Today at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, GamePro Media and Princeton Review announced the top two winners in their "Top Schools for Video Game Design Study for 2011." For the second year in a row, GamePro Media and The Princeton Review awarded the University of Southern California the two top prizes. The ranking recognizes the top 10 undergraduate and top 10 graduate programs for video game design out of 150 surveyed in North America. USC ranked highest in both categories.
The survey asked more than 50 questions, and covered a wide range of topics from academics and faculty credentials to graduates' employment and career achievements. Choices included quality of the curriculum, faculty, facilities and infrastructure. The Princeton Review factored in information collected from the schools about their scholarships, financial aid and career opportunities.
USC's video game design programs stood out because they include the Interactive Media Division of the USC School of Cinematic Arts and the GamePipe program in the Department of Computer Science at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
"In the short span of five years since its inception, the USC GamePipe program has become the national leader in education and professional game development," said Dean Yannis C. Yortsos of the USC Viterbi School. "It is a testament to the program quality, its leadership and the interdisciplinary strength at USC, which combines computer science, cinematic arts and fine arts in a unique partnership."
Source: Hollywood Reporter
