Becker College: A Destination for Game Designers

Does the idea of designing video games capture your imagination? Then follow the Professor to Becker College in Worcester, Mass.

Becker, founded in 1784, is one of the oldest colleges in the United States, but the Professor found that it has indeed kept up with the times. U.S. News and World Report called Becker College “a destination for game designers.”

To be more precise, Becker offers a Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Media Design with a concentration in Game Development and Programming. Students hone their programming skills and get a lot of practical, hands-on training to prepare for careers in developing and producing video games. They study programming, visual arts, concept design, engine design, animation and rigging, script development, mobile and console applications, and computer graphics.

Juniors can pursue internships, where they work side-by-side with professionals in the field. When students graduate, they have a deep understanding of the theory and practice of game design. That's exactly what they'll need to succeed in this industry, which is thriving now and projected to continue growing. (Worldwide sales of video games are expected to hit $86.8 billion in 2014!)

Students graduate with a skill set that prepares them to compete for entry-level positions such as game-play tester, game scripter, game coder, or interactivity developer. Many students find work in the game industry right after graduation, some pursue general information technology (IT) careers, while others use the degree as a stepping-stone to graduate-level studies.

For those whose passion for game design doesn't quit when class is over, Becker has even more resources. During the bi-annual 24-Hour Game Jam in October, teams of students compete to design a game in just a day. The games are judged on creativity, quality of gameplay, appearance, and fun factor. Want a glimpse into what students came up with in 2012? Click here to play their games for free.

Becker is also home to the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute, or "MassDiGI," a group that connects game designers from academia, government, and industry across Massachusetts.

Becker's approximately 2,000 students live within walking distance of downtown Worcester. The city of 180,000 is home to roughly a dozen colleges and is about a three-hour drive from New York City and less than an hour from Boston. The college, which has programs in business, education, animal studies, nursing, and other fields, made the Princeton Review's 378 Best Colleges list.

Even though Becker is known for its modern, high-tech centers, at least one historical claim to fame is still on people's minds here: The college is where the first perfect game in Major League Baseball history was thrown by Lee Richmond in 1880.

To learn more about Becker College’s application requirements and deadlines for Game Development and Programming and other programs, please visit www.becker.edu.

Crystal Anderson is the president of Crystal Clear College Planning, which helps Seattle-area families plan financially and academically for college. Learn more about our free local workshops on planning for college.