Photo courtesy of Haley Kim
BY HYUNSEON KIM, REPORTER
As the Fall 2018 semester is right around the corner, GMUK has launched a new set of majors that may be remarkable on the job market and in the education field. These are Computer Game Design, an undergraduate program, and the Curriculum and Instruction program, under the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree.
Computer Game Design, BFA
Computer Game Design, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, is centered around the integration of artistic talents and technical skills. The purpose of the department is to enable students to prepare for the job field by completing the required courses such as visual technology and humanities. The first step of the application requires two essays: a 250 to 300-word essay on “interest in computer game design,” and a 500-word review on one of the following topics: game culture and video game. In the Fairfax campus, two of the graduating seniors had the opportunity to show their capstone game at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, winning a spot in the top 5 finalists in the country.
Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. (IB or ESOL Specialization)
Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Education Degree, will give students an opportunity to have a concentration in “Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Exceptional Learners (TCLDEL).” Training future K-12 educators, the flexible schedule and online asynchronous courses will facilitate students to connect with faculty from the main campus and gain hands-on experience.
Students can specialize in two areas, the first being International ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Education. By taking courses such as Bilingualism, and Internship in Education, students will receive an ESOL PK-12 Virginia State Teaching License.
The second specialization is Advanced International Baccalaureate (AIB) Studies. It focuses on the pedagogy, research, and philosophy elements for the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). This program is officially accredited by the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP).
To go into a detail, students will take face-to-face courses through summer sessions at Mason Korea Songdo campus, and online coursework during the semester, gradually applying all of these to the K-12 environment.
