College of DuPage Offers New Game Animation and Design Degree

College of DuPage is offering a new Game Animation and Design degree that will give students the skills to design video and computer games across multiple platforms.

Recently approved by the Illinois Community College Board, the associate in applied science degree will provide the knowledge for students to gain entry-level positions as a designer and animator in such fields as game development and design, broadcast design, and television effects.

"The digital revolution has created jobs that never existed before, while other jobs continue to evolve because of the rapid advancement of technology," said Erin Birt, Chair of the College of DuPage Board of Trustees. "Students earning this degree will find work creating everything from mobile applications to corporate videos."

John Kronenburger, Associate Dean of Technology, said the degree is a collaborative effort between the Computer Information System and Animation programs at COD. The new degree consists of 68 credit hours and combines existing courses from both programs in a new way.

"We are taking both design and development skills that have been taught separately and integrating them together for the first time," he said.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for software publishers, including game development, is expected to increase 30 percent through 2018.

Tony Venezia, Professor of Motion Picture/Television and Animation, said Illinois is the sixth highest state in the nation for game development. More than 49 game development companies and 48 animation companies are located in the Chicago region, as well as one of the fastest-growing independent game development markets in the country.

"This is a unique degree because we are combining classic animation techniques with video game skills and integrating animation into two- and three-dimensional programming," he said. "It's exciting to bring these areas together because of the tremendous potential for student success in the workplace."

For more information, call (630) 942-2020, (630) 942-2599 or email venezia@cod.edu.