Video Game Programming Degrees
Should Students Study Programming or Computer Science at University?
Apr 3, 2008
Anyone who has watched a late night or even mid-afternoon television has seen technical schools offering training specializing in video game programming. Video game programming is a far cry from what the hobbiest programmer used to do on on the Commodore 64 and the Commodore 128. The question is, are these programs worth the time and money or would the person pursuing one be better off with a four-year degree?
Any student who has been through a computer programming class may be frustrated when he finds out his first assignment is how to display "Hello, world" across the screen rather than to create the latest killer application. The technology of video game programming has progressed far more so that not only is programming knowledge is required. A little knowledge of how to use computer graphics programs is now required to make a video game.
Are the Video Game Programming Curriculums Worth It?
Teresa, a representative for Devry, a technical school that offers many degree programs, said that their video game programming curriculum differs from the competitors because Devry works closely with perspective employers and has a good job placement program. The answer Teressa gave was general and would have been the same for any program offered by the institution she represented.
Devry is not the only technical school to offer a video game programming curriculum. Many universities and technical colleges are capitalizing on the dreams of gamers. The video game programming college courses are legitimate, but gamers who want to learn to program video games would be better served by earning a degree in computer science.
The Upside of the Video Degree Programming Curriculums
Anyone who has attended a university knows that universities often make their students take classes that fall outside of their chosen field of study. The advantage of getting a degree at a technical college or institute like Devry is that students pass through the programs more quickly than they do in a four-year college.
A student considering getting a degree in video game programming should not discount schools like Devry merely, but he should be prepared to do a little research and not shy away from enrolling at a four year university. Even if a computer science major fails to become a video game programmer, there is still plenty of work maintaining business code and developing web applications.
A person who has a degree solely in creating video games will likely be turned down when applying for these jobs, while a person with a recent degree in computer science will have more career opportunities open to him.
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