design; Intro to Creative Coding; Algorithms; Advanced 3D Character Design and Motion Capture; and Computer Programming I-II. Students will select four electives from a list of more than 20 options. 

Examples include Immersive Experience and Virtual Reality; Designing Games for Impact; Android Programming; Game Studies; Physical Computing; and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. The Immersive Media Practicum is a mandatory component of the Immersive Media BSC program. 

The Interactive Media BSC is a hands-on, customizable program that allows students to select courses that align with their goals. Students in this program have access to the same courses as students in the Immersive Media program. Students in this program will complete two portfolio reviews in the sophomore and senior years. The Interactive Media Practicum can be taken as an elective. 

The Interactive Media MFA program at University of Miami is a terminal degree that focuses on advanced studies in emerging technologies. Students in this program may design their own focus area or choose a specialization in Game Design; Information Design and Visualization; Interaction Design; or Interactive Storytelling. Courses for the program and all specializations are advanced 600-level versions of the undergraduate courses. 

All UM Interactive Media MFA students will take core and other required courses such as Prototyping; Introduction to Creative Coding; and Collaborative Innovation Laboratory. Course examples across specializations include Immersive Storytelling; Building Virtual Worlds; Game Development Studio; Human-Centered Design; Advanced 3D Character Design; Front End Fundamentals; and Designing Playful Experiences. 

The Interactive Media MFA program at University of Miami culminates with a Capstone Project. graduates of the MFA and BSC programs in UM’s School of Communication are prepared to pursue careers in game design and development, animation and film, digital advertising, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, user interface and user experience design (UI/UX), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), software design, software programming, education, consulting, and research. 

UM alumni have been hired at places such as Disney, Apex Legends, Warner Bros. Discovery, Google, NBCUniversal, Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon, ABC, Ford Motor Company, ESPN, Procter & Gamble (P&G).

University of Miami opened in 1925 with 646 full-time students enrolled in programs across the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Music, and the Evening Division. Today, this private research university serves more than 19,000 students enrolled in nearly 350 majors and programs across 12 colleges and schools. The school also sits on three campuses in Coral Gables (main), Virginia Key, and downtown Miami. 

University of Miami is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The school is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Just 3% of four-year institutions in the nation are invited to join the AAU. 

The DAVE School recently launched its first collegiate Esports team (the Narwhals), allowing students to take part in the growing world of competitive gaming. The school also houses several programs for aspiring game designers including the 12-month Game Production Diploma; the 18-month Game Production in Simulation and Immersive Technology Diploma; the 18-month FX Production Diploma; the 12-month Visual Effects Production Diploma; the 18-month flagship Virtual Production Diploma; and the BS in Digital Arts with a Game Production, Visual Effects or Virtual Production track. 

Across all programs, students will explore areas such as game physics, world building, asset creation, concepts and terminology of game production, lighting and production techniques, emerging technologies, and Unreal for AR/VR. In addition to Unreal, students will master software such as Autodesk Maya, Nuke, Adobe After Effects, ZBrush, Quixel Suite, and Adobe Premiere Pro. 

Course examples across programs include Fundamentals of Asset Creation and 3D Design; Compositing and VFX-Principles of Integration; Game Asset Creation and Immersive Techniques; Emerging Real-Time Tech and Pipelines; Digital Modeling and Sculpting; AI Principles in CGI Production; Fundamentals of Computer Animation; 3D Animation-The Art of Motion; Advanced Asset Creation and Look Development; Real-Time Rendering and Emerging Technologies; Advanced VFX Pipelines and Studio Production; Level Design and Game Mechanics; Digital Production; and Advanced Game Production.

The DAVE School consists of an 18,000 square feet, state-of-the-art facility that sits on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida. The learning environment features 24/7 access to interactive labs; a Vicon motion capture system; 3D printing and VR/AR labs; and a dedicated virtual and real-time production stage

All DAVE School programs emphasize collaboration, so students will complete a three-month residency at the facility where they will work in teams to create games across the entire production pipeline. For their final project, DAVE students will complete an industry-ready game from conception to in-house release. Final projects culminate with a professional demo reel. 

DAVE School graduates are prepared to pursue roles in all areas of game design and development, animation, film and television production, digital advertising, software design, and the broad technology field. DAVE alumni have been hired at places such as Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, Lockheed Martin, Insomniac Games, DNEG, Blur Studio, Framestore, MPC, Sony Imageworks, Weta FX, Super League Gaming, Method Studios, CoSA VFX, and Zoic Studios. 

Graduates of the DAVE School (and instructors) have also worked on productions and games such as Jurassic World, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Game of Thrones, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold, The Mandalorian, Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Terminator Genisys, The Hobbit, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Deadpool, Green Lantern, Captain America, Dumbo, Conan Exiles, Anthem, The Hunger Games, and The Hobbit. 

The DAVE School was founded as the Digital Animation & Visual Effects School on June 8, 2000 by two industry executives. Today, the school serves around 1,000 students enrolled in six programs leading to a bachelor’s degree or diploma. As an academic unit of NUC University, The DAVE School is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MCSHE).