Game Design School Gains University Accreditation

by Aaron Linde, Mar 26, 2008 5:00pm PDT

Related Topics – Game Design, Full Sail

Vocational college and game design school Full Sail Real World Education has been awarded University status by the state of Florida, the school announced today.

Founded in Winter Park, Florida in 1979, Full Sail offers degree programs in computer animation, game art, game development, digital arts and design, and several other programs. The private university currently serves over 5,800 students.

Alumni from the university have gone on to work at game development studios such as Infinity Ward, Insomniac Games, and EA Redwood Shores.

"We will continue to grow and carry on the tradition of empowering students with the knowledge necessary to pursue their educational and career goals, through our long-standing tradition of accelerated, real world education and immersive, project-based learning," said Full Sail University President Garry Jones.

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Comments

11 Threads | 36 Comments

#1

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By: Murdoc. x Show Full Post

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And a degree will still mean nothing in that industry, unless you want to go to another country....

Mar 26, 2008 5:09pm PDT

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And a degree will still mean nothing in that industry, unless you want to go to another country.... : Murdoc.
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#23

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By: Agrona x Show Full Post

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Doesn't University imply that they have post-graduate programs? Or is Florida special?

Mar 26, 2008 10:50pm PDT

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Doesn't University imply that they have post-graduate programs? Or is Florida special? : Agrona
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  1st question - Full Sail offers a Masters degree program(s). I believe that fulfills your assumption. ... : Dragonhill
  - Yeah I didn't know they had a masters program! : Agrona

#14

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By: kaddar0 x Show Full Post

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My friend went to fullsail for film and always told me about how it kicked his ass and he had to stay up practically all night, every night. Probably the right school for it.

I think this is cool but I hope that game design schools focusing on programming teach enough computer science logic and theory such that the students can use it for non-game-design careers, not just technical aspects of using programming languages.

Mar 26, 2008 6:28pm PDT

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My friend went to fullsail for film and always told me about how it kicked his ass and he had to stay up ... : kaddar0
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  That's really something you want to avoid. Lots of people have CS degrees and make terrible game programm... : Mad Jack McMad

#31

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By: freakynipples69 x Show Full Post

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It's cool. Most developers still won't hire you. Oooops!

Mar 27, 2008 6:53am PDT

It's cool. Most developers still won't hire you. Oooops! : freakynipples69

#13

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By: lsc78 x Show Full Post

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If only a "game development" degree meant something.

Wish I had thought of this idea first.

These guys are RAKING it in.

Mar 26, 2008 6:20pm PDT

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If only a "game development" degree meant something. Wish I had thought of this idea first. These... : lsc78
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- I've just graduated from the Guildhall which has a 95% placement rating. I'd say it means something; thes... : Jiven

#22

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By: Dragonhill x Show Full Post

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Many of us in the industry know that a degree does not a competent designer make. That being said it does help getting your "foot in the door" if you have a degree from a respected (accredited) school. I sympathize with new guys when they dig them selves a financial hole trying to get a degree that will win themselves a bigger foot. This move helps them identify which school they are going to put their eggs in. I would hate to have a $1000 per month school loan over my head after graduation from (hey, wanna make games?) university. This move should help some of the new guys decide where to go.

~D

Mar 26, 2008 10:14pm PDT

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Many of us in the industry know that a degree does not a competent designer make. That being said it does... : Dragonhill
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- Agreed. I would even put forward that you don't necessarily need a degree (less alone a "game degree") if... : aavenr

#10

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By: killabi x Show Full Post

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Full Sail is a phenomenal school that towers over the competition with the grade-A skilled code warriors it has produced from the loins of knowledge passed forth by the ancient grizzled veterans of an industry where only the strong survive.

Armed with the finest code smithing axes, smothered in the blood of countless vanquished bugs, and kept warm with the fine gifts of admiration from countless recognizing designers they move skillfully through the crunch laden depths of any game's road to ship chasm.

University status is really just a formality at this point. They've been doing it right for years.

Here here!

Mar 26, 2008 6:08pm PDT

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Full Sail is a phenomenal school that towers over the competition with the grade-A skilled code warriors ... : killabi
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  I think... I... no, it's nothing, just something in my eye... /sniff Ok I'll admit it. That earned a s... : Mad Jack McMad
  - I seriously did a double-take when I saw you didn't post this yourself. : kungfusquirrel

#15

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By: losder5000 x Show Full Post

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HOT DAMN JUST IN TIME

Mar 26, 2008 6:32pm PDT

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HOT DAMN JUST IN TIME : losder5000
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  wait a second, this doesn't help me at all. : losder5000
  - This is just another national trade school accreditation. Maybe has some effect on financial aide. ... : losder5000

#3

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By: Mad Jack McMad x Show Full Post

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There is really never enough pennant-waving college hatred going on between the dev schools. So I'll start!

Feel it, Digipen and Guildhall! Our invincible graduates, iron golems of programming knowledge and gameplay finesse, continue to march across the very globe, forming the pillars of our industry!~

ra ra, go team,

/wave giant foam #1 hand

Mar 26, 2008 5:13pm PDT

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There is really never enough pennant-waving college hatred going on between the dev schools. So I'll star... : Mad Jack McMad
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- haha right on brother. I wonder if this shit is retroactive. : losder5000

#8

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By: malus72 x Show Full Post

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Yeah but do they teach them how to tighten up the graphics on level 3 ?

Mar 26, 2008 5:48pm PDT

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Yeah but do they teach them how to tighten up the graphics on level 3 ? : malus72
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- ...and my mom said I'd never get anywhere with these games! actually she was really supportive, she ju : johngloid

#2

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By: Lemming4242 x Show Full Post

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The Guildhall at SMU has been fully-accredited in both Bachelors and Masters for several years now...

Mar 26, 2008 5:10pm PDT

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The Guildhall at SMU has been fully-accredited in both Bachelors and Masters for several years now... : Lemming4242
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  Yes, I've seen the "Certificate of Course Completion Mastery" that some of the Guildhall grads have waved... : Mad Jack McMad
  - I'm not a Guildhall graduate myself, but if I knew someone who went to the Guildhall and instead of optin... : Lemming4242

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