Member Avatar for nobody2ph

hi, im just in highschool and in 2 years ill be living in the US to study there.
so i was wondering what is the best game development college in LA?
or what choices do i have?
what skill does it take?

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Practical checklist and a two‑year prep roadmap to add to this thread — a follow-up that complements ’s curriculum example and ’s resource pointer. For (who needs to stay in California), the main decision is whether to pursue a CS-heavy route (strong systems and engine work) or a design/art route (animation, level design, UX). Both work for game careers; what matters is demonstrable, finished work.

What to look for in a program:

  • Project-based courses and a team capstone; evidence that students ship games.
  • Coverage across graphics, AI/physics, software engineering and elective flexibility.
  • Clear internship/industry connections in the LA entertainment/games scene.
  • Faculty or labs with real-world production experience and alumni placement.
  • Facilities that match interests (art studios, audio suites, playtest space).
    These signals matter more than a single ranking line on a brochure.

Two-year prep roadmap (practical steps):
Year 1 — fundamentals: pick one engine (Unity/C# or Unreal/C++), learn OOP and data structures, sharpen algebra/trig, build tiny playable projects, and start using Git. Keep scope tiny: 1–2 week prototypes that finish.
Year 2 — polish and show: finish 2–3 polished mini‑games or one longer prototype, write short postmortems for each project, post code on GitHub and builds on a public page, join game jams, and prepare a concise portfolio and one‑page résumé. Arrange campus visits or email program advisors before applying.

Common pitfalls and quick fixes:

  • Many half‑done projects look worse than a single finished one — finish and document it.
  • Poor scope control: define a small MVP, ship, then iterate.
  • Skip undocumented team roles: list contributions clearly.
    Program details change over time; verify current catalogs and internship stats before applying. The strongest applications show repeatable delivery: finished builds, teamwork, and clear learning from iteration.
Member Avatar for smagee12

Not in LA, but in Louisiana! Tulane is rated the one of the best colleges in the country.
Their curriculum is this right here:


B.S. COMPUTER SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Game Development Concentration

Freshman Year


Fall

Software Design and Programming, CPSC 101 (4)


Calculus I, MATH 121 (4)


Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science, ENGR 101 (1)


Physics 121 or 131 (4)


General Elective (3)

semester total (16)


Spring

Object-Oriented Design and Programming, CPSC 102 (4)


Calculus II, MATH 122 (4)


Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science, ENGR 102 (2)


Physics 122 or 132 (4)


Writing, ENGL 101 (4)

semester total (18)

Sophomore Year


Fall

Computer Organization, CPEN 201 (4)


Sophomore Test Period (test period for CPEN 201), CPEN 200 (0)


Calculus III, MATH 221 (4)


Science Elective (3)


General Elective (3)


General Elective (3)

semester total (17)


Spring

Data Structures, CPSC 118 (4)


Digital Logic, CPEN 240 (4)


Sophomore Test Period (test period for CPEN 240), CPEN 200 (0)


Using Modern Integrated Development Environments, CPSC 209 (1)


Discrete Mathematics, MATH 217 (3)


Science Elective (3)


General Elective (3)

semester total (18)

Junior Year


Fall

Software Engineering, CPSC 305 (4)


Graphics and Animation, CPEN 461 (3)


Linear Algebra, MATH 309 (4)


Concentration Elective (3)


General Elective (3)

semester total (17)


Spring

Advanced Software Engineering: Game Development, CPSC 406 (3)


Operating Systems, CPSC 355 (4)


Concentration Elective (3)


Probability and Statistics, MATH 301 (3)


General Elective (3)

semester total (16)

Senior Year


Fall

Game Development Project I, CPSC 493 (2)


Senior Seminar, CPSC 491 (2)


Theory of Computation, CPSC 362 (3)


Artificial Intelligence, CPSC 466 (3)


Concentration Elective (3)

semester total (13)


Spring

Game Development Project II, CPSC 494 (2)


CPSC/CPEN 400-level course (3)


Programming Languages, CPSC 350 (3)


General Elective (3)


General Elective (3)

semester total (14)

Concentration Electives (3 courses required)

Concentration electives are courses in other departments relevant to esthetic, practical, or business aspects of game development. They must be chosen from a list approved by the department.


The following courses are currently being considered for inclusion on this list which has not yet been finalized.


Entrepreneurship in Engineering, ENGR 600


Introduction to Graphic Design, UMAR 280


Media and the Law, UMAR 315


3D Design and Animation, UMAR 352


Marketing Management, MKTG 382, or Introduction to Marketing Principles, UMKT 320


Entrepreneurial Marketing, MKTG 410

Member Avatar for kelin

Hi,

I collected a great deal of Game Development Technical Materials, helpful for you!

Member Avatar for nobody2ph

Hi guys!
I almost forgot about this thread.
Thanks Smagee12! The curriculum is amazing! but I really can't go farther than CA. I have to live with some realatives.
WOW kelin! I'm sending you an e-mail right now!

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