Game Design
Associate in Science
Program Details
The Game Design program is designed to prepare students for freelance careers and/or entry-level employment as independent game developers with game design and development companies. Students explore creative, technical, critical, and design-based solutions to real-world issues such as understanding and awareness of diseases, equality, and financial management, making statements through games and gameplay, and training or educating for careers or scenarios outside of games. All of this will come together to meet the rigors of a dynamically evolving array of game-oriented professions.
Game Design Pathways
Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2025-2026. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?
Featured Careers
Find your calling. Explore high-earning careers with entry-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree
- Job growth: Rising
- Low salary: 60,690
- High salary: 166,960
- Average salary: 102610
Special Effects Artists and Animators
Bachelor's degree, Some college
- Job growth: Stable
- Low salary: 57,220
- High salary: 174,630
- Average salary: 99800
Art Directors
Bachelor's degree
- Job growth: Stable
- Low salary: 61,060
- High salary: 211,410
- Average salary: 111040
All Careers in Game Design (12)
| Computer Hardware Engineers | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 155,020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | Bachelor's degree | Stable | 111,040 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | Certificate after high school, Associate's degree | Rising | 108,970 |
| Database Administrators | Bachelor's degree | Rising | 104,620 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree | Rising | 103,790 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree | Rising | 102,610 |
| Validation Engineers | Bachelor's degree | Rising | 101,140 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | Bachelor's degree, Some college | Stable | 99,800 |
| Video Game Designers | Bachelor's degree, High school diploma/GED | Rising | 98,090 |
| Producers & Directors | Bachelor's degree, High school diploma/GED | Rising | 83,480 |
| Film & Video Editors | Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree | Stable | 70,980 |
| Graphic Designers | Bachelor's degree, High school diploma/GED | Stable | 61,300 |
Program Pathways Mapper incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.