Graduate Study
Print Media
Program Overview
The MS print media program offers an innovative, integrated curriculum designed to provide graduates with a solid technical background in cross-media digital workflow processes and a keen understanding of the issues and trends in the print media industry. The program provides students with the tools and information needed for insightful analysis of industry issues and trends.
Technological advancements and rapidly changing production methods are driving the graphic media industry's need for employees who are well educated, highly flexible, and innovative in their decision-making.
Today's publishing and printing industry is the seventh largest industry in the country, annually producing more than $200 billion in products. Key growth opportunities lie in production and publication of magazines and books using cross-media digital applications as well as traditional printing processes. RIT's master of science in print media was developed to prepare individuals for production and management positions in this multifaceted industry.
Most existing programs in publishing taught in the United States are concerned with the historical/editorial/advertising aspects of the industry. This master's program addresses publishing from the technological/production viewpoint (including its management) and considers its inter-relationships with e-Commerce, cross-media publishing, and the many digital and variable data aspects of printing as well as traditional printing models.
The program is open to students with a variety of undergraduate degree backgrounds such as business, graphic design, history, or psychology.
Curriculum Review
The MS print media program is offered both online and on-campus, and consists of a major and minor concentration. The major concentration provides all students with a solid foundation in print media topics. The minor concentration allows students to focus in special interest areas, such as computer science, information technology, business or other relevant subjects. Students complete between 48 to 56 quarter credit hours, and a research thesis or project.
Thirty-two credit hours are comprised of required graduate courses. The remaining sixteen hours of electives may be selected from either graduate or appropriate upper-level undergraduate online courses with the approval of the student’s adviser.
The online format anticipates that a student will normally take two courses each quarter and will attend a one-week summer course on campus after completing the first year of required courses. Although it is possible to complete this degree in two years by taking two courses per quarter, students may elect to take one course per quarter and simply extend the completion time.
Required courses:
2081-717 Markets for Print and Graphic Media
2081-709 Printing Industry Trends and Issues
2081-711 Tone and Color Analysis
2081-721 Digital Printing and Publishing
2081-723 Contemporary Publishing
2081-728 Database Publishing Applications
2081-840 Project Design
2081- Technical Practicum
2081-840 Research Projects
Professional Electives
Career Outcomes
Job TitlesProduction supervisor, technical representative, sales or customer service representative, prepress department manager
Functions
Electronic publishing, multi-media, digital printing/publishing, research, managing various departments. Prepares students for careers in applied research and other technology-oriented leadership positions. Suppliers of machinery, equipment, and paper are especially interested in these graduates.
Recent Employers
Adobe Systems, Eastman Kodak Co., Gerber Scientific, Graphic Communications Association, International Paper, Moore Business Forms, RR Donnelley, Banta Integrated Media, Southern Graphic Systems, Harlequin Inc., Poughkeepsie Journal
Admission Requirements
Students are encouraged to apply to the graduate program at any time during the year. To be assured of the best opportunity for admission and scholarships, interested students should have their application process completed by March 1. Applications received later than March 1 will be considered on a space-available basis.