Steve Hudson (left), Niagara College's Vice-President Academic, and Neil McCartney, Brock's Vice-President Academic, sign a partnership that will bring a Bachelor’s degree and an advanced diploma in game development program to the University and College.

Niagara College and Brock University have agreed to launch a unique partnership that will allow students to earn a Bachelor’s degree and an advanced diploma in game development in the space of four years.

Under the GAME program, students will study at both institutions concurrently, and earn both an advanced diploma in Game Development from Niagara College, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Game Design or a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Game Programming from Brock University.

Students in both the design and programming streams of the program will benefit from an educational partnership that combines the theoretical with the applied. The bachelor’s degree portion will provide a broad understanding of the creative and cultural context and history of games, and the programs, game platforms and design and production paradigms. The advanced diploma portion provides hands-on experience and applied skills in programming and design. As part of the shared curriculum, students from both streams will work together in their fourth year on a team-based game development project.

“This is a great example of Niagara’s two postsecondary institutions coming together in a way that will benefit students and industry,” said Niagara College’s vice president, academic Steve Hudson, Ph.D. “Students will acquire the theoretical knowledge and applied skills required to succeed in this burgeoning industry, and these well-rounded graduates will drive further growth and innovation in the world of game development.”

“We’re extremely pleased to start offering this collaborative program. Niagara has established itself as a great place to do business for video game developers, and that has meant a constant need for skilled designers and programmers,” said Brock University Vice-President, Academic Neil McCartney. “This new program will give students the best possible training and set them up for a career in a growing industry.”

Both credentials will be earned over four years – a process that would normally take seven. The program has been in development since 2008, and will welcome its first cohort in September, 2016.