Montgomery College, U. of Baltimore Create ‘2+2’ Path to Bachelor’s Degree in ‘Gaming’

New Articulation Agreement to Help MC Computer Gaming Students Reach Next Level

Montgomery College is one of four community colleges, including Anne Arundel, Carroll, and The Community College of Baltimore County, that will sign articulation agreements with the University of Baltimore (UB) on Friday, March 3, to help ease student transfer into UB’s bachelor’s degree program in Simulation and Digital Entertainment. Montgomery College President Charlene R. Nunley will join the community college and UB presidents in a special signing ceremony for the media at the UB Student Center. The agreement between Montgomery College and UB will ensure that qualified Montgomery College graduates with an associate’s degree in computer gaming and simulation have their course credits transfer seamlessly to UB.

Montgomery College launched an associate of arts degree program last year in Computer Gaming and Simulation to keep pace with the interests of today’s computer-savvy students and to meet growing industry demand in the state. The College’s computer applications, computer graphics, and computer publishing and printing departments collaborated to create the new program, which provides students with a strong foundation in gaming, team playing, and critical thinking skills. The program offers three tracks of study in game programming, production, or graphic design.

Upon graduation, Montgomery College gaming students will be encouraged to transfer to institutions, such as the University of Baltimore, where they can continue their studies and earn a bachelor’s degree. The four-year degree has become necessary for students who want to be even more marketable in the increasingly competitive gaming industry. The UB articulation agreement will provide students a more streamlined path toward their completion of a bachelor's degree, and ultimately, to their goal of employment.
Maryland boasts the nation’s second largest number of videogame and simulation companies, many located in Baltimore and Montgomery counties. Employment in the field is expected to increase about 10 percent annually.

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Media Advisory Date: February 21, 2006
Media Contact: Elizabeth Homan, 240-567-7970 (Montgomery College);
Chris Hart, 410-837-5739 (University of Baltimore)

Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves more than 55,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 100 areas of study.