welcome to hartwick Game Development
WHY STUDY GAME DEVELOPMENT AT HARTWICK?
You love gaming and want to be part of creating what comes next. You are curious about how games are built, how teams collaborate behind the scenes, and how creativity and technology come together to shape immersive experiences.
At Hartwick, the game development major is more than playing games. It is learning how to design, build, test and launch them. Through a project based, game development degree created with industry input, you gain the technical skills, creative tools and real world experience to turn your passion into a career in a fast growing global industry.
WHAT SETS HARTWICK APART:
- Hands on, project based game development coursework focused on design, programming and production.
- No portfolio required to enter the program. You build a professional portfolio through hands-on coursework and projects.
- Curriculum co-created with Unity Technologies, the world’s leading game development engine, to teach in-demand industry skills.
- Small classes with close faculty mentoring and personalized academic support.
- Flexible learning that blends on campus instruction with online coursework.
- Career focused experiences through internships, applied projects and Student Showcase presentations.
CAREER OUTLOOK FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT MAJORS:
Game development is part of a growing technology and digital media workforce with strong long term demand as interactive and immersive content continues to expand.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers is projected to grow 15 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- The median annual salary for software developers is $130,000.
Game development skills are in demand across gaming studios, technology companies, entertainment and digital media. Graduates are prepared for stable, creative and high impact careers building experiences used by audiences around the world.
CAREER PATHS FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT MAJORS:
Game development opens doors to a wide range of creative and technical careers, including:
- Game Developer
- Gameplay or Level Designer
- Game Programmer
- Unity Developer
- Software Developer
- Animator or Motion Capture Developer
- Concept Artist
- Art Producer
- Video Game Producer
- Creative Director
Graduates also apply their skills in related fields such as app development, interactive media, virtual reality and digital storytelling.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Game development using the Unity Engine, the most widely used game engine in the world.
- Programming fundamentals for game development using Python, C# and JavaScript, along with web technologies such as HTML5 and CSS.
- Game design principles, level design, user experience and interactive storytelling.
- The art and production side of gaming, including concept art, animation, audio, scripting and voice acting.
- How to collaborate on real development teams through the full game development lifecycle.
- Portfolio ready projects that culminate in a playable demo showcased at Hartwick’s Student Showcase.
As a hybrid program, coursework combines on-campus classes with online courses offered through a national consortium of accredited institutions.
Game Development Major Amplifies Esports Club, Plans Swoop Game
STEM at Hartwick
Game Development at Hartwick is part of a multidisciplinary STEM experience, where you gain real skills through applied learning, research and close faculty support.
SEE YOURSELF IN GAME DEVELOPMENT?
Learn more about how game development at Hartwick combines creativity, technology and hands-on learning to help you build real world skills and graduate prepared to adapt, problem solve and make an impact in a fast growing field.