DigiPen Academy offers year-round, accredited academic programs designed to prepare high school students for college and careers in digital media. These programs are developed in consultation with one of the world’s top video game design schools, ensuring they meet both industry and college-level acceptance standards. The curriculum provides a strong foundation of academic coursework combined with hands-on labs, allowing students to build creative and technical skills, earn college credits, and develop a portfolio of projects suitable for college applications. A key element of the courses is the emphasis on core academic subjects like math, physics, writing, and art, highlighting their importance in the creation of entertainment media.
The academy offers five specialized fields of study:
- Art & Animation: This course focuses on the artistic and visual aspects of digital media creation, covering topics such as character design, 3D modeling, and animation techniques.
- Game Design: Students learn the principles of game design, including level design, gameplay mechanics, and narrative development.
- Game Programming: This course delves into the technical side of game development, teaching students how to code and implement game systems and features.
- Music & Sound Design: This program explores the creation of audio elements for digital media, including music composition, sound effects, and audio engineering.
- Data Analytics: This course focuses on the principles and applications of data analytics, preparing students for careers in this in-demand field.
These courses utilize industry-standard technology and aim to develop not only technical expertise but also the entrepreneurial mindset necessary for success in the competitive digital media industry. Instructors are dedicated to fostering each student’s individual growth, helping them develop the skills, confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in their chosen field. In addition to these year-round programs, DigiPen Academy also offers four-week Pre-College Summer Programs, providing an intensive introduction to these exciting fields.
