Miami, July 12, 2017- Miami Dade College’s (MDC) renowned Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex (MAGIC) will launch a 15-credit College Credit Certificate concentrating in the areas of Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR), which will begin in the fall 2017 semester.
The announcement will occur during the Beacon Council’s One Community One Goal Annual Report to the Community, which brings together community, business and academic leaders for the yearly update on the progress and achievements of the community-wide strategic initiative for economic growth and prosperity.
The agenda includes a panel of trailblazers and entrepreneurs who will share cutting-edge innovations in education and government. To kick-off the launch of the VR/AR program, there will be a presentation of augmented reality simulations and an opportunity for attendees to try the simulations on site.
The first facility of its kind at a public higher education institution in Florida and one of only a handful in the nation, MAGIC is a game-changer for animators, gamers, filmmakers, health care professionals, and serves as a training center in the bourgeoning area of 3-D animation and video game development used in so many industries and fields.
The virtual reality and augmented reality are the emerging industries, which according to field experts have the potential to become the next big computing platform. Currently, both enterprises and consumers are the drivers of VR/AR adoption, and while videogames are taking center stage in this new platform, near-term applications for use include additional diverse industries such as entertainment, healthcare, automotive, retail, education, advertising, tourism, space, skilled trades and the military and law enforcement.
According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics, these types of positions are projected to gain the most jobs with an increase from 15,288 to 18,603 with a 21.68 percent increase, which represents an increase of 3,315 jobs.
An education in VR/AR through a College Credit Certificate program at MAGIC will prepare students for careers in this new and exciting platform empowering the next generation of creative thinkers and tech makers. MAGIC will be certifying developers and VR/AR specialists through quality training, at state-of-the-art facilities, cutting edge technology, preparing them to meet industry needs at the highest level.
For more information, please contact Mauricio Ferrazza at 305-237-7852 or mferrazz@mdc.edu