Gamers can now take their interest in computer games to the ultimate level. The Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University is offering the first undergraduate university degree program in software engineering that focuses on game design. 
"Students interested in game design will develop the skills and knowledge to create the ultimate game experience," said Jacques Carette, assistant professor of Computing and Software Engineering at McMaster University. "They will naturally learn about animation, simulation and high-fidelity rendering, with special emphasis on the human aspects involved in designing such software."
Courses for the program are provided by both the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Humanities through the Multimedia program. Engineering courses include computer architecture and graphics processors, 4D modeling for virtual reality, real-time systems and control, real-time animation, and computer game interface design. Courses offered by the multimedia program include the digital image, audio and visual digital media, animation and interactive digital culture. The program begins in September 2005.
"This program combines the creative and critical with the technical and scientific," said Geoffrey Rockwell, associate professor in Computing and Multimedia in the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University. "Employers are looking for students who are both technically proficient and have the creative ability to tell stories, design compelling worlds and animate interesting characters."
Graduates of the four-year program will earn a Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.) degree. They will be equipped to find employment in the computer gaming, user-interface design, animation, data visualization and high-fidelity simulation industries, and will also be highly competitive for many other software development jobs.
"This program trains first-rate software engineers who are equipped to design world-class user interfaces for any kind of software," said Carette. "Graduates may decide to pursue careers in the computer games industry or in the many other areas requiring these skills."
More information about the program can be found at
http://gamer.mcmaster.ca Source: McMaster University 
