Digital Media
The Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media offers a hands-on, collaborative way to explore core creative concepts and innovative ideas in diverse areas of the digital media world. The program provides a solid preparation in the three core digital media knowledge areas: design thinking, technical competency, and creative expression.
Part-Time
Students in the Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media will build their skills and expertise while gaining familiarity with a variety of industry-standard and cutting-edge technologies and tools. Our curriculum is organized around three types of experiences: core courses, concentration electives, and a final, hands-on project. Our core courses in information development, usability, and narrative structure provide a baseline for developing, marketing, and managing content-rich experiences. A series of electives is offered in seven distinctive areas: 3-D animation, game design, digital video, social media, digital media management, or one of two tracks in interactive design—visual design, or usability and production. In your final project experience, you’ll work with the guidance of a faculty advisor on a personal proposal or with a small, focused team to channel your passion into a project that provides tangible evidence of your abilities.
Whether you are a full-time or part-time student, you can complete your degree while building meaningful working relationships with students from around the globe. Team-based assignments strengthen your project management and leadership skills and allow you to take part in the development of more complex media projects than you could by working alone. The team efforts will also prepare you for your future as a professional in digital media’s collaboration-oriented culture.
- Direct admission into the MPS in Digital Media program requires some background in visual communications, web creation, and programming foundations. For those without this prior experience, please visit the MPS Digital Media Connect Boston page for more information about our accelerated bridge courses.
More Details
Unique Features
- In-depth Capstone Project experience working under guidance of a faculty advisor
- Three concentration options provide specialized focus on distinctive areas of digital media
- Program format designed to enhance collaboration and networking opportunities for students
- This is a STEM-designated graduate degree
Program Objectives
- Leverage your existing professional experience and knowledge in a technology-centric media world
- Apply human interaction concepts and systems to a wide range of projects
- Study character and story development across a variety of digital media
- Develop and test a variety of user experiences for different media and devices
Career Outlook
Companies of all sizes and industries need creative thinkers to help them build and disseminate compelling digital stories for marketing, messaging, and entertainment. Employment projections vary for each concentration, but demand and reward for UI professionals and social media experts continues to expand at an above-average pace.
Hear from current students and recent graduates of the Digital Media programs about how their Northeastern degree helped them enhance their skills and accelerate their careers.
This video was led by instructor Gary Greenbaum and developed by the following students: Cameron Drezelo, Fanny Fellevik, Hana Fox, Sarah Hoye, and James Whalen. Please note that the clip was created by students in the Digital Video concentration for their course in Documentary and Nonfiction Production.
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Program Costs
Requirements
- Online application
- Statement of purpose (500–1000 words): identify your educational goals and expectations of the program; please be aware that Northeastern University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to your statement of purpose
- Professional resumé
- Unofficial undergraduate transcripts (official transcripts required at the time of admission)
- Two letters of recommendation: from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities such as a faculty member, colleague, or mentor, preferably one from your current employer
- English language proficiency proof: students for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the following:
- Official associate or bachelor's degree transcript from an accredited college or university in the U.S., stating degree conferral and date
- TOEFL, IELTS, or NU Global Exam scores
Admissions Dates
Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis, however we do recommend following the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term.
| Start Date: | Recommended Admissions Deadline: |
|---|---|
| September 16, 2019 | September 6, 2019 |
| October 28, 2019 | October 18, 2019 |
| Start Date: | Recommended Admissions Deadline: |
|---|---|
| January 6, 2020 (Domestic) | December 20, 2019 |
| January 6, 2020 (International) | November 4, 2019 |
| February 18, 2020 (Domestic) | February 7, 2020 |
| Start Date: | Recommended Admissions Deadline: |
|---|---|
| April 6, 2020 (Domestic) | March 23, 2020 |
| April 6, 2020 (International) | February 3, 2020 |
General Requirements
Required Core Courses
Complete one of the following:
Complete one of the following options:
Thesis Option
Capstone Option
Technical course from the workshops list
Elective
Complete one of the following:
INPS 5184 Interdisciplinary Professional Foundations
Workshops
Optional digital media workshops are designed to provide valuable technical skills and tools for students in all graduate degree programs.
Students may complete one of the following:
Concentrations
Choose one from the following:
Complete 20 quarter hours from the following:
Complete 20 quarter hours from the following:
Interactive Design
Complete four courses from one of the following tracks:
Design Track
Usability and Development Track
Complete the following:
Required:
Electives
Complete 15-17 quarter hours from the following:
Our signature experiential learning model combines academics with professional practice to help students gain relevant, real-world skills they can apply to their desired industry. Northeastern offers a variety of ways for students to add experience to their resumé, including:
- Experiential Network (XN) — Students work virtually with a sponsoring organization on a short-term project over a six-week period.
- In the thesis project experience, you’ll work with the guidance of a faculty advisor to channel your passion into a project that provides tangible evidence of your abilities.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and in fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors, and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.
By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 245,000 alumni and 3,200+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global NGOs. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional campuses further foster that lifelong global community of learning and mentoring.
Below is a look at where our Digital Media & Design alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.
-
Where They Work
- Harvard
- MIT
- ViralGains
- Cognizant
-
What They Do
- Art and Design
- Engineering
- Information Technology
- Marketing
- Media and Communication
-
What They're Skilled At
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Social Media
- CSS
- Digital Media
- Marketing
Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.