Grady’s Emerging Media graduate program expanding to online offering

One of Grady College’s fastest growing graduate programs, the Master of Arts in Emerging Media, is offering a new program that features curriculum completely online. The Emerging Media Masters Online program will not only double the capacity of the program, but will also enable the curriculum to be accessed from literally anywhere in the world.

The EM online program has been under development for a few years, and with the recent increased focus on online learning due to the coronavirus, this program is expected to be even more sought after.

“We have seen incredible interest and growth in the Emerging Media program since introducing it in 2016, and offering this online component with curriculum that is completely accessible via the internet is a natural evolution,” said Jeff Springston, associate dean for research and graduate studies for Grady College.

Springston said the online program will be especially popular for people in early- or mid-career stage who want to advance their digital skillset, as well as international students who want to improve their digital education.

The EM online program follows the same curriculum as the residential program and educates students on technology and design for digital media. Both programs focus on interactive digital media through a project-based curriculum that encompasses design, development, digital storytelling, social strategy, data analytics, brand identity, user research, product ideation, project management and emerging technologies. Eleven classes or 33 hours are required to complete the degree.

The EM program has been developing its online curriculum since 2017 thanks to an Online Course Innovation Grant from the Office of Online Learning. The summer 2020 class represents the first EM class that will be completely online.

“The online cohort will still be very collaborative like the residential cohort,” explained Megan Ward, administrative director for the New Media Institute. The NMI advises the EM students.

Online EM students will have a choice of taking classes in an accelerated one-year program, or as a two-year program designed for part-time students and working professionals. The residential program will be closely aligned with client projects through UGA’s new Innovation District. Students will apply for and be accepted for one program or the other, but there will not be any overlap.

Qualified participants in the inaugural class of the Emerging Media Online Masters will be accepted on a rolling basis until the class is full or until May 1, 2020.

Applications for the 2021 residential and online Emerging Media programs will be accepted until March 1, 2021.

Applicants must submit the following to be eligible for consideration: GRE scores, Graduate School application, Grady College supplemental application, three letters of recommendation and a statement of Interest.

More details can be found on the UGA Online Learning webpage.