Level Design Majors

[Rick39]

Hey guys I know I may be spamming the forums with questions but the more I learn the more questions I have haha! So this time its about level design. I plan to go to the Guildhall at SMU and take their level design masters course.

Since I'm doing this is it as necessary for me to obtain a degree in Computer Science? I have a great passion for Criminal Justice so is Majoring in Criminal Justice, minor in Computer Science, and then go to SMU and get the Game Development Masters a good route to go?

[tsloper]

Dude. Just major in Criminal Justice, and minor in WHATEVER YOU WANT to minor in.
Then do WHATEVER YOU WANT to do.

[tsloper]

It would be A GOOD ROUTE TO GO to do what I said above.
SERIOUSLY.
Because it's what YOU WANT to do.

[Rick39]

Thanks for the advice Tom, I appreciate the quick response.

The thing of it is I do have a real passion to be a level designer in the game industry, the problem is I don't think I would enjoy really any other position in the Computer Science fields. I just don't want my fallback if I can't get into the games industry to be something I don't really enjoy.

Thats pretty much why I was curious about if I could major in whatever and still get into the guildhall at SMU and then onto the gaming biz

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by Rick39

I was curious about if I could major in whatever and still get into the guildhall at SMU and then onto the gaming biz

I don't know about the Guildhall, but the answer to your 2nd question is "yes," as subtly hinted above.
You'd have to check with the school to see what their prerequisites are.

[Rick39]

Thanks again for the help Tom, really appreciate it, I checked with the Guildhall and there is no major requirement for the level design track, so I think I'm good, I may minor in Comp Science still just for some basic background programming.

Thanks!

[ndimucci]

Knowing how to program will be invaluable regardless of what area of game development you decide to do. You don't need John Carmack level of mastery, unless of course you decide to go with programming then yes, aim to be better than Carmack!

One thing about the Guildhall, other than extremely expensive. The level designers key into the industy is his portfolio. More specifically, pieces of work done outside of academic projects. The curriiculum at the Guildhall is to time consuming that it makes it virtually impossible to work on anything but school work. This is a common complaint I've heard from many of the graduates of the level design track. Though, you will be a proficient level designer after graduating, that's for sure.

And I've applied and been accepted into the guildhall for level design. Some application advice, put a lot of thought and work into the required portfolio pieces, and create some maps with any major level editor like Hammer, UnrealEd, etc. They don't have to be "good" but it will help your chances without a doubt.

[Rick39]

Hey thanks for the advice man! Hey What did you do for Part B of the application project? Just curious haha Also is the guildhall 35,000 a year like the rest of SMU is? or does it have its own tuition that I just couldn't find?

[ndimucci]

Originally Posted by Rick39

Hey thanks for the advice man! Hey What did you do for Part B of the application project? Just curious haha Also is the guildhall 35,000 a year like the rest of SMU is? or does it have its own tuition that I just couldn't find?

I honestly don't remember what I did for Part B, I applied over a year ago.

The entire tuition for Guildhall is around $60k I believe, could have gone up, not sure. But yes, they hide the cost of tuition for a reason

[Rick39]

wow yeah that is pretty steep! I think it'd be worth it though as their school has a 95% placement rate in the industry. So if you applied over a year ago, have you started the program?