Headphones and game controller; student playing a guitar video game; student mixing audio in the sound studio.

Game Sound Design Major

Ready to get started?   Apply now!

Build tension, amplify action, and design the perfect atmosphere; a good video game relies on a great soundtrack.

Champlain College's Bachelor of Science in Game Sound Design is ideal for students interested in creating the audio elements of games. You'll learn music composition, scoring, voiceover recording, game engine scripting, how to work within a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), and more, all while working directly with game engines on a game development team.

From character dialogue to background music, learn how to design video game audio that gives players an immersive and engaging experience.

Why study Game Sound Design at Champlain College?

In the Champlain College Game Studio, you'll be learning in an environment that very closely replicates the studio work of the game industry. You'll collaborate with students in the Game Art, Game Business & Publishing, Game Design, Game Production Management, and Game Programming majors to build full games from start to finish.

Our Game Studio Senior Show is widely anticipated by top game company recruiters each year. Why? They know our graduates will hit the ground running. The game industry-its necessary teamwork, processes, and best practices-is a familiar world to a Champlain game student; they've been working in it already.

Watch the video below to learn about the process behind one Game Studio team's project.

Learn More on Our Game Studio Website


JUST THE FACTS

THE BEST

The 2021 Fiske Guide to Colleges selected Champlain as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.

THE MOST

Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" by U.S. News & World Report (for the seventh consecutive year!) in its "America's Best Colleges" 2022 rankings.

#1

Burlington, Vermont, our hometown, is ranked the #1 Best College Town by Travel + Leisure magazine.

WHAT SETS US APART

The Game Studio Experience at Champlain College

The unique Game Studio Experience at Champlain College gives you start-to-finish game-building experience in a professional environment. You'll collaborate with your peers in each of our game majors to create playable games in a studio that parallels the processes of the industry. By the end of your four years, you'll be ready to work in a professional studio.

Students demonstrate and play video games at the Champlain Game Studio Senior Show

Annual Game Studio Senior Show

You will have the opportunity to present the game you create with your Game Studio team—as well as your own demo reel—to recruiters from all over the United States and Canada. Recruiters often come to the Senior Show to scout new talent, from companies like:

Insomniac Activision/Vicarious Visions
Behaviour Hidden Monster Games
Otherside Entertainment Sony Bend
Trivium Interactive Ubisoft
Velan

Champlain students attending the Game Developers Conference in San Fransisco

Game Developers Conference

Champlain College sends a cohort to the world's largest game developers conference each year in San Francisco. Game Studio faculty, students, alumni, and the Game Studio Career Coach attend the conference for professional development and networking. The Career Coach facilitates exclusive networking meetings for Champlain students with top recruiters from companies such as Ubisoft, ArenaNet, Crystal Dynamics, Survios, Insomniac, Rockstar, and Sony.

SAMPLE COURSES IN THE GAME SOUND DESIGN CURRICULUM

Year 1

EGD 101 Introduction to Game Development SON 120 Fundamentals of Digital Music

Year 2

SON 282 Synthesis & Sound Design EGD 220 Game Production I

Year 3

BRD 330 Advanced Audio & Sound Design EGD 320 Game Production II

Year 4

SON 165 Business of Music EGD 420 Senior Production
FULL GAME SOUND DESIGN CURRICULUM

GO ALL IN

Student works on a project in Champlain's Emergent Media Center

Internships

You'll be learning the ins and outs of game sound design from your very first day of classes. This early experience means you'll be ready for career-relevant internships by your second year.

A student explores the Jean Talon Market in Montreal.

Study Abroad

Explore the verdant landscapes of Ireland and the welcoming liveliness of its capital city. Find inspiration and energy in the unique, cosmopolitan character of Montreal, Canada. Embark on a semester abroad nearly anywhere in the world, expanding your perspective.

YOUR FUTURE

An Education in Game Sound Design

Earning a bachelor's degree in Game Sound Design positions you perfectly for a career in creating the auditory experiences of the next big video games. You don't have to retrofit an education in music production to the specific processes and technologies of the game industry—at Champlain, your expertise in sound design is built within the context of games. 

You'll be prepared to...

Develop game scores to meet specific professional scenarios and requirements.

Conceptualize, in a clear and concise way, the audio direction for a game or specific game assets using traditional or digitally facilitated rendering methods.

Identify and anticipate new technology and rapidly adapt to the changing technological landscape.

Articulate, analyze, and evaluate the meanings, social contexts, and ethical choices in your work.

Identify industry game sound design roles—and the specific skill sets required by each role—in order to develop a successful, individual career path.

See all learning outcomes.

These Champlain College benefits will get you ahead of the game:

  • You'll be immersed in Game Sound Design from day one—giving you lots of time to refine skills, learn from mistakes, and discover your acoustic preferences. 
  • Working collaboratively in our Game Studio is about as close as you can get to working in a real, industry game studio!
  • ...except for those times you'll be working in real, industry game studios. We can set you up to intern with businesses in Burlington and all over the world.
  • Our campus in Montreal, Canada, provides students with opportunities to tour some of the game industry's biggest companies.
  • Through our InSight program and your career advisor, you'll have help all along the way—finding those fantastic internships, preparing to meet recruiters at our Senior Game Show, and so much more.

Let us know you’re interested so we can keep in touch!

Academic Book cover shot

Sign up to download our academic catalog, and receive helpful tips and advice, deadline reminders, and inspiring information about careers, majors, and college life at Champlain. See why we’re ranked one of the most innovative schools in the country.

Nice to meet you!

Thanks for getting in touch. Download your Academic Book here. Please reach out anytime if you have any questions about Champlain; you can call or text us at (802) 625-0201 or email us at admission@champlain.edu.

Check out our list of majors, come visit our beautiful campus, and explore our blog, The View, for the latest news and updates.

OH, AND THERE'S MORE...

View of Skiff Hall at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont with Champlain College sign in front
Visits & Events

Now Offering On-Campus Tours, Info Sessions, and Events. Learn More Today!

A faculty member works with a student in the Audio Lab
APPLY EARLY DECISION

When you know, you just know. If you know Champlain is your #1 choice school, you should definitely apply Early Decision.

Get on the Mailing List
Get Info

Fill out our request info form and we’ll send you a cool collection of stickers and useful information about Champlain.