With the recent popularity of technology degrees, you can imagine the world of possibilities with future college majors. Computer programming and computer science don’t stop at typical tech careers. Game design majors are becoming increasingly popular with the next generation of college students. There are a lot of creative jobs and cool opportunities that stem from graduating with a game design major. Video game development is taking the workforce by storm and we want you to be fully prepared to succeed in it. With so many career paths to choose from, there is something out there for all who love video games.
Flickr user Eric Holsinger
A game design major mainly focuses on all things related to game design. You can build a game from scratch, work on the graphics, and test games for glitches. A game design major is such a broad field which is great for someone who wants to learn a lot about developing games. Once you find your niche in game designing, you can focus more on that to get a job in the field when you graduate. Whether you’re wanting to test games or develop them, majoring in game design is the perfect fit for you.
Top 5 Colleges for Game Design Majors
1. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California has many programs for game design and development. Also called USC Games, the degrees from this college tailor to your goals and future careers. USC offers a B.A. in Interactive Entertainment, an M.F.A. in Interactive Media, an M.F.A. in Interactive Media with an emphasis in Games and Health, and an M.A. in Cinematic Arts with an emphasis in Media Arts and Games and Health.
2. Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) offers 4 different degrees in interactive design and game development. Whether you’re getting a bachelor’s or master’s degree, SCAD has the support you need to hone your skills to become a game master. This particular degree is available at their Atlanta, GA campus, Savannah, GA campus, and even online.
3. Drexel University
Offering a B.S. in Game Design and Production, Drexel University has one of the top game design programs in the country. You’ll develop a strong understanding of all things game design. You can enter the gaming world with confidence and skill. Their game design program is so great because of the 6-month co-op working in the gaming world. The real-world experience will help students see what it is like to actually work after their game design degree.
4. Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT’s B.S. in Game Design and Development prepares game design students for their industry and sets them up for success. With an outcome rate of 85%, RIT uses its curriculum to ensure you’ll find a job after you graduate. With an average first-year salary of $83,900, RIT graduates enter the workforce with competitive salaries. You’ll receive hands-on experience with this program so you can see how everything you learn in class applies in the real world.
5. Northeastern University
Break into the gaming industry while you’re still in school when you choose Northeastern University’s Game Design program. You’ll learn everything there is to know about gaming from a creative to practical stance so you’re prepared for a game design career. With 2 years of co-ops, you’ll gain the experience you need to successfully navigate all things related to game design.
Most Common Jobs for Game Designers
1. Game Developer
Game developers use all the skills you learn in college to create video games. You can create your own world in a video game and also write the code for it. It’s the perfect mix of creativity and practicality. This is a great option for college students who like the mix of both. You’ll be in charge of game prototyping, visual arts, game programming, and more. This is the most popular career choice for game design majors because of how broad it is.
2. Content Designer
Video game content designers bring everything together to create a flow for games. Content designers ensure the storyline matches with all the characters. If you love to tell stories and create fun plots, becoming a video game content designer may be the right career for you. You’ll be able to work on your computer graphics and visual arts skills throughout this career. This is a great career choice for someone who wants to be a graphic designer with more responsibility. There’s a lot of creativity with this career so you can let your imagination run wild.
3. Creative Director
Creative directors in the gaming world have the job of overseeing everything pertaining to the games that are developed. From administrative to creative tasks, creative directors are like managers for game developers and content designers. Once everything is built out they ensure that it follows all the guidelines, scheduling, and budget. Creative director jobs are great for game design majors who like to take the lead and help their team succeed.
4. Level Designer
Instead of designing an entire game, level designers only design parts of video games. There is a lot of detail that goes into being a level designer. It’s a great career choice for someone who is very organized and has an eye for detail. Level designers work on the different outcomes for each path on their portion of a game and write detailed game scripts. This career also involves a lot of creative writing and graphic designing. If this sounds like something that interests you, level designing is the right career for you.
Video games have changed over the last few decades and we’re only getting started. There’s a lot of potential with video games and game designing. The video game industry is huge and is projected to get even more popular in the coming years. Each program has different degree requirements but they’re all useful. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry so there’s a lot of opportunity out there for college students to get involved. By majoring in game design, you can be part of this large industry and let your creativity show. In just 4 to 6 years, you’ll have all the programming skills and experience you need to jumpstart your career.
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