Brookville, N.Y. -- A new master's degree program offered by the School of Visual and Performing Arts at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University paves the way for a career in one of the most popular forms of entertainment: computer game design and development. The Master of Arts in Digital Game Design and Development, the first of its kind on Long Island, offers a comprehensive study of the design of digital games, their dominance as a cultural form, and their expansion into all aspects of life, from entertainment and education to policy planning and the military. Applications are currently being considered for the fall of 2011.
"This master's degree program brings to the C.W. Post Campus the serious study of games as a technological, artistic, educational and social form of media," said Benjamin Moore, acting dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at C.W. Post. "In just over a decade, digital games have emerged as one of the most popular forms of entertainment and are also being used as an invaluable tool in education, science, medicine, the military and government."
Gaming is far more than child's play. The average gamer in the United States is 34, and 60% of gamers are male, and more than a quarter of all U.S. game players are over the age of 50, according to the Entertainment Software Association. A multi-billion dollar industry, games are exhibited in major museums; they are discussed along with other cultural forms in mainstream news media; and they are increasingly used not just for entertainment but to educate, train, and serve as agents for positive social change.
The 36-credit M.A. in Digital Game Design and Development is a two-year program. Students will take a core curriculum and then choose one of three specializations: Game Programming, Visual Design or Game Design. Game Programming focuses on software coding and the technical aspects of game creation; Visual Design explores 2D and 3D animation for games, art direction, and graphic design as applied to games; Game Design examines the conception and creation of the player experience through level design, user interface development and interactive design of the play experience. Students will explore new game platforms and learn to function effectively in the daily practice of collaborative game conception, design, development and production.
"Our program is for serious-minded, highly talented individuals who are passionate about games as a creative medium and are ready for an intensive two-year study," Dean Moore said. "The program has been designed for students who, in addition to learning the process of game-making, wish to consider the broader socio-cultural context and impact of games and gaming." Students will make unusual games from the moment they enter the program, working collaboratively on teams.
Students will graduate from the program with a strong creative portfolio, a sophisticated understanding of the field of digital game development, and an intellectual appreciation of the history and economics of games. They will be prepared to work in varied positions, such as game designers, game programmers, interactive multimedia producers, 3D animation artists, computer software engineers as well as developers of games for the burgeoning educational game market. Double-digit growth in gaming occupations is projected for New York City in the coming years.
Classes will be supported by an active industry advisory board, a strong internship program, faculty drawn from the New York City area game industry, and state-of-the-art technological support, including C.W. Post's interactive digital media labs and studios.
Candidates should have a bachelor's degree and strong preparation in at least one of the three areas of the program's specializations or a related subject.
For more information contact the C.W. Post Graduate Admissions Office, C.W. Post Campus, Long Island University, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, New York 11548-1300; 516-299-2900; enroll@cwpost.liu.edu or visit www.liu.edu/cwpost/gamedesign.