The Viz program at A&M is pretty much a middle ground between the technical and artistic perspectives. You could choose electives that lean one way or another, or you could take an even split. They prepare students for a range of computer graphics careers from artist to software developer.
Your choices are not just black and white, there is some gray area. There are 3 general categories:
Artists - such as painters, sculptors, animators, video editors, modelers, etc. People who do not write code and are assigned to a specific production. They do artistic shot work.
Software developers - such as R&D, pipeline, tools, etc. People who only write code and are not assigned to a production. They create technology that is used globally.
Technical director / artist - such as rigging, lighting, shading, rendering, effects, pipeline, tools, etc. People who do a mix of artistic work and programming. They are assigned to a specific production and do shot work. This role is the gray area between the other two areas, but it also varies from studio to studio.
My guess is that with Gnomon you would be prepared to become an artist or technical director / artist. With a computer science program you would be more prepared for software development, but could also become a technical director / artist.
A lot of people have given you good advice so far. In summary, I think your next steps should be as follows:
- Start learning something from the more artistic side using a Gnomon DVD or a series from Digital Tutors, maybe even take some art classes. Create a character, build a few models, create texture maps, use a 3D app to create a special effect, start drawing or painting, etc.
- Start learning something technical by following a course on iTunes, a university website, or a book. You could learn how to use the Maya API and create a plugin, create an OpenGL application, create a GPU shader, or try to build your own ray-tracer, etc.
- Evaluate 1 and 2 to see how you liked what you were doing.
- Research post-undergraduate programs that match which you liked better, or if you liked both, then which offers a mix.
If this information does not help you, then my suggestion would be to apply to all the programs that interest you when you are ready to continue your studies. Research each program and make sure it is something you would be able to commit to. See if you even qualify and can get accepted, then make a decision from there. With your background in CE a technical path is more achievable, an artistic path may require significant additional work before you are accepted into a program.
