Sheridan Launches 2 New Post-Grad Game Development Programs

Sheridan College is launching two new postgraduate programs in January 2012: Game Level Design, and Game Development - Advanced Programming.

For Immediate Release: October 4, 2011
Oakville, Ontario

Sheridan College is launching two new postgraduate programs in January 2012: Game Level Design, and Game Development - Advanced Programming. The two gaming programs will offer students the unique opportunity to experience a realistic industry environment, with designers and programmers working together to create a video game in the third semester of their one-year program.

The Game Level Design program is the first of its kind in Ontario, and prepares students with the skills “to bring together all the different aspects of the game – narrative, characters, rules and mechanics – to create the virtual environment in which all of these elements play out,” says coordinator Avrim Katzman. The program will prepare students who already hold a degree or advanced diploma in the arts with the specialized skill set required to succeed in the industry.

The Game Development - Advanced Programming certificate is geared to students who already hold a degree in computer science or a diploma in computer programming. “The industry demands graduates who are well-rounded in computing, but who also possess the specialized skills required for game programming,” says Lukasz Wawrzyniak, coordinator of the program. “This postgraduate program is intended to fill that niche.”



Sheridan is building on its reputation for excellence in animation, digital media and technology by offering an innovative approach to game development through collaboration. “This approach mirrors the industry experience because the game designers have to work with more technical people,” says Katzman. “The program is all about learning through doing.” Students from both programs collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to produce quality video game projects in the final semester. In addition to hands-on experience, the final project offers students an opportunity to showcase their skills to potential employers.

The emphasis in both programs is on practical skills and problem-solving, through extensive use of lab work, demonstrations, case studies and simulations. Both programs cover 2D and 3D games and incorporate popular game editing interfaces and game engines. Project management, game documentation, scripting and playtesting are also included in the curriculum. Game Level Design students focus on creating challenging and stimulating gameplay experiences, while students in Game Development - Advanced Programming learn to apply their programming skills to gameplay, animation, artificial intelligence, and multiplayer systems. Visit gaming.sheridancollege.ca to learn more.

Canada is a major player in the digital games market, currently ranking third in the world, and Toronto is a growing centre for game development enterprises, including such industry leaders as Ubisoft.

About Sheridan:

Long recognized for excellence in animation, digital media and technology, Sheridan College serves over 17,000 full-time students at campuses in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville. Sheridan offers an innovative learning environment celebrated for academic excellence, applied research and creativity. Program options range from one-year certificates to four-year Bachelor’s degrees, in the arts, business, community service and technology fields. We prepare students for career success; 82 percent of graduates are employed within six months of graduation and 95% of employers are satisfied with the quality of our graduates.