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What are the top Texas game design programs for 2025?
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Methodist University | Dallas |
| 2 | University of Texas at Austin | Austin |
| 3 | Texas A&M University | College Station |
| 4 | University of Texas at Dallas | Dallas |
| 5 | Abilene Christian University | Abilene |
Our 2025 ranking of the top game design school programs in Texas. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
1. Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
Southern Methodist University (SMU) is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The school houses Meadows School of the Arts, which provides an interdisciplinary Creative Computing program leading to a BA or a minor. The program requires students to pursue coursework in Meadows and Lyle School of Engineering.
The Creative Computing BA is a 120 credit hour program that consists of SMU’s Common Curriculum, the major, and a combination of electives and/or minors. Course examples include Creative Coding I (3D animation, gaming, visualization, interactivity); Creative Computing II (Java programming); Creative Computing III (C++, software engineering, object-oriented programming); Principles of Computer Science I-II; and Digital/Hybrid Media (digital imaging, sound, and video using Adobe Creative Cloud and open-source software).
All Creative Computing students will complete the Junior Milestone course, which consists of proposing, designing, and implementing a creative computing project that will be presented in a final public presentation. The program culminates with the Creative Computing Capstone or Senior Design II course—student’s choice. For the Capstone, students will work with a faculty adviser on an independent creative computing project such as an exhibition, performance, or hardware/software development. The Senior Design II course consists of a multidisciplinary group software project to be presented in a public forum.
Southern Methodist University is also home to SMU Guildhall. Launched in 2003 with just 32 students, this education initiative was the first digital game development program of its kind. Serving hundreds of students today, SMU Guildhall is still the only graduate program in the country to provide specializations in all four areas of video game development: Art, Design, Production, and Programming.
All SMU Guildhall students benefit from the initiative’s partnerships with hundreds of studios and companies around the world. More than 1,000 SMU Guildhall alumni have worked at more than 350 studios worldwide. Examples include Disney Interactive, Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, Unity, Microsoft Game Studios, Samsung, Gameloft, Bungie, Insomniac Games, and Bethesda.
Other SMU Guildhall benefits include team-based learning; workshops; portfolio reviews; lectures; professional development coursework; guest speakers; career fairs; and mentorship programs.
SMU Guildhall also provides two paths to study game design: the Master of Interactive Technology (MIT) in Digital Game Development and a Digital Game Development certificate. MIT students may specialize in Level Design; Production; Software Development (Programming); or Art Creation. The Guildhall allows students in any undergraduate degree program in the Meadows Art Division to add the Art Creation or Level Design specialization. Both include the Team Game Production course.
All SMU Guildhall students will develop a minimum of three industry-ready 2D and 3D games. Graduates of the Digital Game Development and Creative Computing programs at Southern Methodist University are prepared to pursue leadership roles in all areas of game design and development.
Program alumni have worked on games such as Grand Theft Auto, Game of Thrones, Call of Duty, Batman, Marvel Avengers, Fortnite, League of Legends, Disney Infinity, Guitar Hero, Assassins Creed, God of War, Elite Force, Diablo, Days Gone, Doom, and Atlas.
In addition to the studios mentioned earlier, SMU graduates have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Microsoft, Obsidian Entertainment, Sony, Google, Ubisoft, Bioware, Gearbox, Crystal Dynamics, Oculus VR, Irrational Games, Zenimax Online Studios, and Valve.
Southern Methodist University was founded in 1911. The school serves more than 12,000 students enrolled in 250 programs in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences and seven degree-granting schools. Southern Methodist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
2. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) houses the UT Game Development and Design (GDAD) program. Launched in 2020, the program is a partnership between the Department of Computer Science (CS) in the College of Natural Sciences; the Department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF) in Moody College of Communication; the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) in the College of Fine Arts’ School of Design and Creative Technologies; and the Texas Immersive Institute (TXI).
Specific paths to study games within the GDAD program include the Department of Computer Science BS CS with a 15-credit hour Game Development concentration and the AET Department’s AET BS with a Game Design path. The RTF Department provides coursework that covers emergent media, cinematic arts, and narrative design. The TXI focuses on coursework in immersive experiences. All four departments provide minors and concentrations that combine studies in programming, design, media, and art.
Although the GDAD is an undergraduate program, students seeking an advanced degree can earn an MS in CS (MSCS). A Five-Year BS/MS Integrated CS is also available.
Across programs, students will learn how to build games and immersive experiences, and apply game technology in other fields. All students will also have opportunities to work with industry studios and EGaDS!—UT’s game development student organization—on independent and collaborative projects. These hands-on experiences take place through the AET Studio Industry Partnership; Senior Design Project; University Partnership; College Collaboration; Independent Study courses; and the Game Development Capstone.
Examples of industry partners include Dell Experience Innovation Group; Wonderspaces; Gensler Digital Experience Design; and ILMxLAB. Internship opportunities also provide the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience before graduation. The GDAD and CS programs also provide access to an unlimited number of games and games-related courses.
Examples include Introduction to Programming; Level Design; Game Development; Computer Organization and Architecture; Mixed Reality; Game Character Animation; Digital Experience Design Studio; Game System Design; Physical Simulation of Computer Graphics; Future of Gaming; Interactive Environments; Game Scripting; Narrative Design; Challenges in Game Design; Virtual Production; Physical Game Design; Artificial Intelligence (game playing, natural language understanding, theorem proving); VR for Games; Cross Platform Storytelling; Mobile Game Development; Computer Graphics; Game Prototyping; Realtime Pipeline; Challenges in Game Design; and Advanced Creative Coding.
Graduates of the GDAD and CS programs at UT Austin are prepared to pursue advanced roles in the games industry; entertainment (film, TV, animation); computer systems design; the broad technology industry; software engineering and design; simulation and visualization, and more.
UT Austin Game Development and Design graduates enjoy a 93% employment rate within six months of graduation. Approximately 92% of CS graduates secure employment within six months of graduation. Across programs, alumni have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), IBM, Amazon, HP, Apple, Google, Aspyr Media, Inc., Scientific Games, Zynga, Lucid Motors, Diamond Entertainment, Everi Digital, and Cloud Imperium.
Founded in 1883, University of Texas at Austin serves approximately 53,865 students, making it one of the largest universities in Texas. UT Austin provides more than 155 undergraduate degree programs with 170+ fields of study; 139 graduate degree programs; and nearly 100 doctoral programs across 19 colleges and schools. University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
3. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Texas A&M University (TAMU) is home to the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (PVFA) and the College of Engineering. The College of PVFA houses the Visualization; Dance; Performance and Visual Studies; Theatre; and Music Performance departments/programs. The college also houses student organizations such as the Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD); Women in Animation; the TAMU SIGGRAPH Student Chapter; and the VIZ Industry Fair (VIF).
The College of Engineering at TAMU serves more than 22,500 students making it the largest college on campus. The college houses 15 departments including the Department of Computer Science (CSE) and Engineering. All students benefit from the CSE Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) and the Industry Capstone Program. Examples of participating companies include HP; American Airlines; L3Harris Technologies; JPMorgan Chase; USAA; Lockheed Martin; General Motors; Paycom; Visa; and Two Sigma.
In partnership with the College of PVFA’s Department of Visualization, the CSE Department provides a 16-credit hour Game Design and Development minor. On its own, the PVFA Visualization Department also houses the Visualization BS, MS, and MFA programs.
The Game Design and Development minor combines required courses with five in-demand elective options. Students may choose two. Students in this program also have the opportunity to collaborate on the design and development of game projects and engage in problem-solving with interdisciplinary team members.
Required courses include Programming I and Introduction to Computer Science Concepts and Programming OR Introduction to Program Design and Concepts; Computer Graphics OR Game Design I; and Game Development. Electives include Communication Technology Skills; Interactive Virtual Environments; Communication and Video Games; Multimedia Design and Development; and Computer-Human Interaction.
The Visualization BS at TAMU is a 120 credit hour program that combines fine arts, programming, 3D design, and digital technology. Three emphasis areas are available including Animation; Game Creation; and Interactive Design. The program takes place in a studio environment where students will work on exercises and projects using traditional and electronic media. Course examples for the program include Engineering Mathematics; Visual Computing; Time and Interaction; Field Studies in Design Innovation; Drawing for Visualization; Production techniques; Visual Studies Studio I-III; and the Internship.
The Visualization BS culminates with the Capstone Studio course, which consists of one lecture hour and five lab hours. Projects integrate scripting and programming; history; drawing and design; digital communication; concept development; art history; and core methodologies.
The TAMU Visualization MS has two options: Thesis and Non-Thesis. The Thesis option requires 32 credit hours and the Non-Thesis option requires 36 credit hours. Both options allow students to specialize in one of eight areas including Gaming; Computer Animation; Interactive Design; Augmented Reality; Computer Graphics; Virtual Reality; User Experience Design; or Data Visualization.
Thesis track students will produce final works to be exhibited at the local and competitive levels. The culminating experience for Non-Thesis is the creation and defense of a capstone project. For both tracks, a faculty advisor will direct student projects from start to finish.
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 has specializations in Gaming; Visual Effects; Interactive Art; Visual Storytelling; Computer Animation; User Experience Design; Virtual/Augmented Reality (VR/AR); and Data Visualization.
Students in all specializations will complete 23 credit hours of Professional Study coursework and the following courses: Form/Installation/Environment; The Digital Image; Contemporary Art Studio/Seminar; Design Communication; Contemporary Art Seminar I-II; Writing for Publication in the Arts; and Graduate Studio. Free and prescribed electives allow students to enhance the degree.
Examples include Advanced Game Design; 3D Modeling and Animation; Data Visualization; Generative Art and Design; Interactive Virtual Environments; Motion Capture Animation; Computational Design; Physically-Based Modeling; Digital Compositing; Rendering and Shading; Advanced Animation; Principles and Practices in Digital Twin Technology; Multimedia Web Design; and Experimental Visual Techniques.
The Visualization MFA at TAMU culminates with the exhibition and defense of the student’s body of work completed over a three-year course of study. The exhibition requirement includes at least one competitive external venue approved by the students advisory committee and a local exhibition, coordinated with a final examination.
Graduates of the Visualization programs and Game Design and Development minor at Texas A&M University are prepared to pursue advanced roles in game design and development, UI/UX, animation, VR/AR, filmmaking, technical art, visualization, graphic design, visual effects, simulation, architecture, special effects, education, advertising, web design, marketing, amusement/theme parks, and research.
TAMU Visualization alumni known as "Vizzers" have worked on more than 400 films across 20+ production studios. Both Game Design and Vizzers have been hired at companies and studios such as Disney Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, LucasFilm Animation, Electronic Arts (EA), Pixar, DreamWorks, Reel FX, Presagis, Bouncing Pixel, and Aspyr Media.
Serving approximately 79,115 students, Texas A&M University is the largest university in the state and one of the top 10 largest in the nation. Founded in 1876, TAMU is also the first public institution of higher learning in the state of Texas. With two local campuses, a Health Science Center, and a campus in Doha, Quatar, Texas A&M houses 16 colleges and schools that provide approximately 415 degree programs.
Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
4. University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
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 and a Game Development MFA.
Across programs, students 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 is a 120 credit hour program that 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 the Capstone Project.
The Game Development MFA at UT Dallas is a terminal degree designed for student seeking advanced roles in the games industry or for those interested in educating tomorrow’s game designers. Required major courses for this 54 credit hour program include Anatomy of a Game; Game Production Practices; Experimental Games Studio; and Game Design and Development.
Prescribed and free electives total 27 credits. Elective examples include Building Virtual Worlds; Socially Conscious Games; Interactive Narrative; Game Production Studio; Play and Culture; Special Topics in Game Development; Educational Games Studio; and Games, Education, and Simulation.
The final project for the Game Development MFA at UT Dallas consists of 15 credit hours completed over two consecutive long semesters. Courses include Master’s Thesis (ATCM 6399); Master’s Project I (ATCM 6698); and Master’s Project II (ATCM 6699). Students will present final projects in an exhibition, conference presentation, or defense.
For students seeking a broad program with a flexible curriculum, The Bass School houses an Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) program with BA, MA, MFA, and PhD paths. Students in all programs may study games through elective requirements. Depending on the program, students are required to complete anywhere from 18-30 elective credit hours.
The BA has an Emerging Media Arts (EMA) concentration with access to electives 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 the Capstone Project course.
The ATEC MA is a 36 credit hour program designed for students seeking leadership roles in the games industry or a doctorate degree. Course and elective examples for the program include Interactive Narrative; Computational Design; Design Research Methods; Special Topics in Interaction Design; Human Computer Interaction; Interactive Environments; Computer Processing for Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication; Experimental Interactive Media; and Emerging Media Studio.
The UT Dallas ATEC MA culminates with the Advanced Master’s Thesis or Master’s Thesis course—student’s choice.
The ATEC MFA is a 54 credit hour program designed for students seeking university-level teaching positions and those interested in advanced roles at professional studios or design firms. Course and elective examples for the program include Socially Conscious Games; Creativity as Social Practice; Modeling and Simulation; Experimental Interactive Media; Computational Design; Emerging Media Studio; Information Architecture and Design; Visualization Research; and Critical Making.
The ATEC MFA culminates with a final project consisting of three courses completed over two consecutive long semesters. Courses include Master's Thesis; Master's Project I; and Master's Project II.
The ATEC PhD at UT Dallas is a 60 credit hour program that allows students to select up to 15 credit hours from other schools. Students may also choose electives in games and other related areas. All ATEC students have access to games labs, studios, and other related facilities at UT Dallas. This allows PhD students to engage with students in the game design, development, and animation programs.
Graduates of the Game Development, Animation and Games, and ATEC 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.
University of Texas at Dallas began as the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest (GRCSW) in 1961. The owners of Texas Instruments established the center to create better higher-education opportunities in North Texas. Today, UT Dallas is an official member of the University of Texas System, and a Carnegie R1 Doctoral Institution.
The school also serves approximately 29,865 students enrolled in more than 150 degree programs across seven schools. University of Texas at Dallas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
5. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
Abilene Christian University (ACU) is home to the College of Business Administration, which houses the School of Information, Technology and Computing (SITC). Within the school are several paths to study games including the Digital Entertainment Technology BS (DET BS); a DET minor; and the Computer Science BS (BS CS). Across programs, students benefit from the Information, Technology, and Computing Internship; hands-on experience with the latest technology; courses taught by industry professionals; and optional participation in ACU's study abroad program.
All degree-seeking students may also join the DET Club and participate in ACU's Film Fest. For designers who would like to learn more about the film and entertainment industry, Abilene Christian University also houses the LA Film School Program. This experiential learning opportunity allows students to spend an entire semester in Los Angeles learning about the film industry and networking with professionals at major studios.
The DET BS at Abilene Christian University is a portfolio-driven program with tracks in Game Development and Virtual Production. The BS CS has a Game Development concentration. DET BS students will take courses such as Applied Game Scripting; Game Engines; Narrative for Film and Media; Advanced Digital Entertainment; Interactive Narratives; Game Textures; Game Materials; Serious Games; AR/VR Development; 3D Animation-Keyframes and Pixels; and Advanced 3D Modeling.
BS CS/Game Development students will take courses such as Game Engines; Programming I-II; Digital Logic; Software Engineering I-II; Introduction to Digital Entertainment; Design and Analysis of Algorithms; Object Oriented Programming; Artificial Intelligence; Human Computer Interaction; Mobile Computing; and Introduction to Information, Technology, and Computing.
The DET minor consists of 18 credit hours. Students in this program will take courses such as Introduction to Programming Using Scripting; Game Engines; Programming I; and 2D Animation for Games and Storytelling. The remaining credits will come from upper level courses—student’s choice.
The culminating experience for the DET BS, DET minor, and the BS/CS GDP programs is a final project. BS students will also create a professional portfolio of their best work.
Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles across fields such as game design and development, animation and film, software development, digital advertising, mobile app development, software programming, AR/VR, simulation training, education, and research. ACU alumni have been hired at places such as Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, CBS, Dell, and USAA.
Founded in 1906, Abilene Christian University serves approximately 6,730 students, making it one of the largest private institutions in the Southwest. The school provides 88 undergraduate majors with 175 areas of study; 70+ areas of study at the master’s and specialist degree levels; four doctorate programs; and 12 accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs across 10 colleges and schools. Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).