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Spotlight on an Online College:
American Sentinel University

 

 

Are you serious about your dream to pursue a career in video game design? Is it your passion to work in the industry? Do you have a creative side and a knack for working with computers?

It is very possible to combine your passion for video games with a career in the industry. And one of the ways to do this is to get a bachelors degree specifically in Game Programming. American Sentinel University has exactly the right program for you. They have a program that gives you a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science with a specialization in Game Programming. This kind of a curriculum gives you a serious step up when it comes to developing a career in the game industry.

Now, I have a lot of articles about game design and if you have read through my articles you know that the gaming industry is a mature industry in that there are a very wide array of possible career paths you can choose from. Among these career paths include artist, musician, programmer, animator, 3d modeler, artificial intelligence programming, database manager, project manager, writer, and a hundred other positions.

 

Online College and Brick and Mortar College- a comparison

I have gone to traditional college and I have also taken a full year curriculum that was totally online. And I have found that the quality is the same. But there are some distinct benefits to taking an online curriculum. First off the expense is almost always less and secondly you have a lot of flexibility in time. This is perfect if you are an adult looking to continue your education or change careers. An online curriculum gives you the opportunity to continue with the responsibilities of adult life while still furthering your education and career. In a nutshell I love online classes.

The Variety of Video Game Programming Career Paths

There are a lot of different paths you can take to get yourself into the video game industry and one of the best things you can do is to get a solid education (Bachelors Degree) in a curriculum that is specifically designed for game programming. And this is where American Sentinel University comes in.

About American Sentinel University

They have a Bachelors Degree program that is specifically tailored to Game Programming. This program gives you a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science with specialized instruction in Game Programming. What does that give you? It gives you a solid foundation for an exciting career. And it gives you the flexibility to pursue different career paths in the gaming industry. I have talked a little bit about these various paths and opportunities. You can read more about careers in video games by reading my article here - Work in Video Games .

About the Curriculum

I have taken a very close look at their curriculum and here are my thoughts. The core curriculum is standardized for a bachelors degree with a slant toward computer science. You get your basic science, math, humanities, and behavioral and social sciences classes. This all gives you the basic groundwork for a solid Bachelors degree. Then the curriculum gets intensive and focused on Computer Science and Game Progeramming. You get all the necessary courses in computer science like software engineering and operating systems and you get a great core of classes that are specific to game programming. These include:

  • Introduction to Game Design
  • Introduction to Game Programming
  • Computer Graphics Programming
  • Artificial Intelligence for Gaming
  • Advanced Computer Graphics Programming

Now, those classes give you a great understanding of Game Programming in its variety of forms. And by taking these classes you will get a good understanding of where in the game industry you would like to focus. Then you take your upper division electives. It is with these that you can start to specialize within the game industry. And ASU has a bunch of great classes like:

  • Programming in C#
  • Java Script
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Information Systems Project Management
  • Concepts of Java
  • Windows Programming using Visual Basic
  • Advanced Visual Basic

Overall What does this Degree Program Give you?

Obviously the first thing it gives you is a Bachelors Degree which is great. And it gives you your degree with a good basic understanding of Computer Science. It then goes on to give you a good core set of classes in Game Programming. And finally it gives you the ability to choose within the realm of game programming which areas you are most interested. You see? It gives you a well rounded look at the variety of offerings in the industry and a chance to get a more in-depth understanding of the specific area you like.

 

A Word from American Sentinel University

American Sentinel University offers accredited, affordable and convenient online degree programs to help you advance your career. Their online degree programs and student support services are designed especially for busy, working professionals who need maximum flexibility while balancing family, work and school.

One-on-one attention plus a flexible study format are especially valued by its students.  There are no set class times or difficult-to-schedule group projects.  Students can study whenever and wherever possible.  Classes also begin monthly and bi-monthly depending on the program.  With one of the lowest tuition rates among online schools, American Sentinel also provides extensive benefits and scholarships to military members and their spouses.

Since 1998, experienced professionals and non-traditional students have looked to us to achieve academically and fulfill their personal goals. Student satisfaction is over 90 percent across all our programs.

Learning More about ASU

You can learn more about the program here: ASU Game Programming

What about the expense? You can learn about the cost of the curriculum and abou the benefits of a degree from ASU as compared to the cost of a degree from other institutions here: An Education You Can Afford