Interested in game design? Explore the top game design schools in Massachusetts that offer unique programs tailored to prepare you for the video game industry.
- UMass Lowell offers a comprehensive game design program with a focus on practical experience, advanced facilities, and a Bachelor’s-to-Master’s program for an accelerated education pathway.
- Northeastern University provides diverse game design programs and emphasizes practical work experience through its co-op program, preparing students for successful careers in the game industry.
- Becker College is renowned for its practical training in game design, offering hands-on group projects and strong industry connections to facilitate job placements and career readiness.
UMass Lowell: A Hub for Game Design Education
UMass Lowell is a beacon for aspiring game designers, offering a comprehensive program that equips students with both technical and creative skills. The curriculum is designed to cover a wide range of disciplines, including:
- Programming languages
- Mathematics
- Game asset creation
- Modern real-time game engines
- General game development techniques
Students graduate with the flexibility to thrive in diverse sectors of the video game industry, thanks to their solid foundation in both technical and creative aspects.
Students are encouraged to learn through doing, resulting in the construction of three complete games: a 3D arcade game, a first-person adventure, and a custom game of their own. This approach ensures that students not only learn the theoretical aspects of game design but also gain practical experience in creating games from scratch. The emphasis on teamwork and the ability to work as part of a team further enhances their readiness for the professional world as a game designer.
UMass Lowell graduates are well-prepared to enter the video game industry with a robust set of skills and experiences. Whether it’s designing intricate game mechanics or crafting immersive game art, students are equipped to tackle the challenges of the ever-evolving video game landscape. The university fosters an environment where creativity and technical proficiency go hand-in-hand, preparing students for successful careers in the video game industry.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
UMass Lowell prioritizes experiential learning, giving students the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge through internships and projects. This hands-on approach helps educate students by allowing them to participate in works-in-progress and finished pieces, receiving valuable feedback along the way.
The curriculum focuses on creative brainstorming, problem-solving, and iterative design, all aimed at enhancing the player experience. These opportunities prepare students for careers in the booming $160 billion interactive media industry, making their education both practical and forward-thinking.
Advanced Facilities
UMass Lowell prides itself in its cutting edge facilities, equipped with resources necessary for students to excel in game design and development. Specialized art studios and a TV studio offer access to the latest technology and tools, enabling students to develop their practical skills in a real-world setting. These advanced facilities are crucial for students to hone their abilities and produce high-quality work that meets industry standards.
The availability of such resources ensures that students are well-prepared to enter the professional world, armed with the skills and experience necessary to succeed.
Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program
For those looking to further their education and obtain a bachelor’s degree, Massachusetts colleges like UMass Lowell offer a Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program that allows students to:
- Earn both degrees in an accelerated timeframe
- Be eligible if they are juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or better
- Take a continuous, coordinated sequence of courses with reduced credit-hour requirements.
This pathway not only saves time but also provides a seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate studies, making it an attractive option for dedicated students aiming to deepen their expertise in game design.
Northeastern University: Comprehensive Game Design Programs
Distinctive for its comprehensive game design programs, Northeastern University provides various levels of study, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, and minors. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design at Northeastern aims to cultivate students’ unique creative voices through a blend of theoretical analysis and practical game-development courses. This approach ensures that students are well-rounded and prepared for the multifaceted challenges of the game design industry.
The university’s programs are designed to meet the diverse aspirations of students, whether they are looking to dive deep into game design or complement their studies with a minor or certificate. This flexibility allows students to tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals, making Northeastern a versatile choice for aspiring game designers.
Diverse Program Offerings
Northeastern University offers a variety of game design programs, including:
- Undergraduate degrees
- Graduate degrees
- Minors
- Certificates
This diverse range of offerings allows students to pursue specialized training or interdisciplinary learning, depending on their career aspirations. By providing such a wide array of programs, Northeastern ensures that students can find the right educational path to suit their individual goals and interests.
Co-op Program
The co-op program, a prominent feature of Northeastern’s game design programs, offers students practical work experience in renowned game studios. Through this program, students gain valuable insights and skills by working with industry giants like Disney Interactive Media Group and Allegiance, Inc..
These co-op opportunities not only help students build career-ready skills but also facilitate networking with professionals in the field, significantly enhancing their job prospects upon graduation.
Cutting-Edge Curriculum
Northeastern’s curriculum is designed to cover essential game design principles, visual art foundations, and game logic principles, ensuring a comprehensive education. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design emphasizes games as an aesthetic and expressive form through critical analysis and reflective practice.
This cutting-edge approach integrates theoretical analysis with practical application, preparing students to excel in both video and analog game industries.
Fitchburg State University: Preparing Future Game Designers
Fitchburg State University commits to preparing future game designers with a program that accentuates real-world experiences and industry connections. The curriculum focuses on developing students’ abilities to create thought-provoking games with solid gameplay mechanics, unified aesthetics, and engaging stories. This holistic approach ensures that students are not only technically proficient but also capable of producing compelling and creative game experiences.
Internship Opportunities
Fitchburg State University offers comprehensive internship opportunities in game design, providing students with practical experience in the field. Internships are a critical component of the program, helping students build proficiencies with current game design tools and anticipate new technologies.
These opportunities are available in major cities like Washington, New York, Boston, and San Diego, ensuring that students gain diverse experiences and are well-prepared for their careers.
Game Lab Events
Fitchburg State University hosts events through its ideaLab, providing students with opportunities to network and learn from industry experts. These Game Lab events enable students to collaborate with professionals and gain insights into the game development process.
Such interactions are invaluable for students, offering them a glimpse into the real-world challenges and dynamics of the game industry.
Emphasis on Problem-Solving Skills
The curriculum at Fitchburg State University places a strong emphasis on problem-solving skills, teaching students to brainstorm creatively, iterate designs, and focus on the player experience. These skills are crucial for troubleshooting and critiquing game projects, ensuring that students are well-equipped to tackle complex problems in their future careers.
By focusing on problem-solving, the program helps students develop the critical thinking and technical abilities necessary for success in the game industry.
Becker College: Practical Training in Game Design
Becker College, celebrated for its practical approach to game design education, provides a robust curriculum that underlines hands-on learning through group projects and industry connections. Ranked No. 3 in undergraduate game design programs globally by Princeton Review, Becker College provides students with the skills and experience needed to thrive in the video game industry.
Group Projects
Group projects at Becker College are designed to simulate real-world game development environments, fostering teamwork and collaboration. Students participate in a real-world studio environment known as ‘Game Studio,’ where they produce publishable projects. This hands-on experience helps students manage resources and time effectively while working in production teams to meet common goals and troubleshoot game projects.
Industry Connections
Becker College has established strong ties with local game studios to facilitate internships for students, providing valuable opportunities for job placements. These industry connections are crucial for students to gain real-world experience and build networks that can help them secure employment after graduation.
The college’s emphasis on practical training and industry ties ensures that students are well-prepared to enter the competitive job market.
Focus on Serious Games
Becker College offers specialized courses and projects dedicated to the creation of serious games, which are designed for purposes beyond entertainment. These serious games aim to use gaming for educational and practical applications, providing students with the opportunity to develop games that have meaningful impacts on society.
This focus on serious games allows students to explore innovative ways of using their game design skills.
Hampshire College: Project-Based Game Design Curriculum
Hampshire College provides a unique project-based game design curriculum that underscores teamwork, playtesting, and a multidisciplinary approach. Students have significant freedom to design their own courses of study, often working with peers and advisors to craft unique games. This flexibility fosters creativity and innovation, enabling students to develop their own unique game design philosophies.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Hampshire College’s game design curriculum focuses on providing students with opportunities to grow in areas such as communication, iterative development, and project management through project-based learning. Students frequently collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to develop games that enhance their portfolios, gaining experience in different roles within a game development team.
This emphasis on teamwork and collaboration is crucial for preparing students for the collaborative nature of the game design industry.
Playtesting and Iteration
Frequent critiques and playtesting sessions are integral to Hampshire College’s game design curriculum, helping students refine their game designs through continuous feedback. This iterative process enhances students’ abilities to:
- Give and receive thoughtful feedback
- Analyze and evaluate game mechanics
- Identify areas for improvement
- Test and iterate on game prototypes
These skills are critical in game development.
By regularly engaging in playtesting, students learn to identify and solve issues, ensuring their final products are polished and engaging.
Multidisciplinary Approach
Hampshire College’s curriculum integrates various disciplines, including liberal arts and:
- 2D and 3D art
- Audio design
- Game programming
- Storytelling
This multidisciplinary approach ensures that students gain a broad skill set, preparing them for diverse roles within the game industry.
By combining technical and creative aspects, students are well-equipped to create comprehensive and immersive game experiences.
Salem State University: Technical Side of Game Development
Salem State University provides a B.S. in Computer Science with an emphasis on computer graphics and game development, readying students for the technical aspects of game design. The program’s curriculum is designed to equip students with the necessary technical skills to excel in game development, ensuring they are ready to tackle the industry’s demands.
Required Courses in Game Development
The core courses at Salem State University, such as Software Engineering, Game Programming, and Computer Graphics, provide a solid foundation in game development. Courses like CSC 425 cover fundamental principles of computer graphics and game development, including graphics pipeline and 2D/3D geometric transformations.
This comprehensive curriculum ensures students are well-versed in essential game development techniques.
Focus on Computer Graphics
Salem State places a strong emphasis on computer graphics, with specialized courses like Advanced Rendering Techniques and Interactive Computer Graphics. Students learn to apply computer graphics topics in game-related programming projects, creating textured and lit real-time 3D scenes using graphics libraries and game engines.
This focus on computer graphics ensures students are adept at developing visually stunning games.
Career-Ready Skills
The practical application of skills through game development projects at Salem State University prepares students for the industry. Students gain experience with industry-standard software like Unity and Unreal Engine, learning fundamental principles such as collision detection and game design. This hands-on training ensures students graduate with the technical and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in their careers.
Montserrat College of Art: Animation and Interactive Media
Montserrat College of Art provides a concentration in Animation and Interactive Media, which prepares graduates to work in various fields, including:
- Animations
- Motion graphics
- Video games
- Other motion-related media projects
This program blends interactive media with a fine arts education, incorporating augmented reality experiences.
The curriculum ensures students develop the necessary skills to excel in the creative and dynamic world of interactive media.
3D Modeling and Animation
Courses at Montserrat College of Art focus on 3D modeling and animation, equipping students with vital skills in these areas. Students work on projects exploring dramatic pacing and shot choices, honing their technical skills in creative storytelling and motion.
This training ensures that graduates are well-prepared to create engaging and visually compelling interactive media.
Interactive Design
The interactive design courses at Montserrat College of Art merge principles of fine arts and commercial media, emphasizing innovative storytelling and information design. This studio-based curriculum allows students to explore their passion for interactive media, developing skills that are applicable in both creative and commercial contexts.
By engaging with interactive design, students learn to create engaging and immersive media experiences.
Integration with Fine Arts
Montserrat’s curriculum integrates interactive media within the broader context of fine arts education, combining digital tools with traditional art principles. Courses such as Digital Illustration teach students to merge these elements effectively, preparing them for diverse career paths in both fine arts and commercial media.