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Do you love playing video games? Are you curious about how they are made?

Our Game Development program might be a perfect fit for you. Game Development is a flexible field that is both artistic and can lead to a variety of jobs. You can work for a large game company or as an independent developer making and publishing your own games. You can develop games for entertainment, training or therapy. At AACC, you’ll enjoy small class sizes, one-on-one time with faculty and state-of-the-art software, hardware and labs. You’ll develop skills and experience that can help you jump-start your career right now or prepare to transfer to a game program at a four-year institution.


Career Degree

AACC offers the following Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. The state of Maryland refers to the A.A.S. as a career degree, because it's intended to provide you with skills to enter the workforce. In some cases, AACC has entered into transfer agreements that allow these degrees to transfer to select colleges. A list of active agreements may be found on this website. You can also learn more about transferring from AACC to continue your education.

Game Development, Visual Arts Professional, A.A.S.

Learn how to make your own games and gain the skills to become a game developer. We'll teach you about game design, how to produce 2D and 3D game art, how to work with game engines and how to publish games for various platforms. You’ll also gain valuable experience through a gaming internship or practicum course where you will work on developing a real game. 

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Transfer Degree

The Visual Arts and Humanities department is proud to offer the Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Game Art and Design. 

Game Art and Design, Visual Arts Transfer, A.A.

Obtain a basic understanding of how games are made and what careers are available. You'll form a solid foundation in art and design, taking courses that are commonly taken in the first two years at a four-year institution. When you finish, you’ll be well prepared to transfer to a four-year college or university. In fact, our transfer students are better prepared and more apt to receive scholarship money than many of their four-year peers.

Game Art and Design - Visual Arts Transfer (A.A.)

Credit Certificate

The following certificate prepares you for employment and feeds into the A.A.S. degree, if desired.

Game Development

Gain experience designing and making your own games. This certificate is for professionals already holding a degree who wish to make a career change or add game development to their existing skills. Those interested in taking courses in just gaming development are also welcome.

Game Development (certificate)


Job Outlook

Employment in this field is expected to grow 5-25% by 2031.

You can transfer to a four-year university, create your own games or seek entry-level employment at a game company. Our graduates pursue a number of rewarding careers, such as:

  • Game artist
  • Game designer
  • Game engineer
  • Game producer
  • Game tester

There are a range of game companies, both large and small. Large game companies, also known as "AAA" (or Triple A) companies, have hundreds of employees all with a range of specialized skills. Smaller independent studios, called "Indie studios," may have less than a dozen employees each with a wide range of skills and abilities. Regionally specific, many game developers use their skills to create training games called simulations for military and other government agencies. 

Learn more about career opportunities, median salaries and job outlook for these programs by checking out AACC's Career Coach:


What Our Alumni Say


Questions?

We're here to help.

School of Liberal Arts
Visual Arts and Humanities

Drew Snyder, associate professor

410-777-7029

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Meet Associate Professor Drew Snyder

Headshot of Drew Snyder

Interests: Puzzle games; reading sci fi and fantasy; environmental issues; native birds, plants and animals 

A Little More: Like many AACC grads, it took Drew Snyder more than four years to complete his undergraduate education. Originally interested in studying the relationship between brain chemistry and psychology, Snyder took his first art class on a whim.   

Learn more about Drew.


Program Planner for Game Development A.A.S.

Program Planner for Game Art and Design A.A.