Online Game Design Degrees

The video and virtual world game industry has dramatically evolved artistically, technically and practically in the last few years, as games are used for education, in health care, business, social media, and of course, for fun. Students who want to contribute to the game design industry need to have ample training and experience working with the latest technologies, and they can obtain those skills by working towards an online game design degree. Online degrees — rather than degrees earned in a traditional college environment — may be more practical for students who need to manage a flexible schedule as they hold a job and save on commuting costs. And while game design courses mostly involve training on the computer anyway, students will still be able to chat and collaborate with classmates and professors online. After graduating with an online game design degree from an accredited school, students should be ready to keep up with the fast-paced, cutting edge nature of the industry and find entry-level work.

There are a few different choices available to students wanting to go to school for game design. Certificates, associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees are all available, and graduate degrees in graphic design and other related fields are also offered. An online bachelor’s degree in game design will qualify students for the most desirable jobs with the most competitive salaries, but receiving a certificate or associate’s degree is a good start to learn the basics of the industry. Associate’s degrees typically take 2 years to complete, though accelerated programs may be available for full-time students. Students will take a combination of liberal arts and sciences classes plus more focused game design courses in gaming technology, animation, color theory, web design, story boarding, modeling, cinematography, level design, educational games, 3D design, and more. Bachelor’s degree programs typically last four years and will include these and more advance courses in game design. Students will also probably be asked to complete a capstone project either independently or with a group in order to graduate.

Game designers, just like graphic designers, may work in-house for a large company, for a gaming or design firm, or they may freelance and work on their own schedule. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics believes that the industry’s employment rate will increase by 10% by 2016, which is close to the national average. Competition for game design jobs is very high, and students with more advanced training will have the best chance of getting the most rewarding jobs. Those who graduate with online game design degrees and other certificates or training in web design, business management, advertising, or another specialization will also stand out amongst the competition. Those who work for specialized design services earn the highest salaries, followed by game or graphic designers who work in advertising. Salary increases usually occurred when designers took on management level positions or contributed to their workplace in another capacity, so continuing to become certified in new aspects of design or coupling an online game design degree with another online degree can greatly improve your career prospects.