Course Requirements
The Digital Communication track requires 12 courses (48 credit hours): four (4) core courses and eight (8) elective courses; there is also a degree completion option. Students can apply to test out of an Introductory Prerequisite Course.
Prerequisite Course
The DCMA program requires students to have the skills necessary for design proficiency. Students may test out of the prerequisite.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DMA 402 | INTRO TO VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS PRINCIPLES | 4 |
Core Courses
Students are required to take all of the following:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CMNS 570 | INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL CMN | 4 |
| DMA 525 | FOUNDATION OF DIGITAL MEDIA | 4 |
| DMA 527 | CREATIVE PROCESS AND STRATEGY | 4 |
| MPOP 575 | DIGITAL MEDIA ETHICS | 4 |
Elective Courses
Digital Communication Electives
Students are required to take at least one elective course that focuses on digital technology from each of the following areas:
- Media and Popular Culture (MPOP)
- Journalism (JOUR)
- Public Relations and Advertising (PRAD)
Additional Electives
Students must also take three additional elective courses (one, if student chooses the Master’s Project degree completion option, taking DMA 695 and CMNS 595). These elective courses may be:
- Any College of Communication graduate course
- Any College of Computing and Digital Media graduate course
- Any pre-approved outside elective (up to two electives from outside of the College of Communication or College of Computing and Digital Media can apply toward the degree)
- Any course in another department/college at DePaul that is approved by the graduate advisor or graduate program director (up to two electives from outside of the College of Communication or College of Computing and Digital Media can apply toward the degree)
Pre-Approved Outside Electives
Students will have the option to take pre-approved elective courses in either Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse (WRD) or Art, Media, and Design (AMD) as part of their additional electives, allowing students to develop an enriched focus. NOTE: these are pre-approved options, but students are not required to take them.
Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse Pre-Approved Outside Electives
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DOCUMENT DESIGN | ||
| TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL AND DIGITAL WRITING | ||
| DIGITAL STORYTELLING | ||
| CONTENT STRATEGY | ||
| WRITING ACROSS MEDIA |
Art, Media, and Design
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ADVANCED ART STUDIO | ||
| DIGITAL ART | ||
| WEB ART AND DESIGN | ||
| PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA ART | ||
| VIDEO ART | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN ART, MEDIA AND DESIGN |
Students who want to switch between DCMA tracks should be aware that some completed courses in one track may not count towards the requirements of the other. If a student is considering switching tracks, they should consult their advisor and graduate director for assistance.
Completion Options
Reflection Paper
Students complete a comprehensive reflection paper during their final term in the program. This completion option is available to all students and does not come with any course credit.
Capstone
In consultation with a faculty member in the College of Communication, the student should expand or develop a paper or project they have worked on in the program. This professor should have expertise in the area the student's paper/project is based. A meeting should be scheduled to discuss the requirements and design and agreement for the paper/project. Capstone does not come with course credit and is expected to take approximately 10 hours for the student to complete. This option is available to students holding a 3.5 GPA or higher and who have completed at least 10 courses (40 credit hours) in their program.
Thesis
Two project courses (DMA 695 and CMNS 595) replace two additional elective classes. Students will enroll in CMNS 595 in the quarter they defend their project. The student will create an original project (i.e., web- or film-based projects, or projects related to professional or educational organizations) and write a 5 to 10-page creator's statement. This option is available to students holding a 3.7 GPA or higher and who have completed at least 6 courses (24 credit hours) in their program.
Grade Requirements
All students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.000 in their coursework. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.000, the student will be allowed to complete an additional 16 credits or 3 quarters (whichever comes first) to attain the 3.000 minimum GPA. If the cumulative GPA remains below a 3.000 at the conclusion of this time period, the student may be dismissed from the program. The student's cumulative and term GPAs along with overall academic performance will be factored into the dismissal decision.