College Gaming May Be Available Near You
It’s finally that time of year for seniors in high school to start looking for their dream college. With all of these Universities to choose from, which one will you choose to fulfill your gaming needs? We decided to take a moment and name a few noteworthy institutions for all the Player 1’s out there. ESports has been a rapidly growing industry. In the past few years, it has opened many possibilities for gamers everywhere and colleges have programs to contribute as well. We are going to list a few colleges that offer a scholarship or program related to gaming or game design.
University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
Are you interested in being a varsity League of Legends player? How about enrolling to University of California Irvine and check out their eSports Arena for a little motivation. Aside from offering game industry programs, UCI is also notable for its dedicated eSports Arena complete with 70 high end computers. With a staff and team dedicated to making you the best, you will witness improvements in your gaming, academic success, and a healthier lifestyle.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
If you’re interested in game design for a career path, then you should definitely check out Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT has one of the most renowned game design programs in the US. Their Master of Science in Game Design and Development will allow students to create functional projects while learning the important aspects in game development. After the 2 year program, students will have the knowledge and experience to leap into the gaming industry and change the world one game at a time!
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Are you looking into having a productive summer? How about enrolling into USC’s Introduction to Video Game Design program. Being a highly competitive program to enroll in, you risk the chance of being put on the wait-list. However, the risk is worth the rewards. It is a 4 week college credit program that teaches its students the basics needed to design and produce a game from start to finish. You will design, program, test and complete daily challenges to improve and hone your skills. You’re also given the chance to meet some of the best designers and developers in the industry. The program offers field trips to offices such as Treyarch, EA Sports, Activision and more. If game development is the drive you need to make it out of bed every morning, this may be the program for you.
Southern Methodist University, Plano, TX
Currently at the top of the list in Game Design, SMU offers one of the most extensive programs. Aside from enrolling into the game design program, you also have the option of choosing between 4 specializations (Art, Design, Production, and Programming) to focus on. These four specializations are essential for the design and development of a project. Through this program, you will be able to choose and learn the aspects that inspired your choice to join the gaming industry.
Robert Morris University, Chicago, IL
RMU recognized the growth of eSports back in 2014 and now offers eSports in its list of athletic programs. You can participate in competitions in the following game titles: League of Legends, DOTA 2, Hearthstone, Counter-Strike, and Heroes of the Storm. Qualified gamers can even earn a scholarship of up to 50% tuition and 50% room and board. RMU thrives in competition and team spirit making your experience here much more memorable.
University of Advancing Technology, Tempe, AZ
Similar to Southern Methodist University, UAT offers a highly coveted series of programs that help prepare students in specific areas in the industry. Living up to its name, UAT offers programs specialized in Art and Animation, Game Design, Game Programming, and as well as a few more. Just having a general interest or passion for technology is enough to make anyone yearn for the UAT lifestyle.
There are many more scholarships and programs available at colleges all over the US. ESports truly has grown considerably and offers more opportunities today than it ever has in the past. If there isn’t a program available at your nearest University, we at Player 1 Customs encourage you to start one. You can find ways to raise awareness by starting an organization or even organizing a LAN party. As eSports has proven, there is a large audience in the gaming industry that wants to be heard.
We hope you found this blog post useful. If you have any suggestions on a guide, tutorial or topic, let us know! Feel free to message us at [email protected] or visit our contact page.
Joel Duarte
Howdy ya'll. I'm a PC gaming enthusiast from Texas that loves discussing gaming and technology. I've been building computers for over 10 years and have learned much about custom PC gaming throughout that time. I hope that my experience and wisdom will guide young gamers to higher scores.