My son wants to make Video Games: What’s better? A Game degree or a Computer Science degree with a game focus?
February 26, 2010 by
Filed under video game design degree
My son wants to make video games for a living. He is applying to colleges now and has been accepted at Champlain College (VT), University of Baltimore (MD) and UMBC (MD). Champlain College has a specific game design degree (http://www.champlain.edu/Undergraduate-Studies/Majors-and-Programs/Majors-Index/Game-Design.html).
The University of Baltimore has a program in Simulation and Digital Entertainment, (http://www.ubalt.edu/cla_template.cfm?page=1623); and UMBC has a degree in computer science with a concentration in game development (http://gaim.umbc.edu/). My inclination is to tell him to get the traditional CompSci degree which can move him into other areas in case he leaves the game field one day. But I just don’t know. What do you think?
He has visited each of these schools and spoke with faculty. Each offer BS degrees in these programs–so no “trade or tech” schools included.
But UB and CC teach far less programming–and I had always read on the game websites that programming courses are very important.
a bachelors degree. he’ll be well rounded and a master designer. link below
I think you’re right – get a traditional degree with additional training in game development. That gives him a foot in the door of both camps.
Personally, I’d agree with you, but it’s gotta be his decision. Take him to visit the schools if you haven’t already, give him a chance to talk with the professors and students already in the program, have him do some research into current alumni and how the school’s helped them pursue their careers, and then let him choose the place he thinks will be best for him overall. As long as the game design programs still teach him the basics and he keeps those skills up on his own, he shouldn’t have that much trouble transitioning later if he decides to.