Will a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering(ECE) earn me a job in video game design/programming?
May 22, 2010 by
Filed under video game design degree
I really love video games and hope to be able to be involved in the industry. I know that probably all workers involved in the design and programming process have a degree in Computer Science. But I heard that a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering will also allow me to work in that process. Is this true? Or will I have to study Computer Science if I want to be in the industry? Does ECE have most of the CS courses required to enter video game design/programming? Any help is good please.
If your desire is to program games, then a major in computer science, software engineering, or computer engineering (if you get enough programming courses as part of that major at this school) would work well. Just make sure that, as part of your coursework, you take plenty of programming classes, and that you do a co-op or internship related to programming – ideally in game design. In addition, enter the student game programming contests that exist. That can be great experience, and you can use what you create in your portfolio for when you apply for jobs.
Make sure you go to a reputable college. It doesn’t have to be Harvard, but it shouldn’t be a place like Devry or ITT Tech, please.
You’re wasting your time to study “video game design”. Design and programming are rapidly moving offshore, where very good programmers can be found for $3/hr.
Computer Science, and ECEng are both too theoretical for video game design. Also, students obsessed with video games rarely pass an Engineering degree.
Perhaps the best degree for you is Computer Engineering Technology. Or, look at a very good degree offered by San Jose State: “Computer Electronics and Networking Technology”.