Champlain Game Academy
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The Champlain Game Academy offers an intensive residential pre-college program for high school students entering grades 10-12 and recent high school graduates. Our pre-college summer program is designed to explore what it is like to study game development in college while learning how to make games.
The Champlain Game Academy curriculum was created using the award-winning learning model of The Game Studio at Champlain College. Like the Game Studio, our program emphasizes teamwork and creative collaboration across all the game development disciplines. In order to understand how a professional game development team works, students will be introduced to all aspects of game development, including:
- Game Art and Animation
- Business
- Design
- Narrative
- Production Management
- Programming
- Sound
- Testing
Then, under the direction of professors and industry professionals, students will gain real-world experience in their areas of special interest in this field by learning to work together across game development disciplines to build original game prototypes using:
- Maya
- Unity
- C#
By the end of this program, students will have an understanding of the behind-the-scenes operations of the world’s professional game studios, a game prototype that can be used in a portfolio for college applications, and first-hand experience of what it will be like to study game development in college.
Champlain Game Academy is designed for:
- Students entering grades 10-12 and recent high school graduates about to enter college
- Students who want to know what it takes to make games
- Students thinking about studying game development in college
Pre-College Summer Program Details
Champlain Game Academy
This Academy is offered twice to meet demand. Both sessions offer the same curriculum.
Session I – Residential
Session II – Residential
Why You’ll Love the Champlain Game Academy
Get a Jump Start on College Education
In the Champlain Game Academy, students will:
- Gain experience in all aspects of game development, from game design and game art to game programming and game sound production
- Get a head start on building their portfolio
- Experience what it is like to study game development in college
- Develop a working game prototype
- Learn new skills and work collaboratively with other students who are also passionate about game development
Learn From the Best
During the program, students work closely with Champlain College professors who teach game development courses in our innovative Game Studio and have extensive expertise and professional connections in the game industry.
Champlain College was ranked a Top 10 School for Game Design by the Princeton Review in 2024.
Make Friends
Program attendees will have a lot in common with their fellow students. By working together in the classroom, living together in the residence halls, and enjoying extracurricular activities, students form friendships that last far beyond the length of the Academy.
Experience Champlain College
In an ever-changing world, Champlain College is renowned for preparing future leaders in the most sought-after career fields and professions that today’s students are most passionate about. Explore our facilities, learn from our industry-expert faculty, and enjoy our beautiful campus.
Example of a Daily Schedule
The daily program will include morning and afternoon instruction, and a combination of instruction and recreational activities in the evenings. We’ll work right through the weekend to take full advantage of the time we have together!
8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast and Morning Meeting |
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Instruction and Collaborative Work in The Game Studio |
12:00 – 2:00 PM | Lunch and Recreation |
2:00 – 5:00 PM | Instruction and Collaborative Work in The Game Studio |
5:00 – 10:00 PM | Dinner and Recreation Activity |
11:00 PM | Lights Out |
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More in Student LifeLearn More About Pre-College Summer Programs at Champlain College
Fill out the form below to receive additional information about our programs through our mailing list. If you have any questions, contact us at precollege@champlain.edu, or include them in your form submission, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.