University of Advance Technology and other Master programs

[freakynipples69]

The basic question, is this school any good? www.uta.edu

I am very interested in their graduate programs, more specifically, their Master's in Game Production, http://www.gamedegree.com/levelingUp...evelopment.asp

I'm very interested in getting a Master's degree in game development or programming. However, UAT has been the only place that I've found that has a Master's program for people with little to no prior experience. USC's Interactive Media program might be a choice as well, or even NYU's ITP program. Yet, I don't know how directed they are at a career in gaming rather than a career in telecommunications.

I would love to go to Guildhall, but you basically have to be a working professional to get accepted.

Maybe I can go to Full Sail or UAT and earn another Bachelor's degree in computer science and game programming. However, if I'm going to spend another 2-3 years in school, I'd much rather get a Master's than another Bachelor's, unless someone can convince me that either way, it doesn't matter.

Thanks in advance.

P.s. I already have a Bachelor's in Media Studies with a specialization in Film Studies. I am also a working screenwriter and filmmaker. I am sure if I found a QA job with a game developer I could work my way up, but I want to get a Master's degree anyways so that I can teach.

[yaustar]

What role in the industry are you aiming for?

The course you posted sounds like a jack of all trades course and doesn't specialise in one specific area.

[DryMeat]

If you're looking to earn a well rounded degree in a specific area of interest then i would recommend UAT. The past 3 yrs have been good to me while enrolled through their distance program. Like the other dude said it would help if you narrow down to exactly what is it you want to be doing in the industry.

[freakynipples69]

I actually found another Master's program at University of Central Florida http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/shield/showpage.php?page_id=1

The production track seems like a good choice for me, and they claim 95% job placement rate. This is probably because the program is designed in partnership with EA so all of the students get internships with them, I would assume.

I have no idea how to program, nor do I know if I could ever learn, unless I go back and get a Bachelor's in Computer Science, but like I originally said, I'd much rather spend the time towards a Master's, and forget about trying to teach myself. I may do the c++ courses at gameinstitute.com.

I also have zero drawing and artistic skills.

So the main two areas of game development are out.

I've always wanted to learn level designing using UnrealED, Hammer, and Radiant, but never had the time to teach myself (I learn a lot better when I have someone teaching me the material anyways). I could try to teach myself how to design levels once I am officially done with getting my Bachelor's in December.

I could be a writer given the fact that I have written several screenplay's, both for a professional production company and independently. I am also a filmmaker. I know video games are becoming more and more like interactive films (MSG4), but I don't know exactly what job title I could hold with my current knowledge and skills of writing and filmmaking, other than Writer.

The most logical and realistic areas of development I am aiming for are QA tester, producer, designer, or writer. I really don't know what other job titles there are that I would be qualified for.

[yaustar]

The production track seems like a good choice for me, and they claim 95% job placement rate.

I would be dubious of that rate given the number of producers on this page:
http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/shield/showp...p?page_id=1042

If you want to be a QA tester, you don't need a Masters. Same with writer considering your experience.

[freakynipples69]

Originally Posted by yaustar

I would be dubious of that rate given the number of producers on this page:
http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/shield/showp...p?page_id=1042

If you want to be a QA tester, you don't need a Masters. Same with writer considering your experience.

I thought the same thing, about the placement rate, but the number of students that are shown is the entire class of that year, minus the 5%. It's a very small program. It's obvious enough they didn't get those job titles straight out of school, but it's still impressive that the entire class is working in the industry and have worked their way up to where they are now.

In regards to obtaining a QA and Writers job;

Almost every company requires a certain number of months/years experience. How am I suppose to acquire that if I haven't found any entry level QA Testing or Assistant Writing job listings?

This aspect of any industry always puzzled me. Even the bottom of the chain jobs require experience, yet there never seem to be any "no previous experience required" jobs listed. How is one suppose to obtain that experience if no one will hire entry level employees?

[yaustar]

Originally Posted by freakynipples69

I thought the same thing, about the placement rate, but the number of students that are shown is the entire class of that year, minus the 5%. It's a very small program.

It is actually listing the graduates for 3 programs (Production, Programming and something else).

This aspect of any industry always puzzled me. Even the bottom of the chain jobs require experience, yet there never seem to be any "no previous experience required" jobs listed. How is one suppose to obtain that experience if no one will hire entry level employees?

Myth. These jobs exist, they are not always listed because they always get resumes asking for them regardless.

If you see it, apply with the job reference, if you don't, apply anyway stating the job role you would like (e.g Graduate Programmer).

[Gshonk]

If you don't want to program don't go to full sail. It is a programming school. Also even if it says "previous experience required" send your resume anyways I got through to a bunch of companies that asked for 2+ years.