About the Program
Ellen Dykeman, computer information technology program chair, introduces the program. "Our Game Development program is really for people who want to learn how to be game programmers. We do have a number of students in the program right now. I think traditionally, people think about game programming as entertainment games, and certainly we do that. We do lots of things with entertainment games, but we are also looking for students who are interested in doing educational games, making and programming educational games. As well as in the corporate environment, we’re looking for people who want to learn how to do simulations and business types of programs."
Courses from the digital media and design program are incorporated into the game development program. Michael Kozien, multimedia instructor, talks about the digital media and design program. "Our program is a really robust program that is unique to not only community colleges in Illinois, but also the general area. The new digital media and design program is a really comprehensive program with four different tracks: graphic design, web design, 2D and 3D animation, and video and audio production."
Ellen Dykeman shares her thoughts on why CLC is the trailblazer for game programming. "I think we have the most intensive and the largest program of any of the very few community colleges in the state right now that offer the program."
About the Instructors
"Our instructors are phenomenal," Michael Kozien explains. "We have people that are working in the real world and have real world experience."
Ellen Dykeman adds, "That’s always a strength in our career programs. We have people that are doing, or have done, what they are teaching."
Student Experience
Eric Bradford, computer game development student, describes the instructors. "The teachers are very open-minded and they are very resourceful. They can point you to all different kinds of resources." As for the program, Eric confirms, "It’s just fun. It’s great. I really enjoy it."
Michael Kozien talks about what students will experience. "Here you have smaller classrooms, a lot of one-on-one work with faculty, and it’s a lot more personal. You have the expertise of the actual faculty members."
Terra Jarrett, computer game development student, shares her experience. "It’s a very good program. You can do a lot with it. It’s very flexible."
Michael Kozien lists the typical jobs of a graduate. "They can go into graphic design, illustration, web design, development, 3D modeling, animation, and that area is booming right now."
Future Students
Ellen Dykeman describes the students that CLC is looking for. "It really is the student who really wants to do more than play the game, really wants to get into the game, see what’s going on, and develop their own game. Those are the kind of students we are looking for."
To learn more, visit the Web page or view the info sheet.
