MS Communications Design
The MS in Communications Design educates students from diverse cultural, professional, and educational backgrounds in creative discipline, technical skills, collaborative abilities, academic knowledge, and managerial competence. While focusing on creative problem solving, the curriculum is pragmatic and industry-oriented. Graduates enter the professional world with an outstanding body of work, prepared to become innovative leaders in the fields of graphic, package, and digital design.
The curriculum was initially structured around the future needs of the packaging industry in 1966. It was expanded in 1972 to include Communications Design. From its inception, the department has provided students with the skills to use the most effective media to express ideas, but the focus has always been on creative problem solving. Students are provided the opportunity to develop a design voice, and refine their design process and creative skills leading to professional competence and leadership.
Students accepted into MS Communications Design hold undergraduate degrees in graphic design or related design fields such as industrial or interior design, architecture, fine arts, or media arts. We welcome students from non-design fields as well, such as business, liberal arts and the Sciences. Students may attend full or part-time.
A minimum of 48 credits, which can be completed within two to three years of study, is required for each of the MS degree programs. A qualifying program of up to an additional six credits of prerequisite classes may be required for applicants whose undergraduate backgrounds do not meet all entrance standards but whose applications indicate a strong aptitude for graduate study. For students with substantial design experience, however, the program – with courses ranging from visual communications to marketing and electronic media – challenges their creativity to its furthest potential.
The final stage of the curriculum is the thesis, which provides knowledge of the problem-solving process through directed research and, over the succeeding two semesters, gives students the opportunity to develop an extensive, innovative project. The comprehensive thesis demonstrates professional competence and includes extensive research, project formulation and production, and process documentation. Work on the thesis is done under the direction of a major discipline faculty advisor.
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