CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A new master's program in video game development could soon be launched at the U of I following approval by the UI Board of Governors at Thursday's meeting.
The proposal was made by the university's School of Information Science and Graduate School. Key university figures, the president and vice chancellor of the University of Illinois System, all recommended approval of the proposal.
The proposal cites the video game industry's increased popularity in recent years, a trend that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts will continue.
The proposed master's degree program in game development would require training to work in a professional video game studio or similar industry, and would focus on the fields of art, design, programming, production, or storytelling .
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Another unique aspect of this program is its completely online format. The reason for this is not only scalability, but also accessibility, including for non-traditional and international students. .
The proposed program does not require new funding and will be supported by the School of Information Science's existing resources, grants, and tuition revenue.
The Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs agreed with the program's recommendations.
The program has received overwhelming approval from key figures at the university, but ultimately requires approval from the Illinois Higher Education Commission.
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