SUNY Canton Announces New Four-Year Video Game Design Program

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A group of SUNY Canton students work on a collaborative video game project in the college's Graphic and Multimedia Design lab.

CANTON, NY (01/27/2017)(readMedia)-- SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran announced that the college has received approval to offer a new four-year Game Design and Development program.

"We are offering a comprehensive program focusing on the design and production of modern video games," Szafran said. "This new course of study is a solid and logical development for our college."

The new Bachelor of Science degree is the first of several new academic offerings created by the college's professional faculty members to continue the college's growth and expansion. It stands alongside 22 other career-driven four-year programs.

"Students will learn the most recent technologies, and programming skills to create video games on multiple platforms and devices," said Canino School of Engineering Technology Dean Michael J. Newtown. "In addition to theoretical learning, students will have plenty of hands-on experience creating video games."

Approximately half of men and a comparable number of women say they play video games on a computer, TV, game console, or mobile device according to Pew Research Center data. Two-thirds of young adults, or those of traditional college age, said they play video games.

Beyond popularity, the college looked at potential employment opportunities for students after graduation while assembling the proposal for the new program. A 2014 economic impact study conducted by Economists Incorporated showed that the video game industry increased in size by more than nine percent, or four times the growth rate of the U.S. economy, between 2009 and 2012.

"We are joining a multi-billion dollar industry," said SUNY Canton Provost Douglas M. Scheidt. "The students in the Game Design program will gain marketable high-tech knowledge and skills that will be beneficial to their careers and entrepreneurial endeavors."

The program has been approved by SUNY and the New York State Department of Education. It will complement the Graphic and Multimedia Design and Information Technology programs, as well as existing courses taught in multiple disciplines.

Students can begin in the Game Design and Development program at the start of the Fall 2017 semester. The SUNY Canton Office of Admissions will begin accepting applications for the much-anticipated program immediately. To apply, visit www.canton.edu/apply. For more information about applying, call 1-800-388-7123 or email admissions@canton.edu.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service and recently received number one rankings in library resources, library services and tutoring services in the SUNY Student Opinion Survey. The college's faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 11 exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 15 athletic teams compete as members of the NCAA Division III.

-www.canton.edu-