M.S. in Professional Communication and Digital Media Arts

Who Should Enroll in this Program?

The M.S. in Professional Communication and Digital Media Arts program will benefit students interested in developing digital, interpersonal, media-related, and organizational skills, including recent graduates, who have completed an undergraduate degree in communication, media studies, or a related field; or professionals seeking career advancement who are already working in the communication or media industries; individuals interested in switching careers.

Fall Term (12 credits)

• Emerging Media and Production

This course introduces students to production basics, in video, audio, and infographic design. This class introduces students to key principles regarding recording video images, podcasts, and the design process as they relate to students' professional careers. The students will go through a series of in-class exercises and projects designed to get them comfortable working in production and thinking of the equipment as a tool for their communication and storytelling needs.

• Designing, Communicating, and Leading Diverse Organizations

The course focuses on developing leaders who know how to … Diversity includes all characteristics and experiences that define us as individuals. Research links diversity with employee satisfaction, retention, organizational productivity, competitiveness, and increased value to customers and colleagues. To be successful, leaders must understand the theoretical and practical value of diversity and apply its concepts and principles to their organizations aligning them with mission and organizational plans as a moral imperative and global necessity. This course explores diversity, equity, and inclusivity in organizational leadership and organizational communication practices that enhance or diminish the likelihood of creating organizational inclusion.

• Communication Research

In this course, students explore the design and application of practical research techniques in corporate and public organizational communications, including audience and message analysis. Students develop a topic in the first three chapters of their Master's Thesis.

• Elective (3 credits)

Students should select appropriate electives in consultation with their academic adviser. A full listing of courses and descriptions is available from the Graduate Catalogue.

Spring Term (12 credits)

• Design and Production of Effective Presentations

This course features a broad study of speaking and listening skills within corporations, and public and governmental agencies. Topics include building a professional image, nonverbal code systems, corporate strategies and tactics, formal and informal speaking situations, digital presentations, preparation and delivery of spoken messages, preparation and delivery of digital messages, analysis of speech qualities, and improvement of individual speaking skills.

• Event Design, Production and Communication

This course focuses on the communication, facilitation, and implementation practices and concepts related to event design and production management. Topics of exploration include organization values/mission alignment, event planning conventions and structural components, research tools related to audience analysis and event evaluation, digital and visual communication strategies for promoting events, interpersonal and group communication processes involved in event planning, and facilitation activities required of event management.

• Communication Methods

This course will familiarize students with the various research methods employed in academia and in the communication fields. This course reviews qualitative methods, such as ethnography, textual analysis, interviews, focus groups, and descriptive surveys, as well as digital and creative methods.

• M.S. Master’s Project I

This course is a two-part culminating academic experience for students and represents his/her ability to apply learned research, writing, and other technical skills related to the field. The course requires students to select a communication research topic of interest, formulate a research question related to that topic, and conduct research on the topic leading to the first three chapters of a research project. Students work closely with an academic adviser as they formulate a final research deliverable resulting in either a project or thesis.

Summer Term (6-credits)

• Communication Portfolio

This course assists students in meeting and demonstrating their specific and individual communication goals in personal and professional settings. The portfolio permits students to showcase their communication skills and abilities via an evidence-based set of artifacts that can be shared with potential employers or applications for advanced degree programs that were crafted and curated during their graduate studies.

OR

Communication Arts Internship

• M.S. Master’s Project II

This is the second culminating academic experience in the program extending from Master’s Project I. Based on the topic and deliverable selected, students continue to work with an academic adviser to complete Chapters 4 and 5 of their thesis or project. Students conduct original research and develop conclusions, recommendations, or solutions to the communication phenomenon explored. Students are required to present their project in the semester’s culminating defense.

1. Formulate a career plan and identify specific professional communication and media arts goals related to a position or industry of interest.
2. Analyze and evaluate various communication channels, forms, media, messages and presentations frequently employed in professional industries.
3. Understand the implications of effective and ineffective communication and media arts practices in professional contexts.
4. Self-assess communication and media arts skills to formulate an individualized growth plan to advance the skills needed in industries of interest.
5. Create effective communication and media arts artifacts that align with a professional position or industry of interest.
6. Design, implement, and present an original workplace project that reflects effective communication, critical thinking, information literacy, and research skills necessary in contemporary professional settings.
7. Produce a communication and media art portfolio that showcases artifacts that best represent student skills and mastery of program content related to professions of interest.

Additional STEM Learning Outcomes:

Using advanced digital software/tools, create effective digital artifacts aligned with the industry.

Design, implement, and present original workplace artifacts that reflect effective communication, critical thinking, information literacy, and research skills necessary in contemporary settings, particularly the connection to policy and regulation in applicable industries.