The City College of New York will begin offering a bachelor’s degree in game design this fall, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced today, becoming the first public institution in the city to offer such a program.
“New York City has always been at the center of innovation, but it’s time for New York City to step up and finally become a leader in digital gaming,” said Mayor Adams. “It’s time to leverage all the talent we have here in New York by investing in the future of gaming.”
The program, a partnership between City College and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, is funded with $2 million with hopes of reaching more than 1,000 students over the next three years. Mayor Adams further stated that the goal of this degree is to “diversify the gaming landscape” in addition to raising New York City’s profile in the industry.
At the press conference, Mayor Adams was also named an honorary member of the New York Excelsior over watch
New York University and Parsons School for Design were previously the only colleges in New York City offering game design education. As such, this new program at the public City College of New York should make the entire endeavor more accessible to those who cannot afford the high tuition fees of private institutions.
“Each year our city has more young people with the creative potential and drive to create the next generation of gaming experiences, and a public bachelor’s degree will provide them with an important pathway to do so,” said Naomi Clark, NYU Game Center Chair.
Of course it is are up for debate whether it’s even wise to pursue an education specifically tailored to game development, but as someone who hasn’t gone to school anythingI leave this conversation to others.
