Careers in Game Design & Development
Turn concepts into digital reality.
![Game Art student working on a game graphic in Photoshop](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/desk_game-art-student_animation-1-2400x1350.jpg?ver=1690226826)
Not Just Fun & Games
From hand-held consoles to mobile apps, the game industry is evolving rapidly.
We’re all aware of the fun side of gaming, but it is so much more. From serious games for learning to training and simulation programs, you’ll find your niche in this ever-expanding digital reality.
Game Design & Development
From business office to sound studio, there’s a major to match your passion in the game industry. Work with classmates from other game areas in our hands-on Game Studio Experience, allowing you to create fully functioning games alongside other majors, just like the pros do.
Explore Programs in this PathwayGames are an under-appreciated form of media when it comes to being ‘meaningful,’ but I know firsthand that a good game can change the way you think about the world. That’s the kind of thing that I want to produce, and something that a number of classes have helped me improve with.
![Milo Duclayan](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/05/duclayan-milo-200x200.jpg)
Current Outlook & Opportunties in the Field
Median annual wage for special effects artists and animators, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Estimated worth of the gaming industry by 2026, according to PwC.
Projected job growth for software developers until 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Career Options
From training pilots or gaming with a global community, consider these exciting careers in interactive media and game.
- Capture Artist
- Game Designer
- Network Programmer
- Merchandising
- Research & Development Tech
- User Interface Artist
- 3D Modeling & Animation
- Full Stack Engineer
- Accessibility Developer
- Network Programmer
- Marketing Associate
- Mobile Engineer
Career Outcomes
Before you can do your dream job, you have to land your dream job.
You’ll be assigned a Career Coach in your major. They’re not just mentors; they’re experts in their fields with connections to help you land relevant internships and jobs. Add that to your early hands-on experiences and a stacked portfolio of playable games, and you’re applying to jobs well ahead of the pack.
Read Our Career Success StatisticsWhere Our Alumni Work
![Ubisoft logo in navy](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/ubisoft_logo-navy-400x300.png?ver=1723147720)
![Sega logo in navy](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/sega_logo-navy-400x300.png?ver=1723147739)
![Zenimax Online Studio logo in navy](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/zenimax_logo-navy-400x300.png?ver=1723147701)
![Insomniac Games logo in navy](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/insomniac-games_logo-navy-400x300.png?ver=1723147755)
![Bend Studio Logo in navy text](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/bend-studio_logo-navy-400x300.png?ver=1723147795)
![Bethesda Game Studios logo](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2024/01/bethesda_logo-navy-400x300-1.png?ver=1723145820)
Course Highlights
Learn by doing in our career-focused classes.
- 3D Modeling
- Artificial Intelligence for Games
- Console Programming
- Game Business Lifecycle
- Game Engine Design & Implementation
- Level Design
- Sound Design for Interactivity & Game
I really enjoy how the game majors are formatted from semester to semester. Each fall semester is mostly individual work within your major and specializations…Then, all of the majors come together in the spring semester to work in teams for the Game Studio classes. This format really gives students time to learn and then apply themselves in a group setting with their new skills.
![Evan Barker](https://www.champlain.edu/app/uploads/2023/05/Barker_Evan-200x200.jpg)
Majors
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
Imagine manifesting your colorful childhood imagination on screens large and small. Now imagine getting paid to do it all day.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Use math to tell stories, crack real-world issues, explore diverse applications, and gain problem-solving skills for future success in many industries.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Help create the digital future. Free your creativity, do real work right away, and fuel your passion for technology and innovation.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
Develop your self-expression in our Creative Media major, and learn the business side of interdisciplinary production, digital creation, and entrepreneurship.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
Champlain College is a gaming industry hub, and the Game Art program builds your creative vision and your technical skills to make you job-ready.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Gaming is global, and its future requires business leaders who understand the industry. Champlain College is a hub for gaming – study Game Business & Publishing and learn alongside your future peers.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
As a Game Design major at Champlain College, you’ll start building worlds on day one, preparing for a burgeoning industry. And you’ll understand the strategies, narratives and motivators that compel people to play.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
This one-of-a-kind program prepares you to guide the teams creating tomorrow’s games. Immerse yourself in collaborative, hands-on projects in the Game Production Management major at Champlain College.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Create successful games, build your portfolio, and learn programming within a creative gaming culture when you major in Game Programming at Champlain College.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Learn sound design from industry experts at Champlain, working with the same technology the pros use. Apply your skills and become a key part of a game development team, crafting successful games from start to finish.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Tomorrow’s technology requires good design to be usable. Specialize in user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design at Champlain, and create new intersections between human minds and digital spaces.
View MajorView Concentration- Concentrations
- Implementation Concentration
- Visual Design Concentration
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Put your audience in the writer’s seat to create immersive and infinite games, virtual simulations, experiences, and digital stories.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Undeclared
It’s ok not to know what you want to study or what career to pursue—we’ve got you covered. Our Upside-Down Curriculum lets you explore your options and interests, even if you’re unsure about a major.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Undeclared
Apply Undeclared in Communications & Creative Media to find your voice, artistic talent, and creative passion—and turn them into a career path unique to you.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Undeclared
At Champlain, we’re building the world we want to live in using human-centered technology. Apply Undeclared to ITS to discover how you can shape the future with us.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Undeclared
One of the most innovative and versatile fields, choosing Undeclared in Business at Champlain College is the first step to countless career opportunities in Burlington and beyond.
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Minors
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Create successful games, build your portfolio, and learn programming within a creative gaming culture when you major in Game Programming at Champlain College.
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- Degree Type for Majors
- Bachelor of Science
Learn sound design from industry experts at Champlain, working with the same technology the pros use. Apply your skills and become a key part of a game development team, crafting successful games from start to finish.
View MajorView Minor