The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Gaming and Animation program at Oklahoma Christian University was ranked among the top game design programs in the nation by SuccessfulStudent.org.
Successful Student is a website that helps students plan out their higher education life. The website ranked Oklahoma Christian University 21st on a Best Video Game Colleges list of 27 schools. Oklahoma Christian was one of three universities in the southwestern United States to be named and the only school in Oklahoma.
The gaming and animation degree has been available at Oklahoma Christian for five years with a total of 75 students in the program this year. In this program, students learn 30 software programs, study the history of film, video and animation and develop games in studio classes.
“We started off with 15 when I first started,” Professor of Gaming and Animation Jeff Price said. “I think we’ve had 25 new freshmen this last fall.”
Price said one of the main reasons for the student increase is because the major has been identified as a top program in game magazines and the Princeton review.
“I think that has bought us a lot of exposure from all different students around the country,” Price said. “We’re the only ones in the Midwest. Most of the other people on the top game program list are either on the east coast or the west coast, so we’re one of the few in the middle of the country.”
The gaming and animation major has been recognized a few times in the past.
“The neat thing about it was, people are beginning to hear about us and talk about us on the Internet, and that generated even more buzz,” Price said. “Locally, we’ve been recognized several times in the Daily Oklahoman, Channel 4 News and things like that. But really to be on the list of top schools in the country — that’s pretty big for us.”
Price plans for the program to develop more in the future.
“I’m going to start having programs and making games that relate to a much broader audience, like the medical field and things like that,” Price said. “I think once we start to do projects that have more national interests, it will get more press about that. That’s my goal in the future is to really get us maybe on the CBS evening news.”
Price said he is proud of his students and they are a big part of the success of the program.
“I have the best students on the planet,” Price said. “I love them. Sometimes it’s difficult, I have to tell them hard things sometimes. Telling them that their working needs to improve – and that’s not always easy, especially for artists.”
Price said that the honor alluded to Oklahoma Christian’s commitment to their students and education.
“We’re committed to a quality education and that there is value for your money,” Price said. “As a student you can come here and learn how to do new things. This is the cutting-edge education as far as gaming and animation is concerned.”
Senior Aubrey Henke said students and Price have done a lot to earn their high rank.
“I think everyone has worked really hard and Mr. Price has gone out of his way to really help all of the students succeed and they all really want to do well after graduating,” Henke said.
Henke said she is proud of herself and her fellow classmates for helping the program become one of the top in the nation.
“It’s really hard for a small school to be recognized in general, especially for such a small program,” Henke said. “Nationwide it’s become a really big deal, so I’m definitely proud of the students and the teachers for the honor.”
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