1. Sappho

   For one of the most popular and influential poets of all time, no completed works by Sappho survived into contemporary times. Nor, funny enough, much biographical information beyond what you can glean from her body of work, which, as you can imagine, probably isn’t the most accurate resource. Just about all anyone knows is that she was a poet residing on the Isle of Lesbos (before being shipped off to Sicily as an exile) and penned some of the most sensual, evocative lyrics of all time. Yes, even beating out Barry White.

2. Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi

   So arresting were Rumi’s poetic musings on Sufi spirituality and mysticism, an entire religious order formed around his oeuvre following his death. Even individuals poorly-versed in Islam know of the UNESCO-preserved Mewlewi Sufi Order — better known as the “Whirling Dervishes.” Much of 13th century Persian music wrapped itself around his distinct rhythms as well. Philosophy buffs join with religious studies enthusiasts to soak up Rumi’s hauntingly beautiful teachings, most notably the six-volume collection reflecting on faith known as Matnawiye Ma’nawi.

3. Matsuo Basho

   He may not have invented haiku, but he certainly played a significant part in solidifying its form. Belonging to a school for haikai practitioners, Matsuo Basho and his collaborators’ major contribution came in solidifying the familiar 5-7-5 syllable structure for the first three lines, which was known as hokku at the time. Between 1672 and 1698, he either participated in or published 18 volumes worth of poetry and, occasionally, prose. The Seashell Game, for which Basho also served as both compiler and commentator, established his keen eye and preference for simple, natural themes early on in his career.

4. Dante Alighieri

   After Homer, the author of The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso) stands amongst the most ambitious, well-known adherents of epic poetry ever. Many even tout the trilogy as the best work of Italian literature of all time, though such statements are obviously subjective in some ways. Famously, Beatrice Portinari and the unrequited infatuation she inspired served as Dantie Alighieri’s major muse. Though they rarely spoke beyond everyday pleasantries, the poet’s paeans to her (most notably La Vita Nuova, a welding of poetry and prose) solidified many familiar romantic tropes still utilized today.

5. Emily Dickinson

   Emily Dickinson’s poetry was modern before there was modernism. Scholars believe she wrote around 1,800 pieces in her lifetime, though only a small handful saw publication in Springfield Republican, Drum Beat, and Brooklyn Daily Union; even then, they often saw some degree of editing. Following her death in 1886, the rest of Dickinson’s output flitted between her contemporary Mabel Loomis Todd and her family — and funny (sadly) enough, she wouldn’t even be taken seriously until 1955. Her unusual rhythms, punctuation choices, slant rhymes, and preoccupation with death and flower imagery won her plenty of fans among New Critics.

6. Gabriela Mistral

   In 1945, the Swedish Academy broke gender and national barriers when it awarded Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral the Nobel Prize in Literature, making her the very first Latin American to earn the distinction. Also an activist, consul, and educator, poetry volumes such as Desolacion and Tala celebrated the culture and history of both her native country and Latin America on the whole, enlightening the world about an oft-marginalized facet of the literary world. She also tackled childhood in Ternura and death rituals and memorialization in Sonetos de la muerte.

7. Langston Hughes

   During the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes found inspiration in the nascent jazz scene, infusing its unique sound into a poetic style that completely defined a significant historical period. Decades before the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, he wielded his words as a weapon against social injustices, also publishing plays, essays, short stories, children’s books, novels, and long-form nonfiction. Promoting equality between the races stood as Hughes’ most passionate goal, and his most lauded poetry collection — Montage of a Dream Deferred — perfectly embodies this ideal. Here, he pulled from jazz and its related genres to illustrate the isolation experienced by African-Americans during a time of heavy segregation.

8. Pablo Neruda

   This veritable Renaissance man of all things poetic earned the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature for his experimentations in the political, erotic, magic realist, and historic spheres. Pablo Neruda’s prolific, if not outright epic, career launched at age 19 with the publication of his second volume, the sexually-charged Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. When it came to matters of public policy, he encouraged the cause of Marxism as a direct result of the Spanish Civil War. Both during his life and after his passing, Neruda heavily inspired creatives outside the writing world, with numerous artists, filmmakers, and musicians citing his work as essential.

9. Allen Ginsberg

   Jack Kerouac may have been the most popular of the beat poets over time, but he pretty much despised the movement and probably wouldn’t enjoy seeing himself lauded as its figurehead. But his contemporary, Allen Ginsberg, perpetuated beatnik tropes just as effectively. Experiments with drugs, sex, and spirituality fed into their jazz-influenced rhymes, which often protested many societal stigmas and posed philosophical questions while also blending in elements of performance art. “Howl,” Ginsberg’s celebrated epic poem, resulted in obscenity charges because of its explicit depiction of the underground youth culture.

10. Wislawa Szymborska-Wlodek

    One of Poland’s most decorated poets won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Literature for her politically-charged ruminations on the horrors of life under Joseph Stalin, though she remained sympathetic to socialist causes through much of her life before eventually renouncing them. This is what we are living for, her debut collection, is probably one of her most popular and overtly partisan publications. Wislawa Szymborska-Wlodek also garnered praise for playing around with figurative language devices and unusual perspectives in strange and exciting manners.

How-tos

1. How to send an email:
   Screaming at people with all caps, using any color text other than black, and copying people who don’t need to be copied are a few of the email pointers you’ll need to know.
2. How to work with older coworkers:
   Right now, all your “coworkers” are people in your classes who are your age. Do you have not only the ability to work with older employees, but the humility to learn what they have to teach?
3. How to be presentable at work:
   Shave. Cover tattoos. Dress modestly. Easy on the cologne/perfume. Don’t try to walk the minimum line for acceptability. People shouldn’t be able to tell by your clothes that you are fresh out of college.
4. How to speak on the phone:
   When you answer, you say, “Good afternoon, John speaking,” not “What up, this John.” Also, your stupid gimmicky voicemail message? Yeah, that needs to go, too.
5. How to interpret boss-speak:
   A request to do something “if it’s not too much trouble” means “I want you to do this assignment, and by the way, it will probably be a pain.”
6. How to work as part of a group:
   Your boss will expect you to be able to gel with a team. You’ll need to know how to work cooperatively, share credit, delegate, and make yourself heard.
7. How to treat company property:
   Like the corporate card, your desk, computer equipment, chair, and anything else that belongs to your employer should be handled with care.
8. How to use a corporate card:
   That corporate credit card is not like the one your dad gave you to buy books with that you instead use for alcohol. If you receive a corporate card in your new job, know to use it responsibly and sparingly.
9. How to conduct yourself in meetings:
   Your future boss is calling to you from six weeks into your new job: “You’re talking too much in meetings. Listen more and think before you speak.”
10. How to listen:
    Simple as it sounds, active listening is a skill many do not have but all bosses look for. It takes concentration, full attention, and note-taking to really listen well.
11. How to keep emotions in check:
    Showing a certain amount of emotion does not hurt the chances of career advancement. However, keeping a firm rein on anger and frustration and knowing how much is too much is necessary.
12. How to use social media:
    As the newest and probably youngest hire, your boss likely assumes you are familiar with Facebook and Twitter and can use your knowledge to promote the company if asked.
13. How to read your boss’ body language:
    If you walk into your boss’ office and he doesn’t look up, he’s busy; come back later. If he’s walking briskly in the direction of the bathroom, don’t head him off to bend his ear for five minutes.
14. How to lead:
    When the time comes for you to head up a team project, knowing how to manage people effectively and fairly will be an invaluable skill.
15. How to learn quickly:
    Your boss doesn’t want to spend the rest of her career training you. The skill of picking things up quickly can be honed, and you should hone it.
16. How to manage your time:
    Your boss can’t oversee everything you do. It’s up to you to know how to budget your time and when to say no, if necessary, to some requests so that you can meet your primary responsibilities.
17. How to make a simple spreadsheet:
    Having at least a working knowledge of Excel is important to most bosses in white-collar workplaces. If you didn’t learn it in college, find some free help online.
18. How to show respect to superiors:
    Especially away from the office, your boss will want you to be respectful and maybe even throw in a “yes sir” or “yes ma’am” sometimes. No matter how chummy you get, never belittle them in public, even in jest.
19. How to resolve conflict:
    Hopefully you won’t be having frequent run-ins with coworkers. But if you do get in a tussle, your boss will want you to know how to handle it like an adult without him or her having to get involved.
20. How to exit gracefully:
    If it doesn’t work out, your boss would still appreciate you saying goodbye and thanking him or her for the opportunity. They’ll also be much more inclined to consider hiring you back should the need arise.

What Not To Do

21. Be late:
    It’s simple enough: respect the job, the boss, and your coworkers by showing up on time. Being at your desk just a few minutes early has a huge payoff in boss brownie points for a small amount of effort.
22. Make excuses:
    Get the work done, when it’s supposed to be done. If you plan for potential problems, you won’t have a need for excuses anyway.
23. Friend him/her on Facebook:
    If your boss is like 62% of American bosses, he/she does not want to be your friend on Facebook. Speaking of Facebook, most bosses prefer you not check it at work.
24. Be a perfectionist:
    Bosses want you to do the best you can with the time you have. They will appreciate the attempt to make everything perfect, but if this means you fall behind or burn out, it’s a problem.
25. Expect constant feedback:
    There are no grades in the working world. There are performance evaluations, and they happen once a year. An occasional “good work” or critical email may be all you get in the way of feedback from your boss.
26. Miss work:
    Your future boss hopes you recognize the difference between skipping class and skipping work: no matter how much you skip class, you’re always welcome back.
27. Discuss private company matters with outsiders:
    You need to respect your employers’ trust in you by not discussing, and especially not badmouthing, in-house matters with people who aren’t part of the organization.
28. Talk in the restroom:
    This is mainly for guys. Dudes, no talking at the urinals. Consider everyone in the restroom as on personal time, not work time.
29. Wait for an invitation:
    Your boss will want you to identify and tackle problems without having to ask you. Don’t be too concerned about the results, the effort is the important part.
30. Start an office romance:
    Many companies may never mention this to you, but odds are your boss will not approve of you dating a coworker. If it goes bad, it’s a potential staff problem created for the boss.
31. Ask for special treatment:
    Putting your boss in an uncomfortable position is never a good thing. Even if you witness a coworker getting preferential treatment, know that it’s none of your business.

Facts and Rules of Thumb

32. That it will take you a year to add value to the company:
    Although it’s natural to think or at least hope as a new hire you will be helping the company’s bottom line in a matter of weeks, the reality is it takes about 12 months for you to be an asset, so give it time.
33. What constitutes appropriate language:
    No one was ever offended by an employee not swearing at work. Swearing is juvenile, it’s unoriginal, and it can lead to harassment or hostility claims.
34. What not to talk about:
    Equally important with how you should talk is what you shouldn’t talk about. Religion and politics are the biggies, but anything that might make someone uncomfortable, like your love life or financial issues, is best left unsaid.
35. What counts as an acceptable website to visit:
    Part of taking care of your computer is being overly cautious about clicking over to potentially inappropriate or virus-laden websites.
36. That you have to pay your dues:
    Don’t expect to be given the most stimulating or rewarding projects right out of the box. As the lowest rung on the ladder, you’ll probably have to put in your time doing the stuff no one else wants to do.
37. Your Internet usage can be tracked:
    It is totally within your boss’ rights to review your Internet history and even read your emails. Spare you both from an unpleasant conversation and keep everything professional online.
38. That he or she is also overworked:
    Chances are good your future boss has plenty to keep them busy. They’d love it if you remember they also answer to someone and have their own quotas to meet, so leaving them alone helps.
39. Cell phone etiquette:
    Few bosses will go to the extreme of making you turn off your phone, but don’t make them regret it. Leave the phone on vibrate and restrict use to brief, important calls.
40. Business ethics:
    Your boss will expect you to know how to behave ethically in the office, from not fibbing to clients to not stealing pens.
41. Your own strengths and weaknesses:
    Everyone has things they’re great at and things they stink at. The time to know which is which is before you’ve volunteered for that big assignment.
42. Your industry:
    Knowing something about what’s going on in your chosen field is a great way to interview well. Once you get the job, don’t stop keeping up with industry news.
43. To do more than the bare minimum:
    Your boss won’t tell you directly to do more than your job description requires, but all bosses want you to go above and beyond the call of duty.

1. NCAA March Madness: That blue check mark at the top means this is the official Twitter feed of the Division I Men’s hoops tourney.
2. ESPNHomeCourt: You know the name; it’s the worldwide leader in sports. Extra points if you get your tweet read on air.
3. CBSSports.com: CBS is your home for the 2012 NCAA tournament, and this is the official Twitter feed.
4. HoopsonCBS: And just in case you can’t figure out when the next game is, HoopsonCBS is like a TV guide for the 21st century.
5. Dick Vitale: Listening to Dickie V. in March is like hiding colored eggs in April; nobody really knows why we do it, but it just doesn’t seem right not to.
6. Andy Katz: Katz is a respected senior writer at ESPN who covers college basketball and tweets his “Weekly Watch” every Sunday that keeps you apprised of big games over the next seven days.
7. Pat Forde: This ESPN writer’s name frequently pops up in re-tweets on all the big college hoops feeds, and the reason is because he knows his stuff.
8. Greg Anthony: This sports anchor joins Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith in the studio covering games for CBS. Catch tweeting during commercial breaks.
9. Seth Davis: Eighty thousand hoops fans get their news and analysis from this college bball reporter for Sports Illustrated.
10. Michael DeCourcy: DeCourcy specializes in news from the Big Ten and also covers hoops for SportingNews.

11. Pete Thamel: As the college sports guy for The New York Times, Thamel knows a lot about football, which you can ignore, and basketball, which you can soak up.
12. Matt Norlander: The founder of College Hoops Journal, Norlander tweets cool articles and straightforward takes on college basketball stories and tournament developments.
13. Fran Fraschilla: With a resume that includes head coaching gigs at St. John’s and UNM, this ESPN college hoops analyst knows his roundball.
14. Eye on College BBall: This is the feed for CBSSports.com’s blog of the same name. It’s got featured blog posts from some of the sports best-known commentators.
15. Jeff Eisenberg: Jeff covers college basketball around the country for The Dagger, a blog on college sports site Rivals.com.
16. Morey Schapira: Morey keeps an eye on the college basketball news and posts a tweet-load of articles from sports publications.
17. Shawn Siegel: This sportswriter and his friends at Collegehoops.net tweet game breakdowns and their informed opinions on rankings, RPIs, and more.
18. Midwest Sports Fans: This is the feed for another great sports blog you may not have heard of, whose hoops writers put together a pretty mean bracket.
19. Jerry Palm: In addition to writing for CBSSports, Jerry Palm operates CollegeRPI.com and CollegeBCS.com. Somehow he also finds time to tweet his expert takes on college hoops.
20. Jeff Borzello: Jeff is a college hoops writer for CBSSports, but we prefer to think of him as the man behind high school and college bball blog Busting the Bracket.

21. The Hoops Report: The folks at THR tweet news and bracketology-speak around the clock. You can’t go wrong giving them a follow.
22. NCAA Basketball News: You may not have heard of sports blog Lockerpulse, but the site’s feed hosts a steady stream of bracketology, news, and game wrap-ups.
23. John Calipari: The only college coach to ever lead three different schools to the top seed, Calipari is leading Kentucky back to the big dance and tweeting along the way.
24. Tom Crean: Indiana has returned to the tourney for the first time since 2008. Follow Coach Crean as he tries to keep his team rolling to the Final Four.
25. Bill Self: Kansas won it all in 2008, but the regional finals game is the farthest they’ve gone since. This year the man himself looks to take them all the way to New Orleans.
26. Scott Drew: Baylor is looking strong thus far and Coach Drew hopes to lead the Bears to their first-ever national championship.
27. Chris Mack: Xavier has had an interesting year, but Coach Mack has handled it well, well enough that their tourney hopes are still alive.
28. Quincy Acy: This 6-foot-7 senior from Baylor put the team on his shoulders on their run to March Madness. This kid’s going to go far, so follow him.
29. Bradley Beal: Beal has the Gators in the Sweet Sixteen right now. No doubt he’ll be tweeting all the way through the team’s post-season run.
30. Tyrel Reed: With fellow baller Thomas Robinson, Reed has the Jayhawks in perfect position to make a run at the Final Four.

1. Make sure she sets up a bracket

   Whether she’s in a bracket group with friends, at her office, or you’ve set one up just for the two of you, the key to enjoying March Madness (besides your alma mater winning it all, of course) is to set up a bracket. This gives you a stake in each of the games and brings out a competitive spirit that makes the whole tournament a lot more fun. She’ll have someone to root for and you’ll have a girlfriend who will be interested in the outcome of the games. She may even stop lecturing you for checking the score while you’re at dinner!

2. And don’t tell her how to choose

   Nothing will ruin the fun of having a bracket faster than someone telling you that all your picks are bad or just completely taking over setting it up. If you choose your girlfriend’s bracket for her, she won’t be invested in it anymore and you can say goodbye to watching any of those 64 games with her around. You can suggest ways for her to pick, like choosing the cutest mascot, cutest roster, or the school that’s farther east, but let her make the choices so she’ll follow the whole tourney.

3. Share your knowledge

   Your girlfriend isn’t going to want you to tell her what to do, but if she asks for advice, by all means, tell her what you know. When you’re playing with your guy friends, or even next year when your girlfriend is totally obsessed with March Madness, you can keep all the insider tips and predictions you learned from those sports podcasts to yourself. But don’t be stingy this first time around if you want her enthusiasm to last. If you know that the team with the higher seed in a match-up has an injured star player and she doesn’t know who to pick, give her the facts and let her use that information to decide. The longer her bracket lasts, the more games you get to watch. This advice goes double if there are rules in the game your girl doesn’t understand. Be patient and explain them to her nicely without being condescending.

4. Let her trash talk

   The best part of any competition is engaging in some friendly trash talk with the other team. You’ll both have a lot more fun if you let her get a little sassy with the insults — and use some restraint when firing back at her. You’ve probably got some pretty nasty comebacks stored up, but it’s not a good idea to unload them on your favorite girl. Throw a little dirt her way, and save the most offensive burns for next year. If her smack talk isn’t up to par just yet, give her a few good lines to use when her team is beating yours or her bracket is doing great. She’ll enjoy herself more and you can start building a healthy rivalry that will last for years to come.

5. Bet on it

   Bragging rights just aren’t enough incentive to a woman who’s not that interested in the tournament to begin with. Sweeten the pot with some interesting wagers. You can have smaller bets for games where you picked different winners and of course, a big bet for the overall bracket winner. You can also make side bets on things like which celebrities will show up, who will have the most fouls, and which coaches and refs will get in a fight. While putting in money is certainly an option, it’s more fun if you get creative with it. Some options: loser has to cook dinner, winner gets to choose a movie or date-night activity, or loser has to do something embarrassing. The options are endless and the more creative you get, the more fun your girlfriend will have.

6. Let her pick her dream team

   We don’t think your sweetheart is suddenly going to want to put together a fantasy team of the best players in the NCAA, but she might be more interested in the action if she’s scouting out the most attractive men on each squad. Let her fill up a roster of freebies — guys she could hook up with guilt-free if she gets the chance before the tournament’s over. She’ll spend the games scouring the court and benches looking for the perfect additions to her team. You could even suggest a few to get her started. We’re thinking Patric Young from Florida, Tim Abromaitis from Notre Dame, or whoever your NCAA man-crush is.

7. Throw a party

   If your girlfriend likes hosting parties and whipping up delicious treats for guests, this is a sure-fire way to get her interested in the excitement of the tournament. And if she doesn’t like playing host, she’ll still love attending the party you throw. Who doesn’t love friends and food all in one place? Your party can be as involved or as simple as you want, depending on how much time you and your girlfriend want to put into it. You can have complicated team-themed dishes and decorations or just throw some pizzas into the oven and set out some bowls of chips. It’s up to you as long as everyone has a good time.

8. Create a bracket for whatever terrible reality competition she loves

   She made a bracket in an attempt to enjoy something you love, so it’s only fair that you do the same for her. She’ll be much more open to watching games knowing that you are also open to watching her shows later on. Several perennial girl favorites, like The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise or Dancing with the Stars, have “Fantasy” leagues through Facebook or the network’s website. Or you can create your own fantasy team by drafting from several different reality shows. Your girlfriend will appreciate the effort and you will be able to endure her favorite shows a lot more easily. “Does that count as making out?! That’s 30 points!”

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This is good news for those interested in working in the video game industry as designers and programmers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software engineering and related jobs are among the occupations expect to grow the fastest and add the most new jobs over the next decade, meaning job prospects should be excellent.

The Value of a Video Game Design Degree

It is not necessary to have a degree in video game design to be successful in the field. Many video game designers and programmers done extremely well in the industry without a game design degree. Indeed, video game design programs are a relatively new phenomena. That said, things are rapidly becoming more competitive in the industry and having a degree in game design from a respected and accredited school can help set you apart from the crowd. Among other things, it tells prospective employers that you are serious about your career as a game designer or programmer, have a broad understanding of the game development process, and have the stability and determination to finish a multi-year project (like a college degree).

The Advantages of an Online Video Game Design Degree

The most obvious advantage of getting a video game degree online is the flexibility and convenience provided by an online degree. Online students don’t have to travel to campus and can complete their classes and coursework on their own time. This means online game design students can fit their degree around their employment and family responsibilities. Unlike in the recent past, students seeking an accredited online video game design degree program now have several high quality options to choose from. A number of the top video game design programs in the country are now offered completely online.

How We Ranked Online Video Game Design Degree Programs

Online schools and online degree programs vary widely in terms of quality, name recognition, and value. To assist those looking for quality, accredited online video game design programs we’ve put together this ranking of what we consider to be the very best online schools offering video game design degrees online in 2011-2012. Our rankings of the top online schools offering online video game design degrees are based on publicly available data evaluated according to several different criteria, including market reputation, accreditation, student satisfaction, ratio of students to instructors, and tuition. Most of the schools in our rankings are regionally accredited, the highest form of accreditation a school can achieve. To read more about our rankings philosophy and find a list of our other top college and degree rankings visit our rankings page.

#1. International Academy of Design and Technology

Overview – This private, for-profit career school with an award winning virtual campus offers a comprehensive online game design degree with experiential learning opportunities.

Program: IADT’s online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design & Production is a 180 credit hour online degree program designed to help students develop their knowledge of asset development and integration, game play, team collaboration, written and verbal communication, and business operations relevant to the video game industry. Graduates will be prepared for multiple roles within the video game development industry. All classes are taught by professionals with experience in the field. The curriculum emphasizes opportunities for hands-on experience with the various aspects of game design and development.

Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.

Click here to learn more about online degree programs at IADT

#2. DeVry University

Overview – This program from one of the largest providers of online career-education in the world offers experiential learning, networking opportunities and the chance to learn skills in demand beyond the video game industry.

Program: Bachelor of Science in Game and Simulation Programming is a 127 hour program designed to prepare students for careers in the video game industry and the growing number of fields that require simulation software experts. Students will learn the coding languages, visual design principles, and software methods used in everything from the development of video games, to crime scene reconstruction, to corporate training software and more. Students will be partnered with industry-leading companies like Vivendi/Universal for experiential learning opportunities and make networking contacts with potential employers around the world.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Click here to learn more about online degree programs at DeVry University

#3. Post University

Overview – The largest provider of online education in the state of Connecticut, this small private university offers an accelerated online certificate program for aspiring video game designers that can be completed in a year.

Program: Post University’s Online Certificate in Game Design & Animation is a 15 credit hour certificate program designed to provide students with the main concepts and skills needed to design video games. Students work in a collaborative environment to develop both the theoretical knowledge and the practical methods that that underlie game theory, game genres, design principles, 3D graphics programming, character animation, game engine architectures, and artificial intelligence in video games. The certificate may be completed as part of another undergraduate degree major or on its own.

Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Click here to learn more about online degree programs at Post University

#4. University of Advancing Technology

Overview – This unique regionally accredited private university caters to technophiles and provides a comprehensive undergraduate education as part of its top-notch online video game design degree.

Program:The University of Advancing Technology’s online Bachelor of Art in Game Design is a 120 credit hour degree program that provides students with an in-depth understanding of all aspects of video game creation while developing a critical approach to game play, interaction and design. Essential design skills such as strong initial concepts, game documentation, game balance and play-testing, interactive storytelling and interface design are covered. Classes are 5 weeks long and are taken one at a time in a way that builds on previously learned skills.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Click here to learn more about online degree programs at the University of Advancing Technology

#5. Westwood College

Overview – This private, for-profit career-focused school exhibits investment in its video game design students and offers an intensive online bachelor’s in video game software design with a solid general arts core.

Program: Westwood College’s online Bachelor’s in Software Development with a major in Game Software Development is a 180 credit hour program designed to prepare graduates for a career programming and creating games. As part of the program students conceptualize and create an entire game prototype. Students also have the opportunity to show their skills in Westwood College’s annual 2D Game Development Competition judged by industry professionals.

Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.

#6. Full Sail University

Overview – An outstanding global reputation for media arts, an award winning online education platform, and a comprehensive approach help make this the best online degree in video game design available.

Program: Full Sail’s Game Design Bachelor of Science Online Degree is a 32 month program. The degree focuses on storytelling, design theory, design integration, and practical design. Graduates will be equipped with the skills needed to pursue a career creating content for everything from home consoles and computers, to emerging platforms like cell phones and other handheld devices. The program culminates with a final project in which students create a complete game prototype.

Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

#7. Southern New Hampshire University

Overview – This nationally ranked, regionally accredited not-for-profit university offers one of the best online bachelor’s degree in video game design, which also happens to be one of the most affordable.

Program: Southern New Hampshire University’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Game Development and Design is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge of IT, as well as an understanding of concept development, marketing, distribution, cross-collaboration and other business strategies. Graduates will be prepared for careers in the video game industry, as well as other IT and business related positions. A hybrid on-campus/online option is available.

Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#8. Academy of Art University

Overview – The largest art and design school in the United States offers two of the top online video game design degrees through its highly regarded School of Game Design.

Program: Academy of Art University offers an online Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) and an online Master of Fine Art (MFA) in Game Design. Both the BFA and MFA in Game Design introduce and build upon the foundations of traditional drawing, painting, and storytelling in order to broaden students’ conceptual skills. The online BFA provides students with a comprehensive education in the arts. The online MFA helps students master game mechanics and 3D technology which they display in a final thesis projects. Both programs provide hands-on experience in design techniques.

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#9. Rasmussen College

Overview – This private, for-profit career college with a 110 year history offers a programming oriented online game design program taught by award-winning industry professionals.

Program: Rasmussen College’s online Bachelor’s in Game and Simulation Programming is a 180 credit hour program built around a core computer science curriculum that will prepare students for careers in video game development and more. The coursework is comprehensive and highly-analytical, enabling students to develop skills in designing Web and mobile applications, as well as hi-tech simulations. Faculty are all industry professionals and recently took home the grand prize in the well-known Unity Competition.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#10. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Overview – The oldest art institute in North America and the largest collegiate art and design education system in the world offers a comprehensive, regionally accredited online degree in game art and design.

Program: The Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s online Bachelor’s Degree in Game Art & Design is a 180 credit hour degree program that can be completed in as little as 36 months. Students will learn how to design game play and backgrounds, create characters and their environments, and apply their knowledge of video and computer games to critically assess the industry. Through the study of all aspects of video game programming, including coding, production, artistic concepts and game play strategies they will be prepared to assume multiple roles in the game development process. Classes are taught by experienced game industry professionals with higher degrees.

Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

For our list of the Top 40 Video Game Design Blogs of 2011 we chose what we thought were the most interesting and useful blogs written by professional video game designers, programmers, developers, artists and industry insiders. Only blogs active in 2011 were considered for inclusion. For those interested in becoming involved in the process of designing and developing video games, or just want to learn more about it, we believe this list offers a great place to start.

A Series of Interesting Choices – A professional game designer with corporate experience blogs about video game design, board games, social games and going indie.

Applied Game Design – From a veteran game designer, writer, artist, and developer with a book on breaking into the gaming industry.

Brainy Gamer – Michael Abbot’s blog and podcast is dedicated to fostering intelligent conversation about video games.

Broken Toys – Professional game designer Scott Jennings writes mainly about massive multiplayer games and design.

Click Nothing – From a former Ubisoft game designer and script writer turned creative director for LucasArts.

David Jaffe.biz – David Jaffe is co-founder, game director and designer for Eat Sleep Play, which has been making games since 1993.

Designer Notes – Professional video game designer and columnist Soren Johnson offers a look inside the game design process and more.

Doolwind’s Game Coding Blog – Independent video game designer Alistair Doulin offers his pragmatic thoughts on game development.

Fine Game Design – A veteran game designer and game design teacher offers thoughts about game design and links to useful design-related sites around the web.

Forgotten Lore – A former Navy Cryptologic Officer turned indie game designer writes about designing strategy games.

FreeToPlay.biz – Veteran game designer and producer Adrian Crook writes about the business and design of free-to-play games.

Game of Design – Dan Kline is an AI game programmer and designer who writes about AI, game design, the business of games and other industry related topics.

GameDevBlog – Long time professional game developer Jamie Fristrom blogs about game design, marketing, storytelling, programming and other stuff.

Games from Within – An independent game developer focused on “creating original, non-violent entertainment involving creativity and sharing” blogs about game design, especially for the iPhone.

Game Tycoon – Game designer and entrepreneur David Edery writes about the business side of making video games.

Ian Bogost’s Blog – Video game theory, criticism and design from a veteran designer, philosopher, critic, author, researcher and digital media professor at Georgia Tech University.

Impossible Changing Brain Foundation – One of Australia’s leading game developers blogs about the business and politics of the game design industry.

Inside Voice – The Lead Game Designer at Robot Entertainment offers up his own cynical commentary on the business of video games.

Intelligent Artifice – A 20 year game industry veteran with experience in design, production, programming and management and quality assurance writes about games and other forms of interactive entertainment.

Jon Jones – A veteran art producer and outsourcing manager for the video game industry shares his thoughts and advice on art, outsourcing, the game industry, and personal development.

Joris Dormans – A Dutch designer, lecturer and scholar of gaming theory and game design offers essays, game reviews, book reviews, and peeks at some of his latest design projects.

Lost Garden – The Chief Creative Officer at Spry Fox offers essays on game design theory, art and the design business from his 15 years of designing experience.

Pentadact – Tom Francis is a game designer and writer for PC Gamer in the UK who blogs about game programming and design, as well as music, movies and a number of other things.

pixelpaton – An experienced Flash game developer writes about the process of making games and offers resources for game developers, along with photography, art, sketches and news.

Planet Romero – A near legendary game designer and artist with Doom and Quake on his resume blogs about game development, design, programming, the history of games and more.

Raph Koster’s Blog – Koster is the lead designer for a team that focuses on building online worlds and writes about a variety of topics, but mainly game design.

Reality Panic – The former executive director of the International Game Developers Association and current game industry consultant Jason Della Rocca blogs about games, the economics of games, and his travels.

Scott Foe’s Web Log – A consultant for mobile and social gaming start-ups and one of the most respected designers in the mobile/social arena offers occasional reflections on his career and the industry.

Screen Play – Musings on the games industry, development, production, game design, narrative design, and storytelling from a Canadian who has spent 12 years in the business.

Sirlin – A video, board and card game designer and consultant blogs about game design and other game related topics.

Snook’s Blog – A game industry veteran and Lead Software Engineer for Microsoft Game Studios writes mainly about design and coding.

Teaching Game Design – A programmer, game designer and teacher writes on the intersection of game design, instructional design and teaching.

The Bottom Feeder – Veteran game designer, author, and founder of Spiderweb Software Jeff Vogel blogs about indie game design.

The Ludologist – A game designer, programmer, author, researcher and assistant professor at the New York University Game Center blogs about video games and other stuff.

The Plush Apocalypse – An independent game designer and AI programmer writes about design, the business of video games, and how games can transform our view of the world.

Tim Stellmach – A video game industry veteran with 19 years of experience as a game designer, creative lead, and other roles keeps a rolling journal about his designing adventures.

Trip’s OMG Blog – Video game industry pioneer Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate, a social game development company, and founder of Electronic Arts, blogs about all things games.

We Make Holes in Teeth – Patrick Redding, a game director at Ubisoft, writes about game design, among other things.

Witchboy – The blog of Harvey Smith, a longtime game designer, creative director at Arkane Studios, and MFA student.

Words on Play – A game design and programming teacher at the University of NSW in Australia writes about the intersection of stories and games.

Programs Offered

This institution gives creative-minded students the opportunity to study one of 18 areas of art and design the school offers. AAU is known for providing online art classes and degree programs that allow students across the country to obtain the skills and learn the techniques necessary to succeed in creative industries. Program curriculum utilizes a disciplined approach, combining art principles, practical industry knowledge, and advanced technology. Students have the option to earn a variety of undergraduate or graduate degrees through schools dedicated to the following areas: advertising, animation, architecture, fashion design, fine art, game design, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, interior design, motion pictures and television, multimedia communications, music production and sound for visual media, photography, and Web design and new media.

Accreditation

The Academy of Art University, both on campus and online, is regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It also holds a national accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, as well as program accreditation by the National Architectural Accrediting Board and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

Admissions

For undergraduate admissions, the university has rolling admissions where students can apply year-round for upcoming semesters. Applications are accepted through the first week of each fall, spring, or summer semesters. While there is a no-barrier admissions policy, those who wish to apply to a Bachelor of Fine Arts program must submit official high school transcripts and provide proof of high school graduation in the form of a diploma or GED/CHSPE certificate. For graduate admissions, those applying for a Master of Fine Arts program must submit proof of graduation from a bachelor’s program, a letter of intent, a resume, letters of recommendation, and a portfolio that demonstrates work in a relevant area.

Admissions Contact

Academy of Art University Online
Academy of Art University Admissions Office
79 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
1-800-544-2787
onlineadmissions@academyart.edu

Programs Offered

The University of Advancing Technology offers several bachelor’s degree programs online. These include virtual modeling and design, game art and animation, game design, advancing computer science, game programming, network security, and technology forensics. Online students will typically take one five-week class at a time, for a total of three classes per 15-week semester. However, eligible students may be able to accelerate their degree path. UAT’s virtual classroom is an asynchronous learning environment, which allows students to login and complete coursework whenever and from wherever they need. Due to the nature of this learning environment and UAT’s educational mission, students can expect their courses to be more dependent on assignments and activities rather than lectures.

Accreditation

The University of Advancing Technology Online is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Higher Learning Commission. All of these agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, allowing eligible students the opportunity to apply for federal financial aid.

Admissions

The University of Advancing Technology Online has a rolling admissions process and accepts applications at any time of the year. Applicants must have completed at least two semesters of high school and show one or more forms of academic history, such as a high school GPA, SAT or ACT scores, GED scores, or college transcripts with at least 12 credit hours earned. In addition, students must complete the application, including several essay questions, submit their graduation date or GED testing date, and indicate their program of interest. Students across the country as well as international students are welcome to apply. The school accepts 78% of its applicants, and there are seven start dates for new students every year.

Admissions Contact

University of Advancing Technology Online
Admissions Office
2625 W Baseline Rd
Tempe, Arizona 85283
(602) 383-8228
admissions@uat.edu