The Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) was formed in order to provide educational programs to dependents of both U.S. military and civilian DOD workers around the world.
As part of major overhaul of the program’s 60 career and technical offerings, the 2011-2012 school year will see engineering courses offered in robotics, biotechnology, green technologies and gaming design, reports Stars and Stripes. Programs scheduled for discontinuation over the next five years include auto technology welding and lodging management.
The DODEA’s Mark Bignell stated, “We want to try and … give students an opportunity to excel in the future work force rather than get into a niche that isn’t going to have the best opportunities for them.”
While DODEA programs originally centered on vocational offerings, it now is designed to prepare students for college or the military in addition to careers.
The DODEA expects the game design program to be “especially popular,” especially after witnessing the reaction to a similar course offered at George Mason University.
