| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge |
| 2 | Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans |
| 3 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette |
For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
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).
Loyola University New Orleans (Loyno) is home to the College of Arts and Sciences. The largest academic unit at Loyno, the college houses the Math and Computer Science Department. Within the department is a Computer Science BS (CS BS) with a Game Programming concentration. A major component of the program is a professional internship that allows students to gain practical experience working with local, regional, and global game studios.
Other program benefits include access to state-of-the-art production facilities; workshops; collaborative projects; in-demand elective options; and participation in the Loyno study abroad program with experiences in more than 50 countries. Examples include Japan, Korea, India, China, the UK, Belgium, Italy, France, Brazil, Netherlands, Spain, Ecuador, and Ireland.
Course examples for the Loyno CS BS program include Introduction to Programming I-II; Doing Things with Videogames; Artificial Intelligence; Game as Art; Software Engineering; Videogames and Literature; Media Play; Physics of Sound; Computer Graphics; Interactive Design; and Machine Learning.
The CS BS culminates with the Game Programming Capstone. In addition to careers in the games and entertainment industries, graduates are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as education, research, architecture, aerospace, the broad technology field, simulations, visualization, web design, digital advertising, defense, and consulting.
Loyno CS BS alumni have been hired at places such as Electronic Arts (EA), Microsoft, Disney Animation, Epic Systems, Blur Studio, Google, Sledgehammer Games, Oracle, Yahoo, and Red Hat.
Established in 1904, Loyola University New Orleans is just one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. The school serves around 4,550 students enrolled in more than 150 degree, minor, and certificate programs across six colleges and Loyola Online. With one of the highest enrollments of graduate, law, and doctoral students, Loyno is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) houses the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. Within the college is the School of Computing and Informatics (CMIX). While the school was founded in 2011, UL Lafayette’s undergraduate Computer Science (CS) program was established in 1969. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the program leads to a BS.
For students who would like to specialize in gaming and entertainment computing, the 120 credit hour CS program has a Video Game Design and Development (VGDD) concentration. Course examples for the program include Introduction to Video Game Design and Development (CMPS 327); Computer Architecture; Computer Communication and Networks; Parallel and Distributed Computing; Video Game Design and Development (CMPS 427G); Programming Languages; and Operating Systems.
Concentration electives allow students to develop skills in additional areas of computer science, games, animation, web design, and more. Elective examples include Programming in Java; Interactive Narrative; Human Computer Interface Design; Advanced Computer Animation; Artificial Intelligence; New Media and Digital Art; Interactive Website Development; Junior Project; and Programming in .NET/C#.
The CS BS at University of Louisiana at Lafayette culminates with the Senior Project, consisting of a final work that integrates and applies knowledge and skills acquired in programming, algorithms, software design, and data structures. This final project provides the opportunity for VGDD students to produce an original game.
Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced roles in game design and development, the broader technology industry, animation and film production, and digital advertising, among others. Alumni have been hired at places such as DreamWorks, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Google, Meta, and Lutron Electronics.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette was established in 1898 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute (SLII). The school serves approximately 19,215 students, making it the second largest university in Louisiana and the largest in the University of Louisiana System. Students at UL Lafayette have access to more than 300 programs across 14 colleges and schools. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
