Michigan State offers minor in video games
by Ross Miller 
{ Aug 3rd 2005 at 2:30PM }
Still deciding what college to go to? For those about to enter their senior year of high school and have a(n)
(un) healthy obsession with video games, you might consider Michigan State University. MSU has announced that
they will offer a Specialization in Game Design and Development - which, essentially, is a minor in video games.
For those at Michigan State (or looking to transfer) you should take a few intro classes in Computer Science, Graphic
Design, or Interactive Media.
This does not mean you can earn an entire degree in video games like you can at some colleges (Digipen, Devry, etc.),
but Michigan State is a very acclaimed college. Besides, it would probably be in someone's best interest to focus
on a similar field (Computer Science, Graphic Design) than entirely on video games - it's too hard of an industry in
which to guarantee yourself a future.
If you ever needed proof that this wonderful medium that Pong wrote was garnering mainstream attention and some
respect…
[Thanks, Ethan - let us know how the classes are]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ryuukuro @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Alternate title: More Proof that Smart People aren't Afraid of Video Games
Drew @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Damn! Why didn't MSU offer this program when I was a Spartan? Anyway, they offer a very respectable engineering program which shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Devry, Digipen...
Kennelworthy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
What is "very accredited?" I mean, a university can be accredited or not, right? There aren't varying degrees of accredidation are there?
That's like saying I'm very American or very caucasion or very male. Weird.
drGherbik @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I was acually went through their DMAT program a few years back, while the game design courses were in their infancy. Great people, awesome academic program.
Rob @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
The games program here is already a pretty well developed part of the DMAT/Telecommunications programs, so as far as I know, the only real news here is that they've changed the name of it.
Really though, people who want to make games should just get a degree in something a little more legit, like computer science; Better to learn some real skills instead of trying to be like one of the chumps in ads on G4.
alps @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I defenitly took a VR calls for credit! It was awesome! Played games, earned a degree. I was a TC student and I probably would have added the minor, hell I already added a second degree with a specialization why not a 2 degrees and a minor?
RabidMarsupial @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Michigan State University
Average SAT Scores: V-490-610, M-490-630
(that's 25-75%)- Median is around 1110 for both combined.
Average Digipen Median: 1320.
Average Devry: Not required.
Please, don't lump Digipen in with Devry. They may both begin with a "D", but that's about where it ends.
I'll agree with (4) Rob above-- at Digipen you don't 'Tighten up the graphics'-- you work you *ss off for 4 years doing a computer science degree. Lump in 4 year-long game projects, and that's what school is, a 60+ hour per week tour of Hell.
Although over 85% of the Digipen grads enter the game industry, there are those amongst us that just get normal programming jobs. This year alone, the majority of the Digipen grads were 'signed' with game companies *before* they graduated.
I don't mind if you mention MSU in the same sentence as Digipen, just please don't mention Devry or other tech 'schools' with open admission. Thanks!
dPnner