Game design and programming is increasingly being taught at more and more colleges and universities across the U.S. According to new research from the ESA, there are now a total of 343 programs being offered in the U.S. dealing with design, development, and programming - 301 at the undergrad level and another 42 at the graduate level.
There are 45 states (and the District of Columbia) that currently provide design and development programs. Not surprisingly, California is the top region for game design with 54 institutions of higher learning offering game-related programs. Other top states include Texas (24), Illinois (20), Florida (18), New York (15), Minnesota (14), Massachusetts (13), Arizona (10), Michigan (10), and Pennsylvania (10).
“It is encouraging to see so many institutions of higher learning preparing students for careers in our creative and high-tech industry,” said Rich Taylor, senior vice president for communications and industry affairs at the ESA. “Video games are everywhere – nearly three quarters of American households play games, and education, healthcare and business professionals are using them to help us lead happier, healthier and more productive lives. With an increasing number of schools now offering graduate programs in game design and development, students have even greater access to the training they need to meet this growing demand."
If you're looking to become a game developer, the ESA has provided a handy, sortable list of programs right here.
