Rudy Pugliese, Graduate Program Director
(585) 475-5925, rrpgsl@rit.edu
Program overview
Communication and the technologies for message creation and dissemination are at the center of dramatic economic, social, and cultural changes occurring as a result of technological development and global connectedness. The master of science degree in communication and media technologies is an interdisciplinary advanced program of study combining liberal arts courses in communication with course work in an applied or professional program. Graduates will be adept at the analysis of communication problems, the development of solutions, and the creation of messages as a result of their combined training in the social sciences, humanities, and applied technologies.
Communication courses rooted in the humanities and social sciences provide students with the opportunity to gain a broad, historical understanding of issues in communication, including the ethical, legal, and social dimensions. Additional courses give students advanced guidance in the creation of written and visual message content. Courses in applied technologies or professional programs provide opportunities for implementation and application. The required thesis combines knowledge, practice, original research, and application under the guidance of a graduate advisement committee.
Graduates are prepared for careers as communication experts in such venues as commerce, industry, education, entertainment, and government, as well as for graduate work toward a doctoral degree.
Curriculum
The degree requires the completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours of graduate course work. Students will complete 16 credit hours of required communication courses, 12-16 credit hours of communication electives, 12-16 credit hours of applied professional or technical courses, and a master's thesis or project.
Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.
Communication and media technologies, MS, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0535-701 | History of Media Technologies | 4 |
| 0535-702 | Communication Theory | 4 |
| 0535-703 | Research Methods in Communication | 4 |
| 0535-704 | Communications Law and Ethics | 4 |
| Communication Elective 1, 2, 3 | 12 | |
| Applied Professional or Technical Electives 1, 2 | 8 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
| Communication Elective 4 | ||
| Applied Professional or Technical Elective 3 | ||
| 0535-800 | Project/Thesis | 5–9 |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 45-49 | |
Communication and media technologies, MS, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| COMM-701 | History of Media Technologies | 3 |
| COMM-702 | Communication Theories | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Professional Core | 3 | |
| COMM-703 | Research Methods in Communication | 3 |
| COMM-704 | Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Professional Core | 3 | |
| COMM-800 | Communication Thesis (summer) | 6 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 | |
Communication electives
Students are required to select three communication electives from the choices below; a fourth elective is optional. History of Media Technologies (0535-701) and Communication Theory (0535-702) are prerequisites for all communication electives.
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| 0535-705 | Electronic Communication and Society | 4 |
| 0535-706 | Crafting the Message | 4 |
| 0535-707 | International Media | 4 |
| 0535-708 | Communication Education | 4 |
| 0535-709 | Online Advertising | 4 |
| 0535-710 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| 0535-713 | Readings in Mass Media | 4 |
| 0535-725 | Special Topics in Communication | 4 |
Applied professional or technical courses
Students are required to select three applied professional or technical courses from the choices below; a fourth applied or technical course is optional.
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| College of Imaging Arts and Sciences | ||
| 2081-709 | Printing Industry: Trends | 4 |
| 2081-721 | Digital Print and Publishing | 4 |
| 2081-723 | Contemporary Publishing | 4 |
| B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences | ||
| 4002-722 | Fundamentals of Instructional Technology | 4 |
| 4002-741 | Fundamentals of Web-Based Multimedia | 4 |
| 4004-745 | Fundamentals of Human-Computer Interaction | 4 |
| E. Philip Saunders College of Business | ||
| 0105-761 | Marketing Concepts | 4 |
| 0113-750 | Marketing in a Global Environment | 4 |
| 0105-767 | Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications | 4 |
| 0105-772 | Internet Marketing: Strategy and Tactics | 4 |
| 0105-778 | Commercializing and Marketing of New Products | 4 |
| 0102-740 | Organizational Behavior and Leadership | 4 |
| 0102-741 | Managing Organizational Change | 4 |
| 0102-742 | Technology Management | 4 |
| College of Applied Science and Technology | ||
| 0626-707 | Applied Data Analysis in Human Resource Development | 4 |
| 0635-840 | Health Systems Policy and Law | 4 |
| 0625-844 | Breakthrough Thinking, Creativity, and Innovation | 4 |
| 0635-715 | Information Systems in Health Administration | 4 |
| 0635-754 | eHealth | 4 |
| 0635-830 | Health Systems Planning | 4 |
| 0635-882 | Bioethics | 4 |
| College of Liberal Arts | ||
| 0521-700 | Readings in Public Policy | 4 |
| 0521-708 | Technological Innovation and Public Policy | 4 |
| 0521-709 | Public Administration and Management | 4 |
| 0521-710 | Information and Communication Policy | 4 |
Graduate committee
A full-time student will create a graduate advisement committee by the end of the first semester of study. The committee will be comprised of at least one faculty member from the department of communication and one faculty member from outside the department. The outside member should have a terminal degree. The committee advises and guides the student's elective course selection and course sequencing. With the guidance and approval of the graduate advising committee, students design and conduct a thesis or thesis/project appropriate to their course of study and their career goals.
Master's thesis/project
A thesis or thesis/project is required of all students in the program. The thesis/project topic should complement the student's academic graduate interests and scholarly training. Topic selection and method(s) for implementing the thesis/project occur in consultation with the student's graduate advisement committee.
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS program in communication and media technologies, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university,
- Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work,
- Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0,
- Submit three letters of reference from academic advisers, major professors, and/or supervisors or managers,
- Submit a writing portfolio consisting of at least three writing samples, such as academic papers written for class, work-related brochures and pamphlets, or newspaper or magazine articles, and
- Complete a graduate application.
- International students, whose native language is not English, must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) are required. This requirement may be waived for students who submit undergraduate transcripts from American colleges and universities.