Master of Science in Communication and Media Technologies
Rudy Pugliese, Graduate Coordinator
(585) 475-5925, rrpgsl@rit.edu
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.
Admission requirements
Applications for admission are accepted for all four academic quarters, but most full-time students begin their program of study in the fall. Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:
- A graduate application
- The successful completion of the baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university, accompanied by official transcripts
- A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above
- Submission of scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (minimum score of 600 paper-based or 200 computer-based is required)
- Three letters of reference from academic advisers, major professors and/or supervisors or managers
- The submission of 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
Curriculum
Earning the degree requires completion of a minimum of 45 quarter credit hours of graduate course work, distributed as follows: four required communication courses (16 quarter credit hours) plus three or four communication electives (12–16 quarter credit hours) offered by the department of communication, three or four courses (12–16 quarter credit hours) in applied professional or technical course work from one of RIT’s other colleges and five to nine thesis/project credit hours earned in the department of communication.
A full-time student will create a graduate advisement committee by the end of the first quarter 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/research project appropriate to their course of study and their career goals.
| Required communication courses (16 credits) | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 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 |
| 0535-800 Project/Thesis | 5–9 |
Communication electives (12–16 credits)
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.
| 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 and Public Relations | 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 (12–16 quarter credit hours)
Students are required to select three applied professional or technical courses from the choices below; a fourth applied or technical course is optional.
| College of Imaging Arts and Sciences | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 2081-709 Printing Industry: Trends | 4 |
| 2081-723 Contemporary Publishing | 4 |
| 2081-742 Document Processing Languages | 4 |
| College of Computing and Information Sciences | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 4002-718 Current Themes in Information Technology | 4 |
| 4002-733 Fundamentals of Computer Communication | 4 |
| 4002-741 Fundamentals of Web-Based Multimedia | 4 |
| College of Business | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 0105-761 Marketing Concepts | 4 |
| 0105-766 Marketing in Global Business | 4 |
| 0105-767 Marketing Communications | 4 |
| 0105-772 Marketing on the Internet | 4 |
| 0102-740 Organizational Behavior and Leadership | 4 |
| 0102-741 Leading Change in a Quality Organization | 4 |
| 0102-742 Introduction to Technology Management | 4 |
| 0102-762 Managing New Process and Product Development | 4 |
| College of Applied Science and Technology | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 0626-707 Applied Data Analysis | 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 | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. |
| 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 |
Master’s thesis/project
A thesis or 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.
Proposed plan of study
Fall Quarter
0535-702 Communication
Theory
Communication elective or applied professional/technical
course
Communication elective or applied professional/technical
course
Winter Quarter
0535-703 Research
Methods in Communication
0535-701 History of Media Technologies
Communication elective or applied professional/technical
course
Spring Quarter
0535-704 Communications
Law and Ethics
Communication elective
Communication elective or applied professional/technical
course
Summer Quarter
Communication elective or applied professional/technical
course
0535-800 Communications Thesis and Project