University of Silicon Valley

San Jose, CA

map

• Bachelor’s Degree Programs

  • Digital Art & Animation

    If your passion is for visual effects, 2D or 3D animation, or concept art for video games or blockbuster films, this is the Digital Arts & Animation degree program for you.
    
    You can experience what it's like being in the full animation and VFX pipeline in our Digital Art & Animation program. Our Digital Arts & Animation courses have been designed with input from industry connections so the University of Silicon Valley students learn the skills studios are looking for. You'll bring vivid characters, worlds and creatures to life and work from start to finish on animation projects that are ready to hit the festival circuits. Gain the digital arts and animation skills you need to kick off your career in this dynamic and growing industry.
    

  • Game Design Art

    Break into the video game industry with theoretical, technical and business knowledge gained at one of The Princeton Review’s Top 25 Schools for Game Design.
    
    As the video game industry continuously grows, employers are zeroed in on game design and development degree program students who understand both the creative and technical sides of the industry. Nowhere is the University of Silicon Valley's unique ability to combine specializations better demonstrated than in our Game Design & Development Department. It's one reason we've ranked No. 13 in the nation by The Princeton Review. This department offers two college degrees in distinct areas of game design and development. The Bachelor of Art in Game Design Art is for those primarily interested in the creative side of game development and the Bachelor of Science in Game Design Engineering for those interested in focusing on technical development of games. All of our game design and development program students get hands-on experience working collaboratively in classes that simulate an actual game development team.
    

  • Game Design Engineering

    Code is the lifeblood that fuels every gameplay experience, so buff your technical skills as you learn to design and program video games in the Game Design Engineering degree program. Modify existing game engines before moving on to designing your own, forming the systems that power gaming’s greatest experiences. This includes implanting animation, AI and computer graphics within an engine. You’ll develop a project plan that will get others excited about turning video game design concepts into fleshed-out games with characters, worlds and objectives. You’ll be able to take a role as game designer and/or engineer, on teams structured to mirror those in professional game development.
    

  • Software Development

    Earn a Software Development bachelor’s degree that will give you the technical, creative, and leadership skills needed to successfully identify user needs, build programs, test new software, and improve existing applications.
    
    As a high-growth area over the past decade, software development is an in-demand field which spans a host of roles, disciplines, and frameworks, in a wide variety of industries. Through a combination of a technical, hands-on curriculum and real-world experience, you’ll learn to
    analyze issues and create the solutions needed to be successful in today’s most innovative companies.
    
    The Bachelor of Science in Software Development prepares you with the technical and collaborative skills needed to thrive in virtually any industry that utilizes technology. Through a combination of technical-skill building, a hands-on collaborative, learning approach, and USV’s “Silicon Valley mindset,” you’ll build the skills — and the confidence — to work in the ever-expanding field of software development.
    
    
    PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
    
    USV focuses on Project-Based Learning — a teaching method by which students gain knowledge and skills by investigating and responding to authentic, engaging and complex challenges. As a result, you’ll not only develop technical knowledge and skills, but you’ll also develop critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication skills. These three, unique project based-learning methods are an integral part of USV’s curriculum:
    
    DataWorksTM: Contributing to Open Source Software
    USV’s DataWorksTM Studio partners you with an actual Silicon Valley tech company to support
    identifying and/or solving a real-world, open source software issues. And, if your solution is accepted, you will be recognized as a contributor to the open source software. You’ll also have opportunities to network, connect with mentors and collaborate with others.
    
    InsideSVTM: Working with a Silicon Valley Software Company
    Work in software development with an actual Silicon Valley-based company’s rigorous development department, using the popular ScrumTM framework to develop software. Working alongside the client will enable you to not only build and present tangible software solutions, but will also provide you with opportunities to network, connect with mentors and collaborate with others.
    
    USV IncubatorTM: Bring Your Own Creative Concept to Life
    Tap into your own creativity to create a Silicon Valley startup. Whether it’s a concept for a new game, a new phone app, or the software for a wearable device, you’ll work with industry professionals and USV alumni to bring your concept to life.
    

• Master’s Degree Programs

  • M.S. in Management & Leadership

    This unique graduate program goes beyond the traditional boundaries of business. The master of Science in Management and Leadership in Creative Technologies degree is designed to get you work-ready either in Silicon Valley or in creative tech industries throughout the world.
    
    Structured for the working professional, this program develops competencies valued in diverse and multi-disciplinary creative-world environments.
    
    This fully online program is driven by a unique core curriculum delivered through interdisciplinary approaches to technology and creative thinking. Through project-based learning, workshops, guest speakers, virtual classes, and our exclusive real World Project Studios™, students can gain management and leadership knowledge and skills as they learn the business of creativity.