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Digital Communication, Master of Science

 

Program Purpose

The Master of Science in Digital Communication is an online, multidisciplinary master’s program, STEM designated, for those holding a bachelor’s degree in communication or related subjects.  

This 33-credit program is designed to offer students the experience to learn the digitally evolving field of communications through a project-based, technology driven approach applied throughout the curriculum. Students are required to conduct research, analyze, and evaluate communication data, and generate digital content throughout their coursework. 

The program is comprised of an 18-credit communication core focusing on communication skills including communication writing, crisis management, and analytics, coupled with additional training in the student’s selected 15-credit concentration.  Students may select one from the following list of communication concentrations:

  • Digital & Social Media Strategy
  • General Communication
  • Healthcare Communication
  • Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Web Design

 

Program Competencies

The graduate student who successfully completes the M.S. in Digital Communication program will have a level of applicable knowledge in the following areas as appropriate to one’s field of study: 

  1. Analyze legal, ethical, and leadership principles within the field of professional communication.
  2. Conduct research using methods appropriate to the communication field.
  3. Write with clarity and precision in a variety of formats and styles appropriate for different audiences, purposes, and publication needs.
  4. Evaluate communication data using statistical concepts to inform the public.
  5. Apply tools appropriate for the communication field (graphics, audio, video, text, web, social media, etc.).
  6. Analyze the impact of communication within an interconnected and technology-driven society.

Digital Communication Core Requirements (18 credits)

COM 6100 Emerging Tech and Comm

COM 6250 Digital Content and Visual Data

OR

MCM 6104 Strategic Communication

COM 6600 Crisis Communication and Risk

MCM 6101 Communication Writing

MCM 6102 Legal and Ethical Issues

MCM 6103 Communication Analytics

Digital and Social Media Strategy Concentration (15 credits)

Students completing the M.S. Digital Communication program with a Digital and Social Media Strategy concentration must complete the Digital Communication core (18 credits), the following four courses (12 credits), and either COM 8000 or COM 8100 (3 credits).

COM 6150 Social Media and Society

COM 6200 Digital Strategy and Campaigns

COM 7000 SEO and Digital Consumers

MGT 7750 Strategy and Decision-Making

Capstone

COM 8000 Field Experience/Co-op

OR

COM 8100 Communication Capstone

General Communication Concentration (15 credits)

Students completing the M.S. Digital Communication program with a General Communication concentration must complete the Digital Communication core (18 credits), four courses (12 credits) from the following list, and either COM 8000 or COM 8100 (3 credits).

COM 6150 Social Media and Society

COM 6200 Digital Strategy and Campaigns

COM 6300 Public Relations Analytics

COM 6350 Branding and Entrepreneurship

COM 6680 Medical Writing

COM 7000 SEO and Digital Consumers

MBA 7600 Global Marketing Management

MBA 7603 Market Research and Consumer Behavior

MBA 7606 Business to Business and Business to Government Marketing

MBA 7608 Integrated Marketing Communications

MBA 7615 Marketing Analytics

MCM 6100 Multi-Media Communication

MGT 6400 Global Leadership

MGT 7750 Strategy and Decision-Making

Capstone

COM 8000 Field Experience/Co-op

OR

COM 8100 Communication Capstone

Healthcare Communication Concentration (15 credits)

Students completing the M.S. Digital Communication program with a Healthcare Communication concentration must complete the Digital Communication core (18 credits), the following courses (12 credits), and either COM 8000 or COM 8100 (3 credits).

COM 6150 Social Media and Society

OR

COM 6200 Digital Strategy and Campaigns

COM 6680 Medical Writing

HCA 7745 Marketing in the Health Care Sector

MOL 6900 Communication & Teams

Capstone

COM 8000 Field Experience/Co-op

OR

COM 8100 Communication Capstone

Marketing Concentration (15 credits)

Students completing the M.S. Digital Communication program with a Marketing concentration must complete the Digital Communication core (18 credits), the following four courses (12 credits), and either COM 8000 or COM 8100 (3 credits).

MBA 7600 Global Marketing Management

MBA 7603 Market Research and Consumer Behavior

MBA 7606 Business to Business and Business to Government Marketing

MBA 7615 Marketing Analytics

Capstone

COM 8000 Field Experience/Co-op

OR

COM 8100 Communication Capstone

Public Relations Concentration (15 credits)

Students completing the M.S. Digital Communication program with a Public Relations concentration must complete the Digital Communication core (18 credits), the following courses (12 credits), and either COM 8000 or COM 8100 (3 credits).

COM 6300 Public Relations Analytics

COM 6350 Branding and Entrepreneurship

OR

MOL 6900 Communication & Teams

MCM 6100 Multi-Media Communication

MGT 7750 Strategy and Decision-Making

Capstone

COM 8000 Field Experience/Co-op

OR

COM 8100 Communication Capstone

Web Design Concentration (15 credits)

Students completing the M.S. Digital Communication program with a Web Design concentration must complete the Digital Communication core (18 credits), four courses (12 credits) from the following list, and either COM 8000 or COM 8100 (3 credits).

 

DSN 6000 Web Design and Architecture

DSN 6040 Web Design with JavaScript

DSN 6050 Markup Languages Advanced Authoring

DSN 6060 Database/Web Design Integration

DSN 6073 Server-Side Web Development

DSN 6080 Internet Development/Design for Competitive Advantage

DSN 6090 Topics in Web Design and Programming

Capstone

COM 8000 Field Experience/Co-op

OR

COM 8100 Communication Capstone

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.