Multimedia, Photography and Design, MS

Contact:

Bruce Strong, Chair, Visual Communications Department
318 Newhouse 3, 315-443-1010

Faculty

Mike Davis, Seth Gitner, Ken Harper, Gregory Heisler, Soo Yeon Hong, Renée Stevens, Bruce Strong, Sherri Taylor, Amy Toensing

The Multimedia, Photography and Design graduate degree is for students who want to customize their education around their career objectives, such as photography, video production, multimedia, visual editing, graphic design, immersive design, motion graphic design, etc. by allowing students to take a foundational and advanced course in their area of choice. Students then select electives to either deepen that area of expertise or broaden their knowledge base and skill sets into complementary areas. In an effort to work with publications, corporations and non-profit organizations on real-world projects, the program encourages such collaboration among students, faculty and professionals. To augment the emphasis on visual communication, the program also includes communications research, media law, visual communications theory and current business practices. The course work for this program may be completed in 12 or 18 months.

This 37 credit program leads to a Master of Science (M.S.) in Multimedia, Photography and Design.

Student Learning Outcomes

In addition to the comprehensive Newhouse School learning outcomes listed in the School’s Educational Mission , students in the Multimedia, Photography and Design program are expected to achieve the following additional learning outcome:

Produce professional quality cinematic and photographic stories by synthesizing the best practices and current theories of traditional still, motion and emerging media.

Admission

A portfolio is required for admission to the Master’s program and should be sent separately to Professor Bruce Strong, Chair, Visual Communications Department. Images should be presented on a personal website or through social media channels.

Please send appropriate URLs to Professor Strong at brstrong@syr.edu. If you do not have some type of portfolio, GRE test scores must be submitted instead.

Program Requirements

Required courses (21 credits)

COM 698 - Media Law 3 credit(s)
VIS 601 - Photography and Multimedia Fundamentals 3 credit(s)
or
VIS 607 - Graphic Design Fundamentals 3 credit(s)
VIS 602 - Essentials for Visual Communicators 1 credit(s)
This course is taken as three one-credit modules:
- Advanced Productivity
- Design or Photography
- Writing
VIS 622 - Visual Communications Theory 3 credit(s)
VIS 639 - Advanced Projects 1-3 credit(s)
VIS 642 - Professional Practices for Visual Communicators 3 credit(s)
VIS 669 - Portfolio Review 0 credit(s)
VIS 689 - Master’s Projects 3 credit(s)
or
VIS 997 - Master’s Thesis credit(s)

Academic Emphasis

Students are required to complete an emphasis that satisfies their individual career goals. Faculty advisors will work with students to select two courses that build a critical understanding in a particular area of interest.

Recommended emphases can include, but are not limited to the following:

Commercial & Advertising Photography
Editorial Photography & Photojournalism
Graphic Design
Immersive Design
Motion Design
Videography

Foundation Course (3 credits)

Students will also choose a foundational course in their chosen academic emphasis with approval from their advisor.

Advanced Course (3 credits)

Students will also choose an advanced course in their chosen academic emphasis with approval from their advisor.

Course Catalog