Registration for Pre-College 2024 Summer Programs will open soon.
Pre-College Summer Programs
NOTE – All Pre-College Tracks will be taught ONLINE for Summer 2024
Students in the Pre-College Program get a feel for what it’s like to take college courses at DigiPen while also learning what it takes to be successful in the game industry. During this four-week online program, mornings are dedicated to learning core concepts from our faculty-level instructors, and afternoons are spent in the project lab, where students get to immerse themselves in the roles of programmers, artists and game designers.
Students receive grades for their Pre-College classes, plus a final transcript that can be included in their college applications. Any student who successfully completes the Pre-College Program and matriculates to DigiPen Institute of Technology within three years can receive a credit equal to the Pre-College Program tuition to apply toward their first-semester tuition as a freshman.
Schedule:
- July 3rd to July 28th, 2023
- 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (PST), Monday through Friday
- *No classes held July 4th in observance of Independence Day
Details:
- Each day, students will take 3 academic courses and participate in a project studio in the afternoons.
Technical Requirements:
Students must have access to a computer as well as additional hardware and software. Some programs or courses may indicate additional technology requirements, and not all programs are Mac compatible.
Prerequisites
Participants must be at least 16, entering their Junior or Senior year of high school, or have graduated high school within the last 18 months. In addition, Game Programming students are expected to have successfully completed Algebra 2, and it is recommended music students have some experience playing an instrument.
Refer to the individual courses to view additional technical requirements and information.
International Students
Students from outside the United States are welcome! There are no additional program prerequisites for international students, but please understand that all instruction will happen in English and between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Art & Animation
With all the incredible advancements in digital art tools, the key to success for production artists is still a solid visual development process and foundational art skills to execute that process. This track prepares students for the rich and rewarding experience of being a production artist for video games, animation, and more. Within the Game Project Lab, students in the art track serve as the game team’s resident artist bydeveloping characters, backgrounds and other essential components for their game.
During this four-week-long program, students get to experience what life is like for DigiPen college students who are working to complete their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation. Students in this track take three (3) core academic classes plus the Game Project Lab that involves students from all of the Pre-College tracks working together to complete a game.
Classes:
- ART: Art Foundations
- ANI: Animation Techniques (with Lab)
- CG: Computer Graphics Tools (with Lab)
- GAM: Game Project Lab
Prerequisite:
No prior experience required.
Additional Technical Requirements:
Drawing Tablet or iPad with Procreate for use when digital painting.
Game Design
To be a good game designer, one must understand the fundamental principles of game design, the computer science that goes into programming a video game, the art and animation production process and the storytelling and character creation skills necessary to bring a video game to life. Strong knowledge of all technical and creative aspects of the game development process is important in creating an engaging and interactive experience today’s players expect.
During this four-week program, students experience what life is like for DigiPen College students who are working on their Degree in Game Design. Students in this track will take three (3) core academic classes plus the Game Project Lab that involves students from all of the Pre-College tracks working together to complete a game.
Classes:
- GD: Principles of Game Design
- CS: Applied Computer Science for Games (with Lab)
- GD: Interactive Narrative and Character Creation (with Lab)
- GAM: Game Project Lab
Prerequisite:
No prior experience required.
Additional Technical Requirements:
Students will need a “Tabletop Simulator,” which can be purchased at the STEAM Store.
Game Programming
Programming software for today’s gamers requires a deep understanding of computer science, advanced mathematics, and physics. During this four-week program, students will get to experience what life is like for DigiPen college students who are working to complete their Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Pre-College students in this track will take three (3) core academic classes plus the Game Project Lab that involves students from all of the Pre-College tracks to work together to complete a game.
Classes:
- CS: Applied Computer Science for Games
- MAT: Applied Math for Games (with Lab)
- PHY: Applied Physics for Games (with Lab)
- GAM: Game Project Lab
Prerequisite:
Expected to have successfully completed Algebra 2.
Music & Sound Design for Games
Audio professionals play an important role on any game production team. Whether composing the musical score that sets a game’s mood or recording the sound effects that give players moment-to-moment gameplay feedback, it’s a job that requires both musical knowledge and technical expertise.
During this four-week program, students experience what student life is like for DigiPen college students studying to become audio professionals through DigiPen’s Bachelor of Music and Sound Design. By focusing on the theory, history, and techniques of music and sound design, students in this program gain an understanding of what elements make a video game’s soundtrack and sound effects a compelling experience.
Students in this track take three (3) core academic classes plus the Game Project Lab that involves students from all of the Pre-College tracks working together to complete a game.
Classes:
- MTM: Music Theory and Musicianship
- MHL: Music History and Literature (includes Lab)
- FMSD: Fundamentals of Music and Sound Design (includes Lab)
- GAM: Game Project Lab
Prerequisite:
To get the most benefit from this program, it is recommended that students have some experience playing a musical instrument.
Additional Technical Requirements:
MIDI keyboard controller
For more information, please download the 2023 Online Pre-College Program Catalog.
Student Showcase
Each of these games was created by students in DigiPen Academy’s Pre-College Class of 2022. Click through to the games for more information.
- Abracadaver – A 2D Action Game
- Akuji – A 2D Side Scroller Action and Platformer Game
- Parry Dungeon – A 2D Action Game
- Rooftop Bebop – A 2D Action & Shooter Game
- Project ZAEJIN – A Futuristic Rhythm Game
- CYBERDAD – A 2D Top-Down Shooter Game is available on STEAM. Download CYBERDAD Here
