TU’s CSG Program Ranked #1 in Oklahoma!
We are thrilled to announce that the University of Tulsa’s Computer Simulation & Gaming (CSG) program has been ranked the #1 Game Design Program in the state of Oklahoma by Animation Career Review. This recognition reflects a combination of factors, including academic reputation, admission selectivity, employment outcomes, faculty depth, tuition value, graduation rate, and retention rate. We’re proud to excel across all of these measures, but even more proud of what makes our program genuinely unique.
While the ranking acknowledges a variety of strengths, one of the most distinctive aspects of the CSG program is its holistic approach to game creation. Unlike programs that emphasize only design or only development, TU’s curriculum is intentionally interdisciplinary, blending computer science, visual arts, sound, storytelling, and emerging technologies. Students graduate not only with technical expertise but also with the creative and collaborative skills needed to thrive in modern game studios and interactive media industries.
2025 CSG 3023 students working on their group game project
A large part of what sets TU apart is how we bring students together across courses and disciplines to work on a single, multi-semester senior capstone game. Our 3D animation students create the cinematic cutscenes that showcase their modeling, rigging, and animation skills in a professional context. At the same time, our Video Game Scoring course, taught in partnership with the School of Music, develops the game’s original soundtrack, sound effects, and recorded dialogue, giving students hands-on experience in audio engineering, scoring to picture, and directing voice talent. These assets are integrated by the senior production teams, who spend two semesters building a polished final game that brings together programming, design, narrative, art, and sound. This interconnected ecosystem enables students to contribute specialized work to a larger shared production, providing them with valuable, studio-style collaborative experiences long before graduation.
Students in CSG 4283 work on 3D modeling projects as Professor Burris gives feedback
Readers can dive deeper into this process in Blank Slate: A Development Story, where our 2024 seniors take you behind the scenes of their creative, messy, and highly collaborative journey in building their capstone game.
We are incredibly proud of our students, faculty, and partners who make the CSG program such a vibrant and forward-thinking space. This ranking reflects their creativity, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to our entire CSG community. Here’s to the innovative games, simulations, and interactive experiences still to come! 🚀
