Communication and Digital Media Design - Master of Arts (M.A.)

This interdisciplinary program, offered through the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences, provides educational and professional development for people seeking advanced preparation in the theory, practice and technology of contemporary organizational communication. The program offers graduate training for professionals in many fields where digital media applications are desired, and will draw on diverse specializations from several disciplines across the University.

Objectives

It is expected that the graduates of this program will demonstrate the ability to: 

1. Develop, produce and/or manage professional, artistic, and commercial digital media presentations and materials.
2. Analyze organizational communication processes for the purposes of enhancement and problem solving.
3. Integrate digital media technologies into complex work environments.

It is expected that each student, in every course, will progress toward these abilities and integrate the knowledge and experience gained into a final Thesis or Capstone Project which demonstrates significant elements of research and creative application of acquired knowledge and skills in a final presentation before a faculty panel. Each course in the program will include elements intended to contribute to successful completion of the Thesis or Capstone Project. Application is open to anyone who has earned a baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution of higher education without restriction to discipline. Admission is limited in number: individual admissions will be determined by the Program Coordinator and/or Dean of the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences based on the admissions criteria specified below.

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.00.
2. A demonstrable knowledge of personal computer usage and applications. Knowledge of programming is desirable, but not a requirement for admission.
3. Students intending to pursue the design track must present a portfolio with 10-12 pieces of original visual work for approval.

Application Procedures

1.  A completed application for graduate admission ($25 non-refundable application fee required).
2. Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
3. A current resumé.
4. A one-page statement of accomplishments and academic goals.
5. Three letters of professional reference.
6. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. The College accepts a score of 540 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or a grade of “B” or better for at least one year of English composition or its equivalent in an accredited US college or university.
7. International students must submit Evidence of Financial Support.

Admissions Status

Full admission may be granted to applicants who have fully satisfied all the admissions requirements.

Probationary admission may be granted to:

1. Applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below listed requirements. Transfer to full admission status may be achieved upon completion of not less than nine credits of upper division courses approved by the Program Coordinator before registration. Such work will not count toward the M.A. degree. Applicants whose undergraduate GPA is lower than 2.75 will not be considered for admission.
2. Applicants who lack prerequisites; such applicants must make up any deficiency before accumulating three or more credits in the program. Credits applied to prerequisite deficiencies do not count toward MA degree requirements.
3. International applicants with three year Bachelor’s degrees from approved institutions of higher learning may be eligible for admission to the Master’s degree program based on successful completion of a bridging program of 18-24 credits approved by the Program Director. The bridging program does not result in a Bachelor’s degree, but does allow for consideration for admission into the Master’s program.

Special admission may be granted to SVSU seniors with a GPA of 3.25 or better who otherwise meet admission requirements and are recommended by members of the appropriate SVSU faculty. Such students may enroll for up to nine credits of graduate credit in the M.A. program beyond the requirements for the baccalaureate.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit may be granted for up to nine credits of equivalent graduate course work at other institutions upon recommendation of the Program Coordinator and approval by the Dean of Arts and Behavioral Sciences. Transfer credits must reflect a minimum GPA of 3.00. Transfer credit will not be granted for CM 690 (Capstone Project).

Advising

Advising will be conducted by the Program Coordinator or designee.

A project advisor will be mutually agreed upon by the student and faculty member, based on student request and interest and faculty availability. If the student does not request an advisor, the Program Coordinator will assign a faculty member, who will become the permanent advisor at the start of the student’s second term of study. Advisors may be changed by the Program Coordinator at the request of the student and/or the advisor.

An advisory committee composed of the Program Coordinator (or designee), the Project Advisor, and the Project Reader will be responsible for approving the Thesis Prospectus or Capstone Project. The Program Coordinator will approve both thesis or capstone project topics and applications for graduation in consultation with the student’s Thesis Advisor/Capstone Advisor. Project Advisors will be selected from faculty offering courses in the program.

Academic Regulations

A maximum of nine graduate credits may be accepted by transfer upon admission; a minimum of 21 credits must be taken at SVSU. Transfer credit will not be granted for the Thesis or Capstone Project.

A minimum grade point average of 3.00 (“B”) is required for graduation. No “D” or “F” may be counted toward the degree. A “B” or better is required to pass CDMD 690A or CDMD 690B. Students earning a “C,” “D,” or “F” may repeat a course only once and the second grade will become official.

If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 at any time after accumulation of 12 credits at SVSU; if the student fails to demonstrate acceptable levels of expression in oral or written English; if the student has accumulated six credits of “D” or “F” grades the first time a course is taken; or if special conditions of admission are not met, the student may, based on the circumstances of the individual, be dismissed from the program.

The maximum load for a full-time student is 12 credits during the fall or winter semesters and three credits during the spring or summer sessions (reduced by the sum of graduate credits with the grade of “I”). The maximum load for a part-time student is six credits during the fall or winter semesters and three credits during the spring or summer sessions (reduced by the sum of graduate credits with the grade of “I”). Under special circumstances the Program Coordinator may waive load restrictions for individual students for the semester or session in question.

Full-time or part-time status will be determined upon admission and may be altered by the Program Coordinator as circumstances require. It may be possible for full-time students to complete the program within one calendar year by enrolling in four consecutive terms: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.

The degree must be completed within six years of initial enrollment or credits will be lost.