Video game design/development degrees

Hi everyone, I'm really passionate about video games and I'm considering pursuing a degree in game design or development. What are some reputable colleges that offer strong programs in this field? Any advice or experiences would be super helpful!

Hello! It's wonderful that you're interested in pursuing your passion for video games through a degree in game design or development. There are several reputable colleges with strong programs in these fields. Here are some top schools to consider:

1. University of Southern California (USC): USC's Interactive Media & Games Division is part of the School of Cinematic Arts and offers a BFA in Themed Entertainment, a BFA in Game Development and Interaction Design, and a BFA in Game Art. These degrees all have slightly different focuses, but all cover both game design and development in some capacity.

2. New York University (NYU): The Tisch School of the Arts at NYU offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design, which covers game design, development, and programming.

3. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU): The Entertainment Technology Center at CMU offers a Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts degree, which covers game design, development, and programming through an interdisciplinary approach.

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): MIT's Game Lab offers various courses in game design, development, and programming, and students can choose to pursue the Comparative Media Studies major, which includes many courses related to the field as well.

5. University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC): UCSC offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Computer Game Design, which focuses on both the technical and design aspects of game development.

6. DigiPen Institute of Technology: As a specialized institution, DigiPen offers several degree programs in the field, such as Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design or Bachelor of Arts in Game Design.

When exploring programs, consider factors such as curricular focus, faculty experience, opportunities for hands-on projects, and industry connections. It's also important to visit campuses (if possible), attend open houses, speak with current students or alumni, and research each program's reputation and graduates' success in the industry, to get a comprehensive sense of what your life at each school would look like, and how it would set you up for future success.

Moreover, getting involved in game development extracurricular activities, participating in game jams, creating a portfolio of work, and networking with professionals in the field will also significantly benefit your college application and future career in the industry. One way to potentially improve your chances of acceptance would be to participate in a computer science-related summer program. CollegeVine's blog contains a list of reputable ones for high schoolers, many of which will allow you to complete your own project, which could be related to game design! You'll also learn broader coding skills that will be foundational to your future pursuits.

The list of summer programs can be found here: https://blog.collegevine.com/high-school-computer-science-summer-programs/. I hope this information helps you in your search for the right game design/development program! Best of luck!