Interdisciplinary program teaches design, programming, art, sound, production management and more
Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its pioneering game development major. As the first college in New England to offer a dedicated game program, Champlain has evolved its offering into a comprehensive Game Studio Experience, maintaining its position at the forefront of game education. The Game Studio 20th Anniversary Celebration will recognize this important milestone during Champlain Weekend on Oct. 25-26, which includes a slate of playable student-created games from over the years, guest speakers, and studio memorabilia. To date, Champlain College’s Game Studio has graduated more than 1,100 students. Many have gone on to work for major game studios, including Apple, Bend Studios, Blizzard, Boeing, Bungie, Disney, EA, Insomniac, Microsoft, Nintendo, Riot, Sega, Sony, Ubisoft, Zenimax, and more.
Champlain College’s innovative game education has evolved with the industry, transitioning from a focus on game design, programming, and art, to its full-fledged Game Studio Experience. Students learn all aspects of development from industry-veteran faculty in a studio setting, working in collaborative groups to create games from concept to completion.
Champlain’s Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Game & Interactive Development launched in 2004. Over the next two decades, the program grew and evolved into an agile interdisciplinary Game Studio with seven degrees that include Game Art, Game Business and Publishing, Game Production Management, Game Programming, Game Sound Design, Interactive Narratives for Games and Digital Media, and Game Design. Students begin building games in their first year and graduate with a comprehensive portfolio that includes a complete, published game.
“A lot has changed in the game industry over the last 20 years, from console wars to the rise of PC and mobile gaming, alongside substantial technological advancements,” said Jessie Gagnon, Chair of the Game Studio. “Champlain’s Game Studio has been a leader in adapting game-focused education to ensure our students are prepared to contribute at their workplace on day one. It’s our collaborative, interdisciplinary, agile approach which emulates a real game studio, that’s been our secret to success over the last two decades.”
The program is led by a faculty of video game industry veterans who have worked on games like Doom, Dauntless, Halo, League of Legends, Elder Scrolls Online, and the Medal of Honor series. Faculty bring a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom, providing hands-on instruction as students develop their skills in disciplines vital to the video game industry, including art, music, design, programming, production, entrepreneurship, and more.
“Champlain College’s Game Studio gave me space to explore my passion and aptitudes, and find my niche in the diverse games industry,” said Jen Carlin '19, who works for Insomniac Games and is an adjunct professor at Champlain. “The Advanced Seminar in Game Art course is structured for independent study, which allowed me to practice my skills and develop the portfolio that landed me an internship and eventually a career at Insomniac Games. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to give back to Champlain and teach that class.” Carlin will share her expertise and advice during Saturday's Game Studio Alumni Panel.
About Champlain College: Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and a broad portfolio of online degrees and certificates through Champlain College Online. The College is known for its distinctive and innovative approach to career-focused education and its “upside-down” curriculum, which helps students be: “Ready for Work. Ready for Life. Ready to Make a Difference.” Champlain ranks in multiple categories of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges,” including Best Value Schools, Best Colleges in the North, Best Colleges for Veterans, and Top Performers on Social Mobility. Champlain was also listed among The Princeton Review’s “The Best 388 Colleges” in 2023 and was recognized as a 2022 College of Distinction for its “Engagement, Teaching, Community, and Outcomes” and ranked “Best MBA Program” by Vermont Business Magazine. For more information, visit www.champlain.edu.
Source: [BURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 22, 2024 —] Champlain College
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