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Department of
Game Design & Development

Portrait of a gamer girl wearing headphones in dramatic orange lighting. She's wearing a jacket and a hat.
Be a Dragon Slayer in Game Design

Build the Games You Want to Play

A cyber soldier wielding a rifle and spherical drones floats ominously.

Our Game Design & Development department stands as a creative powerhouse, having clinched a spot among The Princeton Review’s Top 25 Schools for Game Design.

We’ll equip you with essential theoretical, technical, and business knowledge to conquer the gaming industry. Employers seek talent that masterfully blends creativity and technical wizardry, precisely where our unique specialization shines. We’re all about merging the best of both worlds, fostering a new generation of innovative game developers.

At USV, personalized attention and hands-on mentoring take center stage. Consider us not just educators but your companions in the gaming trenches—guiding every step of your journey. With a mentor-focused approach, our curriculum adapts to unleash your distinct abilities.

Game Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Game Art

Get ready to unleash your artsy side in our Bachelor of Arts in Game Art program! We'll equip you with the fundamental skills needed to conquer the game development industry. Dive into art theory, design skills, and game design principles in a hands-on and highly technical adventure! It’s game on for game art.

Bachelor of Arts in Game Design

XP for your degree. Welcome to the ultimate game design playground! In our Bachelor of Arts in Game Design program, we'll immerse you in a hands-on, collaborative adventure. Get ready to dive into theoretical design concepts and master practical skills like storytelling, programming, level design, and quality assurance.

Bachelor of Science in Game Engineering

Gear up for a wild ride in our Bachelor of Science in Game Engineering program at the University of Silicon Valley! We'll teach you the secret sauce of development and design processes, equipping you for awesome jobs in various computing fields. We'll help you to learn how to code video games, armed with the tools and concepts employers crave! We’re game. Are you?

Join Our Alumni Ranks

USV alumni have gone on to work at some of the most prestigious studios in the video game industry. 

Student Work

Create Projects
for the Pros

Potential Gaming Career Options

Your Experience Just Got Real

Game Art

  • 2D Animator
  • 2D Artist
  • 3D Animator
  • 3D Modeler
  • Character Artist
  • Concept Artist
  • Environment Artist
  • Game Designer
  • Level Designer
  • Narrative Designer
  • Game Writer
  • Content Editor
  • Producer
  • Quality Assurance (QA) Tester
  • Technical Artist
  • Texture Artist 

Game Design

  • Game Designer
  • Level Designer
  • Narrative Designer
  • Game Writer
  • Content Editor
  • Producer
  • Quality Assurance (QA) Tester

Game Engineering

  • Computer Programmers
  • Software Developers, Applications
  • Software Developers, Systems Software 
Ready to git gud at game design?

Learn On-Campus
or Online

Our Game Design & Development programs are available on-campus or 100% online. Whether taking classes at the USV campus or learning from the comfort of your own home, you will experience multiplayer support of our award-winning curriculum.

Learn more about getting a career in Game Design & Development

It's Never too Late to Reset Your Skill Tree

Learn from the Best

Real World Learning.
For Reels.

In Game Studio, students work in teams for external clients, adding actual games that ship to their portfolio. Project-based learning leads to real-world results.