Launch of new degrees in Experiential Design and Computer Science keeps Sheridan programming cutting edge

Applications will soon open for two new four-year degrees at Sheridan in applied computing and design. The Honours Bachelor of Computer Science and Honours Bachelor of Experiential Design programs will welcome their first cohort of students in Fall 2021. Both will feature a blend of theoretical and hands-on training to prepare students for emerging fields in need of skilled graduates.

The Computer Science degree offers three deep specializations to suit a variety of learning interests with pathways between each. A first-year required course about the field of study will help students determine their preferred route in Game Engineering, Data Analytics or Cloud Computing. Small class sizes and a co-op placement up to 16-months will position learners for a career in a thriving industry.

“Knowing that Computer Science will be continually evolving, so too will the breadth of specializations,” says program coordinator and applied computing professor Dr. El Sayed Mahmoud. “This program is a standout amongst others in Ontario because of its hands-on approach. Also, by training students in data analytics and cloud computing, which are typically graduate-level studies, we’re preparing students with essential skills ahead of their postsecondary computer science peers.”

Sheridan’s other new academic offering, Experiential Design, is a collaborative discipline that adopts a holistic approach to creating memorable experiences. “Like a choreographer, an experiential designer determines the movement through space, and develops possible narratives and interactions within a physical environment using all the senses,” explains program coordinator Angela Iarocci. Sheridan’s degree in Experiential Design will be the first of its kind in Canada. It will include a 14-week co-op opportunity to give students experience in the field, which is ripe with employment opportunities.

Experiential design pulls in elements of architecture, interaction design and graphic design, and integrates communication and physical environments to improve and augment people’s experiences of places. Job opportunities include event design, themed and branded environments, exhibition design and interpretation, wayfinding, placemaking and identity, and installation.

Approximately 50 students will be accepted in each degree for the first cohort with plans to expand in the future. Sheridan’s two newest programs bring its total of four-year degrees to 28.

Visit the program page for Honours Bachelor of Computer Science and Honours Bachelor of Experiential Design to learn more

Pictured top right: Student working on a laptop. Person walking through an installation. Photo (right) by: Touann Gatouillat Vergos