DigiPen Institute of Technology is an accredited higher education institution authorized by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). DigiPen was initially founded in 1988 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as an engineering simulation company. Slowly realizing that there was a lack of qualified manpower, DigiPen started a rigorous training program in computer simulation and animation. In 1993, DigiPen registered its first school in Vancouver - it was the first institution to offer training in game programming in North America.

In 1996, DigiPen Institute of Technology opened its campus in Redmond, Washington, after obtaining authorization by the HECB, and it offered the first-ever degree-granting program in game sciences in the world. Over the years, DigiPen has maintained its high standards and quality of education, and it has remained faithful to its original stated mission of providing higher education to students who want to pursue careers in the real-time interactive simulation and 3D computer animation industries, and providing these industries with highly qualified and trained personnel. DigiPen is the premier video game school with the longest record of granting degrees in this field in the world.

To fulfill the increasing demand for a qualified workforce in the digital entertainment industry, DigiPen has created the following unique degree programs:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Real-Time Interactive Simulation (RTIS), which consists of 154 credits offered over eight semesters of 15 weeks each;
• Associate of Science Degree in Real-Time Interactive Simulation (RTIS), which consists of 82 credits offered over four semesters of 15 weeks each;
  
• Associate of Applied Arts Degree in 3D Computer Animation, which consists of 80 credits offered over four semesters of 15 weeks each.

DigiPen is currently working to expand its commitment to students and the industry by proposing for authorization, the following degrees:

• Masters of Science in Computer Science;
  
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering;
  
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production Animation.

DigiPen also offers training workshops for middle school and high school students. Now in its ninth year, the DigiPen Summer Workshops give students hands-on experience in programming computer games or producing 3D digital animations. In addition to the summer workshops, DigiPen has developed the DigiPen Computer Science Program at various Washington state Skills Centers, offering math, art and computer science courses in a half-day program for junior and senior high school students.

While the RTIS program at DigiPen is highly academic and emphasizes theoretical bases of mathematics, computer science and graphics, students must also apply their learning through unique and challenging "hands-on" applications. Every semester, students are required to finish two projects (one individual and one team-based) to demonstrate their competency in applying information taught in lectures.

The 3D Computer Animation program provides students with an intense educational experience that melds a solid foundation in traditional art skills and theory with a thorough grounding in digital tools and production methodologies.

Successful DigiPen graduates gain the skills required to pursue careers in the rapidly growing world of computer technologies in general, and interactive simulations and computer graphics in particular.

The various lectures offered each semester to DigiPen students converge towards the creation of a practical project. Each practical project embodies the theoretical knowledge gained from the courses offered in the previous and current semesters.

RTIS students are divided into teams and are rigorously trained in mathematics, Object-Oriented Programming Languages, paradigms, and Software Engineering techniques and practices. The practical game projects ensure that graduating students have a thorough knowledge of computer hardware, C++ /assembly languages, implementation of AI algorithms, and TCP/IP and Internet programming. During their time at DigiPen, RTIS students have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of games - from text-based games to side-scrolling sprite-based games to 2-D simulation games to 3-D vector-based graphics games.

Each semester, the computer animation students are expected to create animations individually and in teams in order to demonstrate their creative and technical skills that will ultimately comprise a portfolio showcasing their talents. The focus of the projects is for the students to use the theory they have learned in class to produce complete animations from initial concept to final rendering. Their project production schedules include all aspects of the animation pipeline from pre-production (scripting, character and set design, storyboards, light and sound design) to production (modeling, textures, animation, composition) to post-production (final edit, soundtrack production).