Academics

School of Game Development

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Put Your Passion Into Play!

This isn’t just game development, it’s full-spectrum immersion. You’ll ideate, design, and build everything from the ground up, including art, assets, and code. You’ll learn to excel in a production pipeline powered by purpose. Classes are taught by industry pros and built to propel your professional future.

Ready to play at the next level? Let’s do this.

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Fast Facts

    More To Know

    You’ll get hands-on experience with cutting-edge tech like networked VR treadmills and haptic vests that let you feel the game. Kick back in the esports lounge with your friends, or feel the rush of playing as part of a competitive team.

    This isn’t just game development; it’s game culture, lived, built, and played.

    APPLY NOW

    Undergraduate
    AA
    AAS
    Game Art BFA
    Game Design BFA
    BS
    Graduate
    MA
    MFA
    Other
    Upskill Classes
    Pre-College

    Student Experience

    Academy Award winners. Tech founders. Creative directors. CEOs. They join us live and on Zoom from around the world. They speak from experience. About the work. The risk. The path forward. No theory. Just real stories from people who’ve done it.

    Every student is welcome. On campus or online. To listen. To ask questions. To make connections. These are conversations, not lectures.

    Student Clubs

    Whether you are an on-campus or online student you are welcome to join our student clubs. You’ll meet up, share ideas, and create art together. Sometimes it’s a quick sketch. Sometimes it turns into something big, a collaboration that lasts a lifetime. It’s always fun.

    Careers

    In the School of Game Development, you’ll train in the full production pipeline, choosing your path in concept art, 3D, design, or programming. You’ll work on real projects for organizations and companies like NASA and the Rockwell Museum. You’ll graduate with a portfolio that proves you’re not just ready to play, you’re ready to lead.

    3D Artist
    3D Generalist
    Environment Modeler
    Character Modeler

    Concept Artist
    Texture Artist
    Character Concept Artist
    Environment Concept Artist
    UI/UX Artist

    Game Designer
    Level Designer
    Systems Designer
    Combat Designer
    Multi-player Designer
    Narrative Designer
    Camera Designer
    Technical Designer

    Game Programmer
    Programmer
    Software Engineer
    Gameplay Programmer
    Engine Programmer
    UI Programmer

    What You'll Learn

    At the School of Game Development, it’s game on from day one. You’ll jump into the full production pipeline, then pick your lane—concept art, 3D, gameplay, level design, or programming.

    You’ll work on real projects for places like NASA and the Rockwell Museum, and collaborate with other Academy students on projects for major corporations with brands like Stellantis and CBS.

    You’ll graduate with a portfolio that doesn’t just show what you’ve done—it shows what you’re ready for.

      Character design of

      Game Art

      You’ll learn the skills, tools, and workflows behind concept art and 3D modeling using pro software like Photoshop, Maya, and ZBrush to bring characters and environments to life in any style you can imagine.

      In hands-on, team-based classes, you’ll work alongside your peers to turn those designs into playable worlds. From sketch to screen, you’ll see your ideas come to life.

      Game Design

      You’ll learn how to lay out level architecture, script gameplay mechanics, build immersive narratives, and design the systems that make it all tick.

      Working side by side with artists and programmers, you’ll take big ideas from theory to practice and shape them into real, playable experiences.

      Game Development

      Game development brings together all the creative forces behind what makes a game work—art, design, programming, and production.

      You’ll get hands-on experience with each, learning the tools, workflows, and skills needed to take a game from concept to launch.

      A computer screen displays a digital design software interface with 3D gaming environments. The left side shows a detailed room with textures and objects, while the right panel lists assets like

      Game Programming

      Game programmers are at the core of the development process. You’ll learn how to plan, architect, and write the code that creates gameplay mechanics, renders graphics, and builds the tools artists and designers use to bring their ideas to life.

      Student Work

      See More Student Work

      Study with Industry Professionals

      View Faculty

      Online Learning

      Our flexible online game development program is built to get you industry-ready, with the practical knowledge, technical skills, and support you need to thrive.

      You’ll be taught by our on-campus instructors, join live workshops, and tap into a constantly updated library of tutorials and resources. You’ll experience the same education and creative community as your on-campus peers, with everything just a click away.

      Earn your game development degree online, on your time, at your pace, from anywhere in the world.

      Online Learning Program

      Facility Highlights

        esports production

        Technology

        280+ Alienware high-performance computers with dual monitors
        13 iMac workstations for iOS development
        103 Cintiq monitors (model:”24HD”)
        21 Alienware 25-inch 240Hz monitors in our Game Lounge
        21 iPad Pro 12.9-Inch tablets for concept art
        6 Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) Headsets
        6 HTC VIVE VR headsets
        4 Samsung Gear VR headsets
        2 Samsung HMD Odyssey Windows mixed-reality (MR) headsets
        2 Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality (AR) headsets
        60+ Wacom tablets
        Xbox/PlayStation/Nintendo game consoles
        iOS/Android mobile platforms: iPad, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel

        man in VR setup playing games

        Virtual and Augmented Reality

        Step into the future now with advanced studio courses in virtual and augmented reality. You’ll have access to the latest gear—from Oculus, HTC, Sony, Microsoft, and whatever comes next—as you explore dynamic interactions on emerging platforms. Through focused training in interaction and UI/UX design, you’ll take a deep dive into how we move, connect, and play in virtual space. Then, you’ll build what’s next.

        group of gamers playing in the Academy esports lounge

        Esports Lab & Competition

        From casual game nights to full-on tournaments, the Knight Arcade is where play meets community. Jump into weekly events or rep the school in league-based esports competitions against colleges across North America.

        Looking for a behind-the-scenes esports career? Our esports studio class partners with top industry players to give you hands-on experience running real events.

        No matter your major, there’s a place for your skills—and a chance to level up before you even graduate.

        Game Development Studio Academy of Art University

        Studio

        Welcome to The Studio—where creative minds from across departments come together to build something bigger. You’ll collaborate with students from Music, Illustration, Animation, and more in a fast-paced, studio-style environment built to mirror the real world. Different skills. One shared mission.

        ESports

        Level up, lock in, and drop into the zone. The ArtU esports lounge is built for every kind of player, from casual contenders to varsity elites. With high-spec gear and full-throttle vibes, it’s a space where artists become athletes.

        Learn More
        young man playing Overwatch at a computer

        COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY OUR STUDENTS




        Students & Alumni

        Always Creating. Always Moving Forward.

        At the Academy, creativity doesn’t pause at graduation; it accelerates. Our students leave with portfolios that speak louder than résumés, catapulting them into creative careers.

        This is where passion meets purpose—on campus, in studios, and on global stages.

        Our alumni are out there now winning awards, leading teams, and shaping culture.

        Read More Success Stories
        Nicole Schofield

        Nicole Schofield

        “I really appreciated the fundamental classes because they gave me a strong foundation. Collaborating with students outside my degree taught me how to communicate across departments, which has been a huge help in my work at Striking Distance and knowing who to connect with to move each project forward.”

        BFA Game Development, Environment Artist at Striking Distance Studios

        Kyoungche Kim

        Kyoungche Kim

        “The Academy opened up so many opportunities for me. I met a lot of good people, built a strong foundation, and those connections have been the most valuable part of my journey.”

        BFA Game Development, Art Director/Co-Founder of StudioSAI

        Garnett James

        Garnett James

        “The Academy is definitely a great school. The instructors really care; they give you one-on-one time and guidance that helps you grow. I’ve learned so much about who I want to be. I can really focus on evolving here and becoming the individual I want to be when I graduate.”

        BFA Game Development, current student

        Atsushi Seo

        Atsushi Seo

        “I really appreciate the Academy because the instructors are actively working in the industry at studios like ILM, Pixar, and others. Learning from them gave me invaluable insight into what it takes to be a collaborative artist, including the skills, mindset, and attention to detail. The connections I made then continue to be valuable to me even today.”

        BFA Game Development, Lighting Director at Absurd Ventures, previous lighting director at Striking Distance Studios

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