Every business, non-profit and entrepreneur needs technical expertise to connect with the world. To meet that need, Kent State University is now accepting applications for its new graduate program in Emerging Media and Technology (EMAT). The Master of Science degree program, officially launching in Fall 2022, is offered within the College of Communication and Information’s School of Emerging Media and Technology.
The application deadline for Fall 2022 admission is August 15, 2022.
In this new graduate program, students can “tech up” their passions and skills in areas like communication, project management, education and training, design and data, preparing them to work at the intersection of technology and society. Students will select one of five interdisciplinary pathways to further customize their studies:
- Data Analytics/Coding
- Social Scientific Research
- Applied Communication, Information and Strategy
- Applied Creative Technology
- Training and Development Technology.
Meanwhile, the program’s STEM foundation includes training in skills like creative coding, web application development, data organization and analysis, emerging media storytelling, digital strategy, project management, and training and development technologies.
Career opportunities in these areas are expected to grow rapidly through 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Web Developers & Digital Designers: 13% growth; Software, App Developers: 22% growth; Computer Systems Analysts: 7% growth; Computer & Information Research Scientists: 22% growth, IT Project Managers: 11% growth.
"Our new Master of Science program will teach students cross-cutting skills that will transfer across the future of job opportunities in the converged field of emerging media and technology,” says School Director Michael Beam, Ph.D.. “We developed this program with the support of employers and educators across our region. The interdisciplinarity of the EMAT MS provides students flexibility to personalize their coursework from across strong programs at Kent State.”
Core classes for the Fall 2022 semester will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on the Kent Campus. Elective courses can be taken online or on-campus. The program can be completed in 12, 16 or 24 months, making it perfect for working professionals or graduates who have just earned their bachelor’s degree.
Admissions requirements can be found on the program’s website. The M.S. in Emerging Media and Technology is considered a STEM degree, and therefore does qualify for the 24-month STEM extension on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
The School of Emerging Media and Technology is a cutting-edge interdisciplinary school within Kent State’s College of Communication and Information, designed to train tomorrow’s digital leaders. It was known as the School of Digital Sciences until Fall 2020. The Master of Science degree was approved by the Kent State Board of Trustees in December 2021 and by the Ohio Department of Education in spring 2022.