EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University is among the best universities to study video game design in North America, according to a new ranking published this week.
MSU earned the No. 5 spot in North America in The Princeton Review’s list of “Top Schools for Video Game Design Study for 2011.”
Brian Winn, associate professor and undergraduate director of the game design and development specialization, said the honor is significant for current and future students.
“We are the only school in the Midwest and east of Utah to be listed in the top five, so this program is a real boost for students looking for this education outside of the western region of the U.S.,” he said. “We are honored to receive this recognition and excited about the future of video game education at MSU.”
The Princeton Review chose the schools based on a survey of administrators at 150 institutions offering video game design coursework and/or degrees in the United States and Canada. Conducted during the 2010-11 academic year, the survey included more than 50 questions, with topics ranging from academics, curriculum, and faculty credentials to graduates’ employment and career achievements.
The University of Southern California earned the top ranking, followed by the University of Utah, DigiPen Institute of Technology, the Art Institute of Vancouver and Michigan State.
MSU offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees with specialized curriculum in video game design and development. At the undergraduate level, students in a variety of degree programs also can earn a specialization in game design and development. At the graduate level, students can major in telecommunication, information studies and media and pursue a concentration in serious game design.
“Since the launch of the specialization in 2005, our college has steadily been building its expertise in a variety of high-tech areas,” said Pamela Whitten, dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. “With the upcoming launch of the Integrated Media Arts Program for undergraduates, I am confident that MSU will continue its upward trajectory toward being the world’s best of class for an education in media design and production.”
For more information about the specialization in game design and development, go online to www.cas.msu.edu/programs.
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