MSc in
Master of Science in Media Arts and Technology Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Introduction
All businesses and organizations rely on graphic communications to increase their effectiveness in communicating ideas, instructions, and concepts. A graduate with a media master's understands the value of information design and recognizes the many ways it can be used to positively impact the bottom line. In the media arts and technology program, you will learn to leverage emerging technologies to your advantage. With a management focus, technical expertise, and comprehensive knowledge of how to drive the graphics process from concept through completion, you will be an attractive prospect in a wide range of industries, including education, engineering, marketing, research science, human resources, public relations, and more.
This program is transitioning to the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, in the College of Art and Design, effective July 1, 2019.
The MS degree in media arts and technology is a one-year program concluding with a capstone project. Students develop relevant knowledge and skills with a technical emphasis and a business-oriented approach. Students recognize new ways for operating and identifying emerging technologies to meet and exceed evolving market demands, and for becoming leaders in the improvements of cross-media products and processes. The program provides students with the ability to create meaningful and measurable changes in graphic communications through applied cross-media initiatives. The required capstone project allows students to develop and demonstrate in-depth knowledge in a specific topic area. Led by senior faculty, the capstone project is designed to prepare students to be innovators in the rapidly evolving media landscape.
The curriculum concentrates on the latest technologies, processes, and strategies that allow students to employ knowledge of print, web, mobile, and social media workflows to solve communication problems. The diverse expertise of the faculty assures a breadth of relevant experience while educating students on issues and trends across the graphic communications field. The School of Media Sciences strives to be on the leading edge of graphic communications and give students the opportunity to address real-world problems within the industry. This program aims to create a collaborative environment where students combine course work with access to faculty expertise, staff support, and extensive facilities to extend their current knowledge base.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
RIT awards more than $37 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 5% of tuition all the way up to full tuition. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
RIT awards more than $30 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 10% - 40% of tuition. Our median scholarship amount is around 30% of tuition or $13,000. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
Optional Co-Op: cooperative education is paid work assignments with corporations and organizations around the U.S. and abroad. Co-op allows students to spend one or more semesters employed in a full-time, paid position related to their academic program before they graduate. Many students use co-op earnings to help finance their education.
Work-Study: graduate students studying full-time may apply to work part-time on campus. RIT has more than 9,000 jobs available each year, and students typically work 10 – 20 hours per week. International students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa may work up to 20 hours per week on campus and 40 hours during break periods.
Curriculum
The program includes 30 credit hours of study and culminates in a capstone project.
Media arts and technology, MS degree, typical course sequence
- PPRT-642 Industry Issues and Trends
- PPRT-743 Perspectives on Contemporary Publishing
- PPRT-731 Digital Content Management
- PPRT-603 Operations Management in the Graphic Arts
- PPRT-703 Cross-Media Workflow
- PPRT-721 Implementing Media Business Change
- PPRT-746 Capstone I
- PPRT-747 Capstone II
- Free Electives
Electives
Students may choose elective courses from a variety of courses offered in the School of Media Sciences or with other graduate departments and programs at RIT.
Capstone project
The capstone project requires students to develop and demonstrate extensive knowledge on a specific topic related to graphic communications. Students complete original work in the form of a number of methodologies, including experiments, comprehensive case studies, surveys, focus groups, and research analysis. Outcomes from this experience include innovation of a process, recognizing unmet customer needs, solving cross-media issues, or identifying resources required for business transformation or media solutions.
Career Opportunities
Industries
- Advertising, PR, and Marketing
- Consumer Packaged Goods
- Design
- Journalism, Media, and Publishing
English Language Requirements
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