The School of Communications' master of science program in interactive communications focuses on the principles and practices of creating content for distribution through the Internet, portable media devices and related digital platforms.
Through a balance of courses that teach students how to create and deploy text, graphics, animation, audio, video and user-generated content into a narrative form, students learn how to transform traditional media and create a non-linear, multimedia experience for the audience.
Graduates of the program can compete for a range of job opportunities, including producers for advertising, entertainment, education, corporate information and news organizations engaged in the creation and distribution of content through digital platforms.
The program encourages applications from prospective students who want to apply skills acquired during their undergraduate education or professional careers to multimedia content development to mirror the audience shift from traditional, linear media (such as broadcast and print) to interactive, non-linear media found online.
In addition to course work that emphasizes professional interactive production techniques and tools, students engage in rigorous academic study of communications theory and innovative thinkers whose work is indispensable to understanding the shift from legacy media to online. The combination of study in the intellectual and production aspects of interactive communications transforms students into leading practitioners and leaders.
Students also have the opportunity to enroll in a three-credit internship. Graduate students have served as interns at local, national and global media companies and Web development firms. Also available is an optional three-credit independent study for students who want to do advanced work or research in a particular topic.
Students must complete the program with an individual capstone in the form of a master's project, such as an interactive program, Web site or an in-depth work of research that advances knowledge of the field. Planning for the master's project at the outset of studies is strongly encouraged.
The program is offered in two formats: a traditional on-campus program and an online-only program. Both are identical in terms of courses and outcomes. Students must select one when applying but can elect to take courses in the other program as schedule and space permits.
In the on-campus program, students follow the traditional arc of the 14-week semester, taking up to four courses per semester, and can finish in two years. Alternatively, students may choose to enroll in two courses per semester on a part-time basis. On occasion the on-campus program will offer a 14-week online course as part of its schedule.
The online-only program follows a seven-week sequence. Students take one course in each of the two seven-week modules in the fall and spring and take two courses during the summer. Students complete a total of six courses per calendar year, finishing the program in two years.
To earn the master's degree, students must complete 36 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The master's project counts for three credits toward the 36 credits required to graduate.
Information on the application process and requirements for the on-campus program is available from the Graduate Admissions Office. (Applicants to the online-only program should contact Quinnipiac University Online admissions).
Graduate Admissions Office
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
Telephone: 203-582-8672
E-mail: graduate@quinnipiac.edu