Degree Overview: Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree in Video Game Design and Development
Majors Overview January 26, 2014Receive information about an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in video game design and development and its education requirements, coursework, career choices, and certification and continuing education choices.
A.A. Programs in Video Game Design and Development
Schools offer associate’s degrees in video game design and development under various titles such as Associate of Science in Game and Application Development, Associate of Science in Video Game Design and Associate of Applied Science in Video Game Design and Development. Community colleges and technical schools are among the education institutions that offer these two-year degree programs.
Major components of video game creation are covered in the coursework ranging from concepts to completed design. Once they graduate, students can aim for entry-level jobs in work environments such as story development and game programming.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require applicants to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma. Schools don’t insist on computer skills as a mandatory requirement for admission though students would definitely benefit from having them.
Coursework
Coursework in video game design and development programs combines classroom lectures and laboratory work with a focus on the process of video game development. Coursework commonly includes:
•Game design
•Video game script writing
•Java programming
•Game development
•3-D modeling and animation
•Game texture mapping
•Level design
Career Choices
Completion of an associate’s degree in video game design and development would allow graduates to seek entry-level jobs in a variety of areas within the field. Given that collaboration is crucial to video game design, ability to work in teams is extremely important. Graduates can seek various entry-level positions such as:
•Game tester
•Modeler
•Junior game designer
•Game level designer
•Technical artist
Certification and Continuing Education Choices
Individuals who seek an edge in this competitive field would benefit by completing a degree in video game design and development. While associate degree holders with work experience can aspire for positions such as quality tester or game designer, companies usually prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as computer science. Formal training in art will also help aspirants to a career in such an artistic field (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Those who seek positions such as those of game producers and executives are expected to hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
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