Last week we ran a story from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) in which it discussed the growth of game-related degrees offered in U.S. schools and universities. One of eight states tagged as not offering such degrees, however, took a little onus with its exclusion.
In a list of schools offering videogame-related degrees on the ESA website, eight states are missing—Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, West Virginia and Wyoming. Arkansas officials took time out to argue their case in a piece running on the City Wire, stating that the ESA’s report “does not accurately reflect ongoing efforts to provide video gaming degree options to incoming students.”
Dr. Remzi Seker, Chairman of the Computer Science Department in the College of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Arkansas Little Rock told the publication about a degree his school offers that does feature a game-related option and emphasis, saying, “The gaming option was developed to meet the industry demand and student interest. UALR is sensitive to both state and national priorities as well as what students desire. We strive to offer state-of-the-art knowledge to our students and the community we serve."
Henderson State University President Dr. Chuck Welch seemed to miss the point, indicating that his school recently added a “controversial” program in its PhysEd program that incorporates the Wii.
Seker added that UALR also recently “hired a new faculty member who is an expert on gaming and intelligent control.”
