Texas A&M University (TAMU) has several paths to study Game Design in the School of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts (PVFA) and the College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The PVFA houses the houses the Visualization Department, which has BS, MS, and MFA programs. In partnership with the PVFA, TAMU Engineering has a 16-credit hour Game Design and Development minor that explores the technical aspects of game creation.
Course examples for the minor include Programming; Game Design; Game Development; Interactive Virtual Environments; Communication and Video Games; and Computer-Human Interaction. Students in this program have the opportunity to collaborate on the design and development of game projects and engage in problem-solving with interdisciplinary team members.
The Visualization BS at TAMU combines programming, digital technology, three-dimensional design, and fine arts. Students in this 120-credit hour program may select from five emphasis areas. Options include Game Creation; Interactive Design; Visual Computing; Animation and Virtual Production; and Media Art.
All options take place in a studio environment, where students will work on a variety of exercises and projects using electronic and traditional media. Course examples for the program include Drawing for Visualization; Production Techniques; Visual Computing; Field Studies in Design Innovation; Time and Interaction; Visual Studies Studio; Digital Media; and Research Techniques in Visualization.
The Visualization BS culminates with a capstone project that integrates scripting and programming; digital communication; concept development; drawing and design; art history; and core methodologies.
The TAMU Visualization MS has two tracks and eight emphasis areas. Students may focus in Gaming; Interactive Design; Computer Graphics; Virtual Reality; Computer Animation; Augmented Reality; User Experience Design; or Data Visualization. Tracks include: Thesis and Non-Thesis. The Thesis track is 32 credit hours. The Non-Thesis track is 36 credit hours. The Thesis track is an ideal option for students interested in careers in gaming, animation, motion graphics, concept art, and rigging. Students in this track are encouraged to have both local and competitive external exhibitions related to their thesis work.
The Non-Thesis track allows students to customize the curriculum through a combination of required and elective courses. The culminating experience for this option is the creation and defense of a capstone project. In both tracks, students will develop projects under the direction of a faculty advisor.
The Visualization MFA at TAMU is one of the few programs of its kind in the state of Texas. With a focus on technological innovations and applications, the interdisciplinary MFA provides the opportunity to select an area of emphasis from eight options. They include Gaming; Computer Animation; Visual Storytelling; Virtual/Augmented Reality; Interactive Art; Visual Effects; User Experience Design; and Data Visualization.
All students in this 60-credit hour program will take courses such as Form/Installation/Environment; Design Communication; The Digital Image; Contemporary Art Studio/Seminar; and Professional Practice. Free and prescribed electives allow students to enhance the degree. Examples include 3D Modeling and Animation; Rendering and Shading; Advanced Animation; Physical Computing for Art and Design; Digital Compositing; Computer Animation; Computer Aided Sculpting; and Time-Based Media.
The Visualization MFA at TAMU culminates with a Final Presentation and Written Document.
Graduates of the Visualization programs and Game Design and Development minor at Texas A&M University are prepared for careers in fields such as Game Design, Game Level Design, Game Asset Development, Production Management, Technical Art, Production Management, UI/UX Development, and Visual Development.
TAMU alumni are often hired at local (and major) companies and studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts (EA), Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), Microsoft, DreamWorks Animation, Pixar, LucasFilm Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Reel FX, Aspyr Media, Bouncing Pixel, and Presagis.
Serving approximately 77,490 students, Texas A&M University the largest university in the state and one the largest in the nation. Established in 1876, TAMU is also the state’s first public institution of higher learning. The school provides around 410 degree programs across 16 colleges and schools; the main campus in College Station, Texas; branch campuses in Galveston, Texas, and Doha, Qatar; and numerous other locations throughout Texas and in Washington, D.C.
Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).