School of Game Development
Put Your Passion Into Play!
Attend the School of Game Development and experience the entire game production process from brainstorming ideas to designing and developing the art, assets, and code that will bring those ideas to life. Our program is run by game-industry professionals who will teach you the skills you’ll need to prepare you for cutting-edge careers in this growing and exciting industry.
Start your career now
Schedule your tour today!
On campus or virtual.
Areas of Emphasis
Game Art
expand_more
You’ll learn skills, applications, and workflows in concept art and 3D modeling and use professional software packages like Photoshop, Maya, and ZBrush to create environment and character designs in a wide range of styles. Working with your fellow students in collaborative, project-based classes, you’ll see your models and concepts turn into gameplay.
Game Design
expand_more
You will learn to lay out level architecture, script gameplay mechanics, create compelling narratives, and design the underlying systems that form the core gameplay experience. Working closely with artists and programmers, you’ll turn practical and theoretical mechanics into finished gameplay.
Game Development
expand_more
Game development is the collective term for the combination of creative disciplines that go into the creation of video games. You will learn techniques and skills in art, design, programming, and production while working within professional applications and workflows.
Game Programming
expand_more
Game programmers work in the heart of the game development process. You will learn how to plan, architect, and write the computer code that creates gameplay mechanics, renders graphics, and provides tools for artists and designers to express their creativity.
Allied Skills
Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media
expand_more
Turn your love of music and audio into a career you love at the School of Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media. Learn music production, composition, scoring, MIDI, recording, editing, and mixing from industry professionals. You’ll also explore sound design, recording dialog, utilizing sound effects, and creating a final mix—and learn how to apply these skills in media production.
Animation and Visual Effects
expand_more
Join one of the most dynamic Animation and VFX programs in the country. If you’re an aspiring storyboard artist, visual effects artist, or 2D/3D animator, come learn from some of today’s most accomplished professionals in the heart of the animation industry.
Interaction and UI/UX Design
expand_more
Interaction & UI/UX Design will help you gain a comprehensive skillset in contemporary interaction, user experience, and user interface design that will prepare you for careers in many industries including, the tech industry—one of the most vibrant, multifaceted, and expansive industries in the world.
Online Learning
The main goal of Academy of Art University’s online game design school is to help students gain the practical knowledge and technical skills that will prove valuable in the real-world industry.
As an online student, you will get the same quality education as your on-campus counterparts. Apart from having the same set of instructors for both on-site and online, the School of Game Development provides live workshops covering a wide variety of interesting topics, and maintains an internal resources page that is constantly updated with helpful tutorials.
All of these resources are at the tip of your fingertips when you join the program online. Be part of our vibrant, creative community. Earn your game development degree online at your own pace, on your own time.
Student Work
Game Development Careers
We hire and train Academy of Art students in paid positions within our program and help them acquire great work experience and industry skills before graduation. Many of our program alumni have found jobs in game development, the esports industry, or adjacent industries. In collaboration with the School of Game Development, we host events, panel discussions, and offer networking opportunities for our students.
Companies That Have Hired Our Students
They gave me a foundation that has influenced all of my decision-making and skill sets moving forward. Even with all the new technology and coding. The design and work ethic principles that I learned at the Academy have helped me continue to grow.
Kevin Jaszanovits
Level Designer – Striking Distance Studios
