The cost of the new program is $38,000, and tuition payments can be spread out over the duration of the course. There will also be refunds for students who discontinue the program.

Schacker says the new diploma is unique in North America and is aimed at people who want to be concept artists in the fields of animation and video gaming. "It had to be a four-year program because there's a lot to learn," she says.

Goran Delic, for many years a concept artist and senior production designer for Nelvana Studios in Toronto, will lead the new program. In addition to his work at Nelvana, Delic has also done illustrations for newspapers, including the New York Times, has written graphic novels and is an illustrator for Universal Pictures.

Like many college programs -- public or private -- Max the Mutt's four-year diploma was developed with direct input from the gaming industry itself. Some of the Canadian companies consulted include Rockstar Toronto, Pseudo Interactive and Vancouver's Electronic Arts.

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