Emerson’s Media Design (MA) blends art, technology, and community-based research to address social justice issues ranging from climate change and public health to voting rights, racial injustice, and food insecurity—or anything you’re passionate about changing in your local or global community.
Housed in our renowned Engagement Lab, our research-based design lab, the Media Design program is designed for artists looking to drive civic change through different forms of media and technology such as video games, apps, film, websites, and more.
Emerson’s Media Design program prepares you for a career improving the world through art, media, technology, and civic engagement.
Our students partner with local and global organizations such as the Red Cross, UNDP, the City of Boston, the City of Portland, Maine, and iCivics to create solutions that solve community-based problems. This design-oriented program will teach you how to effectively communicate with different populations by building processes, prototypes, and platforms.
Examples of previous student projects have included an app that helped marginalized youth build confidence about their futures by identifying people in their support systems, journaling, and more.
Another project focused on the shrinking footprint of newspapers. Students created a localized digital platform that allowed readers to submit their own news stories to ensure communities that are left without local media resources are able to stay connected.
Program Highlights include:
Exposure to a broad range of employment opportunities in varying industries such as nonprofit, corporate, government, news & media organizations, and more
Access to Emerson’s renowned Engagement Lab
Opportunity to teach and study at Salzburg Media Academy
1 or 2-year program options available
Hybrid learning with classes offered online and in-person
Night and evening classes available to fit your schedule
No GRE requirements to apply
Program Paths
You may choose to complete your program as a One Year Immersive Program or a Two Year Program Sequence.
One-Year Immersive Program
The One Year Immersive Program is a three-semester program, running from Fall-Summer. The program offers students a hybrid class schedule with online and in-person options available, and with most classes taking place in the evening. Elective schedules are flexible and are offered during the summer semester.
Sample Curriculum MapProgram Start - September
Fall Semester 1 (12 credits)
1 in-person course
1 online course
1 hybrid course
Civic Design Colloquium (no credit) hybrid course
Spring Semester 2 (12 credits)
1 in-person course
1 online course
1 hybrid course
Civic Design Colloquium (no credit) hybrid course
Summer/May Semester (8 credits)
Thesis in-person
Elective online or in-person
Program Completion - August
Two-Year Program Sequence
The Two Year Program Sequence is a four-semester program with an optional summer semester available. The program offers students a hybrid class schedule with online and in-person options available, with most classes taking place in the evening. Elective schedules are flexible and are offered during the summer semester.
Sample Curriculum MapProgram Start - September
Fall Semester 1 (8 credits)
1 online
1 in-person
Civic Design Colloquium (no credit) hybrid course
Spring Semester 2 (8 credits)
1 online
1 in-person
Civic Design Colloquium (no credit) hybrid course
Summer (optional) (4 credits)
1 class online or in-person
Fall Semester 3 (8 credits)
1 online
1 in-person
Civic Design Colloquium (no credit) hybrid course
Spring Semester 4 (4 to 8 credits)
Thesis
1 class online or in-person
Faculty
Emerson’s School of Communication brings scholars and professionals from around the world to teach and mentor our students. From award-winning journalists to grassroots campaign organizers our faculty are well versed in the field of communications.
The Engagement Lab
The Engagement Lab at Emerson College is an applied research and design lab that investigates and creates media and technology to reduce disparities in civic participation. We work with partners to co-design solutions to the most pressing problems in democracy and governance, including participation gaps, gender or racial discrimination, lack of basic media literacies, youth exclusion, and gaps in public health practices.
From playing games to making media, to running campaigns, we create opportunities for people to creatively participate in civic life. Whether they are used in classrooms or town squares, the tools and processes we develop make civic engagement meaningful for citizens and communities.
Student Project Spotlight
Port(land) of Opportunity by Justin Warren
Port(land) of Opportunity is a game for immigrants and refugees living in Portland, Maine to learn about services available to them in Portland. The Office of Economic Opportunity wanted to try stepping away from more conventional approaches of seeking community feedback (such as interviews and focus groups, as they have used in the past) and instead created an educational game in hopes of making the process more engaging and meaningful to participants.
Alumni
Our Alumni have gone on to work for diverse industries and organizations such as:
The Obama Foundation
Global Family Research Project
Harvard Kennedy School
National Organization on Disability
City governments
