Another exciting day for Red Deer College Wednesday, as they have taken another step in the process of becoming a degree granting institution by announcing that starting this fall, they will be offering a four year, Bachelor of Applied Arts in Animation and Visual Effects degree.

This degree will provide students with hands-on learning in the field of video game engineering, animating, and motion graphics, just to name a few.

Advanced Education Minister Marling Schmidt says this program is the first degree of its kind offered in Alberta, which will help to fill a critical need for tech education in the province.

“We know that there is a lot of un-met demand in the tech industry here in Alberta, so we expect this will provide new opportunities for students to get work that they previously haven’t been able to because they haven’t had the education they needed to get the work in this field.”

Dean of RDC's School of Creative Arts Jason Frizzell says this program was a perfect fit, as it adds to their already extensive creative arts programs.

“We looked at our ecosystem, what we have in the school of creative arts already, we have visual arts studios, we have bronze casting foundry, we the modelling capability and the life drawing experience, we have actors, we have stage combat professionals, we have the people and we have the resources to really make this something unique, not just an animation program that’s going to exist on its own, it’s going to exist within all these other offerings.”

20 students will take in the first round of the course this fall with other 100 or so students also interested in applying.

RDC is also interested in offering a degree in four more programs yet to be announced, including a Bachelors of Applied Arts in Film, Theatre, and Live Entertainment. They will first need to have their application approved, something they are currently working on through Campus Alberta Quality Council and the Government of Alberta.

 

Red Deer College Granted Degree Granting Status