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Game and Digital Media Design, BFA

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game and Digital Media Design develops the skills and expertise to succeed in electronic gaming careers.

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BFA in Game Design Program Overview

This exciting BFA in Game Design and Digital Media program is cross-disciplinary, meaning you’ll learn about gaming and digital media design from several critically important points of view, including digital imaging, technical computer skills using advanced computer-aided design (CAD) software, and fundamental business management concepts, to prepare you to succeed in a dynamic and entrepreneurial industry.

New England College’s BFA in Game and Digital Media Design emphasizes engaged, hands-on learning and internships designed to build expertise and real-world skills. You’ll produce interactive content within your first year of study, and internship opportunities are numerous.

Game and Digital Media Design Program Highlights

Cross-Disciplinary Hands-On Immediate
Learn about design from technical and business perspectives. Learn about design from technical and business perspectives. Produce interactive content within your first year of study.

Student Work

New England College
Haley Gymsiak
New England College
Selly Grass
New England College
Dominique Baron
New England College
Shelly Grass
New England College
Haley Gymsiak
New England College
Haley Gymsiak and Shelly Grass

Why Earn Your BFA in Game Design and Digital Media Design?

Industrywide growth for gaming and digital design is projected to be strong over the next decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected growth for special effects artists and animators—a field that includes game designers—is 8%. This is more than double the 3% job growth that the BLS projects for the average profession. It’s also a field that embraces young innovators: A 2021 survey from the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) noted that 61% of the industry workers surveyed were 34 and under.

This future growth won’t just be driven by entertainment. A new area of industry development is “serious games”: cross-sector applications in industries outside of amusements. Potential areas graduates can work in include the following:

  • Defense
  • Education
  • Science
  • Healthcare
  • Emergency management
  • Urban planning
  • Engineering
  • Politics

 

BFA Degree in Game and Digital Media Design Learning Outcomes

Earning a BFA degree in Game and Digital Media Design can help you with the following:

Application of specialized technical skills. You’ll build an advanced toolbox of skills demonstrating knowledge of audio and video technologies, motion graphics, and graphics production in both 2D and 3D. You’ll use advanced CAD software, such as Autodesk 3ds Max; apply physics simulations in CAD programs; and understand programming languages to write code for assets and prototype designs in game engines.

Business management. The gaming industry is entrepreneurial. Most gaming software is sold online, and a new generation of game developers is often directly responsible for marketing products and managing profit and loss. This requires a fundamental knowledge of business strategy and effective management. You’ll learn business concepts that include marketing, entrepreneurship, and small business management.

Design. You’ll learn the essential tenets of high-quality design and apply your design skills to interactive content as you build games for both entertainment and more serious learning applications.

Internships. While not required, NEC strongly encourages you to complete an internship during your senior year. New Hampshire is positioning itself to be a gaming hub of the Northeast. Game Assembly, a nonprofit organization in Manchester, New Hampshire, that supports workspace collaboration for gamers, established game design businesses such as Retro Affect (Meredith, New Hampshire) and Skymap Games (Manchester, New Hampshire). You’ll also be near established gaming hubs in Boston, Massachusetts; and Montreal, Canada, that provide excellent opportunities for students.

What Can You Do with a BFA in Game Design Degree?

Earning a BFA degree in Game and Digital Media Design can prepare you to enter an innovative, forward-thinking field with applications ranging from enjoyment to social significance. Because of gaming’s wide range of use, this can provide you with opportunities to pursue a career path that ties to your interests outside of work.

Level Designer

$63,010*

 Games Developer

$87,270*

 Animator

$98,950**
*Approximate salary data from Payscale as of 2023

**Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2022

Why Choose NEC?

New England College (NEC) is a private, nonprofit college founded in 1946 to serve the needs of servicepeople attending college on the GI Bill after World War II and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Today, NEC is an innovative, military-friendly institution and one of the top five liberal arts colleges in New Hampshire.

NEC offers 60 associate and bachelor’s degrees, as well as more than 20 master’s degrees and one doctoral degree program, all delivered by dedicated faculty focused on giving students opportunities to live what they learn. With access to many clubs, outdoor activities, natural areas, internships, and professor-led trips, NEC students have many ways to meet new people and try new things.

At NEC, the world is your classroom.

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Recognition and Rankings

 

Best College In New Hampshire as ranked by Inteligent.com

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in the state, as acknowledged by Intelligent.com, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

 

 

 

 

Edurank logo for best college in New Hampshire

NEC Ranked Leading College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in NH, as acknowledged by EduRank, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

 

 

 

 

AcademicInfluence.com logo for best college in New Hampshire

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as one of the best colleges in New Hampshire, as acknowledged by Academic Influence, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

 

 

Degree Requirements

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Faculty

  • Albena Dimitrova

    Assistant Professor, Game and Digital Media Design
    Phone: 603.428.2437
    Email: adimitrova@nec.edu

    Expertise and Awards

    Expertise:

    • Game design and development
    • Coding
    • Multimedia and graphic design
    • Engineering
    • 3D modeling, 3D and 2D animation, technical drafting
    • Painting and drawing
    • Instructional design

     

    Awards:
    Ferretti-Karnstedt Award, Starkville, MS

    Educational Background
    MA in Graphic Design, Suffolk University
    MBA, Daniel Webster College
    MS in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Radio Communication Systems for the Navy, Varna Technical University, Bulgaria
    BSIS in Graphic Design and Electrical Engineering, Mississippi State University

    Research Interests
    Game application in education

    Bio
    Albena Dimitrova began her career at NEC in 2017 as a Visiting Professor in Game and Digital Media Design for the newly created Game Design major, bringing with her 15 years of academia and industry experience. She gained an Assistant Professor position at NEC in 2019. Before joining NEC, Albena worked as a Program Chair in Digital Media at Mount Washington College. There she developed content for online and on-campus courses, training materials, and course guides. She served as a subject matter expert integrating instructional approaches and technologies. Her prior experience includes 10 years at ITT, where she held the position of Program Chair in Game Design and Multimedia. Among her responsibilities were course and faculty development and supervision of the instructors in the program.

    In her professional career, Albena has consulted academic and industry organizations on a number of game design and multimedia projects. She worked for Daniel Webster College on course development for their newly established Game Design program. She served as a Creative Director at Maxion Systems and as a Usability Interface Designer at Synaptic Global Learning, where she developed educational games and adaptive learning courses. She also worked on several projects for Altscale Cloud Services that included web design and multimedia.

    Before coming to the United States, Albena worked as a professor in radio communications for six years at the Maritime Academy in Bulgaria and as an adjunct professor at Varna Technical University.

    Albena has volunteered for the Bulgarian Center of New England and the Bulgarian School in Boston in the creation of web and digital content for promotional campaigns. She is fluent in the Bulgarian and Russian languages. In her free time, she likes watching disaster movies and painting, using both traditional and digital mediums.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to complete the Game and Media Design program?

NEC’s BFA in Game Design program typically takes four years to complete.

 

How’s the BFA degree in Game and Media Design program structured?

NEC’s Game and Digital Media Design program consists of 120 credits, as follows:

  • Art Core Courses (36 credits)
  • Concentration Courses (28 credits)
  • Liberal Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum (42 credits)
  • Electives (14 credits)

 

What are the benefits of a graphic design degree?

Earning a graphic design degree can open you up to a wide range of entertainment- and application-based gaming careers. It can also prepare you to enter an industry that, according to BLS data, is projected to grow by more than double the national average between 2022 and 2032.

 

How do I enroll in the Game and Digital Media Design program?

You can enroll in NEC’s Game and Digital Media Design program by applying directly on the NEC website. NEC doesn’t require an application fee, nor does it require standardized test scores.

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Game and digital media design can be a serious career, and NEC can help you grow the skills you need for success. Your first step toward an exciting career begins here.

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