Video Game Design Career Training in Dayton, Ohio
Higher Education Articles February 20, 2013Video game design training programs are still evolving and still a relatively new career. Edison State Community College and Miami University, which are located just outside of Dayton, Ohio, offer unique approaches to studying the craft.
Video Game Design Training Program at Miami University
This is a public university that is located in the town of Oxford, which is thirty-five miles southwest of Dayton, Ohio. In March 2010, GamePro Media in association with The Princeton Review named Miami University bachelor game design program as one of the leading fifty programs in the nation.
Interactive Media Studies – Bachelor of Arts
Armstrong Institute for Interactive Media Studies (AIMS) and Miami University’s College of Arts and Sciences jointly offer a bachelor degree in interactive media studies with a specialty focus on digital game studies. Students with a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) at Miami University can submit an online portfolio of related video game design work (graphic design, coding, writing) to apply for this major. Individuals who are selected for the major are required to choose a minor that can be chosen from any department of the university apart from journalism. Several courses specifically geared toward video game design such as action script writing, computer graphics, 3-D animation, computer programming. Toward the end of the program, students must complete an independent study course and an internship. Collaboration with other departments is a key tenet of Interactive Media Studies. Individuals are encouraged to pursue a well-rounded education, which may include the study of mythology, music, or art. To promote exchange of ideas and strengthen the individual’s creativity, they need exposure to outside influences.
Contact Information
•Address: 501 E. High Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056
•Phone Number: (513) 529-1809
Video Game Design Programs at Edison State Community College
This college is located in Piqua, about twenty-five miles north of Dayton, Ohio; Edison State Community College is a public institution that offers certificate and associate degree programs in concentration areas such as criminal justice, business management and accounting. The Computer Information Technology Department at the school offers video game design programs.
Simulation Programming and Computer Games Associate Degree
A foundational knowledge of math and computer programming are requirements for admission to this two-year program, which spans four semesters and accounts for sixty-seven credit-hours. Coursework includes general education classes in ethics, sociology and English composition. Business courses in consumer behavior and marketing are also included. Core computer coursework imparts hands on instruction to students in new media design, game development, 3-D programming and C++. During the last semester, students are given the choice of completing an externship.
Certificate for Interactive Media Specialist
This one-year program spans two semesters and comprises thirty-three to thirty-five credit hours. Coursework typically relates to website development and computer design; however, there are also a few short courses in science, art, math or English. Subject areas covered in the program are video production, interactive media, and image production. Students enrolled in the program are imparted skills that go beyond the video game design industry; graduates can also avail opportunities in multimedia, film and television production.
Contact Information
•Address: 1973 Edison Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356
•Phone Number: (937) 778-8600
