Computer Animation and Game Development

Choose CAGD!

Welcome to #teamCAGD!

Hello and welcome to the Computer Animation and Game Development Program (CAGD) at California State University, Chico! We are so excited that you have come to visit and learn about what we are pleased to offer students who declare CAGD as their major of choice.

Since 1999, the Computer Animation and Game Development Program (CAGD) has grown into what it is today. In 1999 Computer Animation and Game Development (formerly known as Applied Computer Graphics) began the journey to grow into the program that it is proud to be today, offering industry-standard techniques and practices to students who aspire toward careers in technology and creativity.  

Below, we have highlighted a few of the things that make our program unique. After learning more about CAGD, let us know how we may assist and guide you on your academic path to success! Should you have further inquiries, feel free to reach out to our office at cagd@csuchico.edu.


What's cool about CAGD?

We love the uniqueness of CAGD and the opportunities the Program offers. To learn more, read through the list or click through the images below!

What's cool about CAGD
What's cool about CAGD
What's cool about CAGD
What's cool about CAGD
What's cool about CAGD
We have two in house faculty major advisors for our students that will help guide you through the program!
What's cool about CAGD
What's cool about CAGD

What's cool about CAGD?

  • We have two different major options: Animation Production and Game Development
  • We have two different minors: Applied Computer Graphics and Video Game Design
  • There is a student-run club designed specifically for CAGD Students called the Computer Graphics Club (or CGC)!
  • We have an in-house motion capture studio...and a class to teach you about it!
  • We have two in-house Faculty Major Advisors for our students that will help guide you through the program.
  • Our alumni are out working in the industry for companies like...
    • 2K
    • Epic Games
    • Sony Imageworks
    • Pixar
  • Each semester, we have a new bank of published games available from Chico State Game Studios.


What will I be learning in the CAGD Program?

Computer Animation & Game Development offers a variety of classes that reflect areas of animation and game industry standard pipelines.

CAGD Class Topics
  • Video game design
  • Game Scripting
  • 3D Modeling
  • Character Modeling
  • 3D Animation
  • 3D Character Animation
  • Level Design
  • Video Game Pre-Production
  • Digital Texturing
  • Photo Scanning
  • Motion Capture
  • Team Production and Development

To see a full list of all the classes we have to offer, please see the Chico State Catalog and navigate to Computer Animation and Game Development under Academic Programs. To view CAGD hardware and software requirements, please see our Hardware and Software Page.

Where do CAGD Graduates find job opportunities?

Chico State’s Computer Animation and Game Development Program creates many unique opportunities for its students by teaching them skills that foster an intersection between technology and creativity.


Graduates of the CAGD Program may be found at studios such as (but not limited to):

CAGD Alumni Job Opportunities
  • 2K
  • Sony Imageworks
  • Pixar
  • Weta Digital
  • Epic Games
  • Electronic Arts
  • Ubisoft
  • Zynga
  • Crystal Dynamics
  • Super Alloy Interactive

Other opportunities may be found in industries such as medical, construction, architecture, defense (simulation), marketing, and television industries.


From the classroom to the industry, the Computer Animation and Game Development Program is designed to prepare students for success!


What is the Computer Animation and Game Development Program?

Developed in 1999 by Dr. Clarke Steinback, the Computer Animation and Game Development (CAGD) Program was designed to provide students with a curriculum that supports skill-based, collaborative, teamwork experiences as well as varied situations in which problem-solving and communication are core components. Chico State is one of seven programs for Animation Production and one of only two programs for Game Development in the CSU System.

With the possibility of career paths being virtually limitless, the CAGD Program is proud to provide its students with skills including animation production, CGI, agile development, game scripting, augmented/virtual reality, motion capture, lidar scanning, and photogrammetry.

Who is Team CAGD?

Chico State’s Computer Animation and Game Development Program is run by a team of individuals that work together to combine art and technology as a means of expressing creative minds. With a strong foundation in teaching and industry experience, our faculty and staff are teaching students each day to design rich multimedia environments that communicate, inform, and entertain. To read more about Team CAGD, we invite you to explore our Faculty and Staff Page.

Graduates of the CAGD Program have found themselves in a multitude of development positions in such fields as (but not limited to):

  • Entertainment
  • Web Development 
  • Business
  • Science
  • Construction

Student Resources and Support

The Computer Animation and Game Development Program, Chico State, and the College of ECC have been working to provide our students with numerous resources that can help them along their educational journey, even in virtual learning circumstances. Some of these resources include...

  • 2 In-House Academic Advisors specifically for the CAGD Program
  • A student-run club to create social networks for CAGD Students
  • College of ECC Student Success Center
  • Chico State Writing Center
  • Chico State Career Center
  • ...and more!

To inquire about any other resources that are provided to students, we invite you to visit our Temporary Virtual Classroom Page as well as Chico State’s home page.


Stay Connected With Us!

Whether you are a current student, prospective student, or even a #teamCAGD Parent-to-Be, we invite you to stay connected with us and our program!

Stay Connected With CAGD
Especially for our students...

For everyone, find us on social media!