Academy of Art University

Master of Arts (MA) in Communications & Media Technologies

Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Production Skills

• Produce broadcast-ready video content that adheres to professional standards
• Use and create interactive content and web designs to promote and enhance media projects
• Depending on the student's specialization: the ability to present oneself on camera professionally in various kinds of scripted, live, and impromptu settings in the studio and on location; or, the ability to direct on-camera talent in the studio and on location.

Conceptual Thinking

• Identify, research, and evaluate relevant information as appropriate to chosen media specialty.
• Apply creative business and technological solutions for formatting, distributing, and marketing content across all major media platforms
• Apply creative business strategies in the presentation and promotion of projects.

Written and Oral Communication

• Develop scripts, features, articles, and other written content for in-depth and continuous coverage of a media specialty.
• Demonstrate mastery of various types of interview techniques appropriate to a target audience or media genre.
• Develop sophisticated concepts for a media project and professionally pitch these ideas.

Visual Communication

• Rapidly visualize story ideas in the pre-production stage, for individual projects and larger-scale projects or series.
• Apply advanced design principles to various types of video, print, and interactive media.

Professional Readiness

• Produce a professional reel to acquire a job within the media industry or corporate environment
• Meet deadlines and submit work according to professional presentation standards.

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

• Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
• Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
• Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
• Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
• Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
• Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
• Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help in your pursuit of a career in communications. We pride ourselves on doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your future profession. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring media professionals with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that will help lead to a successful multimedia practice.

Digital Content Producer

As a digital content producer, you'll be the team leader in preparing and completing project action plans for a variety of media platforms.

Social Media Manager

As a social media manager, you'll develop and implement social media marketing strategies that engage, excite, and promote a brand audience.

Unit Requirements

Degree Requirements

• Successful completion of Final Portfolio Review
• Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• A minimum grade of C in all required 36 units.

Curriculum

Semester 1

• COM 602: Visual Storytelling: Editing for Short-Form Video Content (Major)
• COM 603: Visual Storytelling Production (Major)
• COM 604: On-Camera Performance for Multiplatform Media (Major)

Semester 2

• COM 610: Media Production: Working with the Client (Major)
• COM 620: Multiplatform Specialty Writing (Major)
• COM 630: Motion Graphics for Digital Media (Major)

Semester 3

• COM 635: Social Media Production & Branding (Major)
• COM 702: Producing Live Media (Major)

Semester 4

• COM 650: Multiplatform Production: Original Series (Major)
• COM 690: Final Thesis: Your Media Portfolio (Major)
• COM 900: Internship in Communications and Media Technologies (Elective)