Which Colleges Offer a Game Design Degree Program in Texas?
Find out which Texas schools offer game design degree programs. See requirements, prerequisites and school information, and learn about the job prospects for a game design career in Texas. Schools offering Game Production degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Career Info for Game Designers in Texas
Game design may encompass several skill sets that can range from artistic conceptualization to nitty-gritty computer programming. Because of the diversity of jobs in game production, the educational requirements vary widely. Game artists and designers don't necessarily need a bachelor's degree, though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that it can be helpful when pursuing job opportunities. Game programmers must have a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or computer science.
According to PayScale.com, most Texas game designers earned annual wages around $35,000-$110,000 as of July 2012. In May 2011, the BLS stated that Texas-based computer professionals in miscellaneous fields made an average salary of about $80,000. The BLS states that 9,220 of these professionals worked in Texas during this time. Keep in mind that these salary and employment figures include all kinds of computer specialists, in addition to game designers.
Game Design Certificate Programs in Texas
Collin College
- Program Name: Certificate in Animation
- Specializations: 3-D animation, game art
- Program Length: 41 credit hours (two years)
- Tuition: $34 per credit hour for in-county TX residents, $68 per credit hour for out-of-county residents and $200 per credit hour minimum for non-residents (cost as of Spring 2012)
- School Type: 2-year, public; about 28,000 undergraduate students
- Address: 3452 Spur 399, McKinney, TX 75069
- Phone: (972) 881-5710
Collin College offers two specialization options within their broader animation program, but you can choose the game art track to learn about conceptual game development. You may take courses in computer graphics, 3-D modeling and rendering in Maya, digital imaging and Flash animation. You're also required to complete a capstone portfolio course and a game group project.
Lone Star College - Kingwood or Tomball
- Program Name: Certificate in Game Design
- Specialization Areas: Programming, artist
- Program Length: 42-43 credit hours (two years)
- Tuition: $88 per credit hour for in-district TX residents, $158 per credit hour for out-of-district residents and $248 per credit hour for non-residents (cost as of 2012-2013 academic year)
- School Type: 2-year, public; about 63,000 undergraduate students
- Address: 20000 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339 (Kingwood campus) or 30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball, TX 77375 (Tomball campus)
- Phone: (281) 312-1600 (Kingwood campus) or (281) 351-3300 (Tomball campus)
You can choose a programming or artistic option within this game design program. You are required to complete coursework in composition and rhetoric for both options. The programming option includes coursework in C++ and game testing; the artist option has classes in digital imaging and interactive digital media.
Game Design Associate's Degree Programs in Texas
Collin College
- Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Animation
- Specializations: 3-D animation, game art
- Program Length: 72 credit hours (two years)
- Tuition: $34 per credit hour for in-county TX residents, $68 per credit hour for out-of-county residents and $200 per credit hour minimum for non-residents (cost as of spring 2012)
- School Type: 2-year, public; about 28,000 undergraduate students
- Address: 3452 Spur 399, McKinney, TX 75069
- Phone: (972) 881-5710
Similar to Collin College's certificate program, you can choose a game art track in this degree program. You're required to complete general education classes, such as college math, psychology, English composition and speech. Major-specific courses include storyboarding, digital sound, rendering in Maya, drawing, 3-D animation and 3-D modeling.
Lee College
- Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Game Development Specialist
- Program Length: 67-70 credit hours (two years)
- Tuition: $384 per credit hour for in-district TX residents, $564 per credit hour for out-of-district residents and $894 for non-residents (tuition and fees for 2012-2013 academic year)
- School Type: 2-year, public; about 6,000 undergraduate students
- Address: 200 Lee Drive, Baytown, TX 77522
- Phone: (281) 425-6393
Through Lee College's game design degree program, you learn about all aspects of game development. The program provides coursework in programming, animation, storyboarding and graphic arts. While the completion of this program can prepare you for the game industry, you can also transfer to other degree programs and qualify for a career in graphic arts, software engineering or computer programming. This school offers game specialist and game developer certificate programs as well.
Lone Star College - Kingwood
- Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Game Design
- Specialization Areas: Programming, artist
- Program Length: 71-72 credit hours (two years)
- Tuition: $88 per credit hour for in-district TX residents, $158 per credit hour for out-of-district residents and $248 per credit hour for non-residents (cost as of 2012-2013 academic year)
- School Type: 2-year, public, about 54,000 undergraduate students
- Address: 20000 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339
- Phone: (281) 312-1600
Both of the concentrations in this associate's degree program provide basic general education credits, like college algebra and humanities. Foundational game design principles in animation and level design are also covered. However, these concentrations differ widely on other coursework. For example, the programming track focuses on computer programming languages, game engines, AI programming, scripting and physics. The artistic track concentrates more on drawing, 3-D modeling and rendering, digital imaging and interactive writing.
Game Design Bachelor's Degree Programs in Texas
University of Texas at Dallas
- Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Technology
- Program Length: 120 credit hours (roughly four years full-time)
- Tuition: $1,307 per credit hour for TX residents, $1,951 per credit hour for non-residents (cost as of 2012-2013 academic year)
- School Type: 4-year, public; about 11,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students
- Address: 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021
- Phone: (972) 883-4331
The University of Texas provides a general art bachelor's degree, but you can choose electives that focus on computer game development. You're required to take liberal arts classes in communication, social and behavioral sciences, math and humanities. The major requirements include drawing, computer imaging, 2-D design, modeling and texturing and a capstone project. You also can choose electives like computer game design, virtual environments and game production.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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