Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media

The Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media (MASEM) program introduces students to state-of-the-art research methods, strategies, production and practices for social and emerging media.

Students will learn to plan, research, write, produce and distribute professional media for multiple platforms and to do so strategically. Specific areas of study include emerging media technologies, digital storytelling, visual design, audio-video production, user experience production, audience and user experience research, media strategy and analytics, project management and emerging media policy, law and regulation. The program blends technological expertise with the creative arts and promotes peer engagement and faculty mentoring.

Students will learn to approach media creatively and strategically, to understand and to respond effectively to media audiences and to engage users through compelling storytelling, arresting visual design and adept implementation of the latest interactive technologies. This program will prepare students for work in a variety of fields that value strong written and visual communication skills, professional training in audio and video production, an understanding of new and emerging media platforms, technical savvy, training in research and data analysis, collaboration and team work, critical thinking and creative problem-solving.

General Admission Requirements

To be considered for acceptance into the MA in Social and Emerging Media program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Completed application
• Official transcript confirming an overall GPA of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 in an accredited bachelor’s degree program (2.75 may be considered for conditional enrollment*)
• Two professional reference forms completed by individuals who can attest to the applicant’s background and potential
• Personal statement describing professional goals; how the degree aligns with educational and career objectives; and how the student can contribute to the program

*Official transcript must be sent directly from the institution.

Guaranteed Admission for UT Graduates

Students and alumni who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from UT with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 will be guaranteed admissions to the M.A. in Social and Emerging Media program provided other stated requirements are satisfied.

The admissions application fee, reference forms and TOEFL requirements are waived.  All other admissions requirements apply.

The guaranteed admission opportunity recognizes the exceptional quality of UT’s academic programs, and the University’s mission to support continuing education and professional growth.

MASEM Accelerated Program Requirements and Documents

The MASEM accelerated program allows enrolled qualified undergraduate students to take one 4-credit course in the MASEM program during their senior year. Students admitted into the MASEM Accelerated Program may have one MASEM course applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Before enrolling in the course to be counted as both undergraduate and graduate credit, the undergraduate student must be accepted into the MASEM Accelerated Program and receive approval from the department chair of the undergraduate program and the MASEM program director.

Three undergraduate programs—Advertising and Public Relations; Communication, Media, and Culture; and Journalism—allow their majors enrolled in the MASEM Accelerated Program to have their graduate course replace one elective requirement in the undergraduate program. Specific MASEM courses and the requirements they replace are listed under the degree requirements for each of these majors.

Students are encouraged to submit the MASEM Accelerated Program Admissions Application during the semester in which they expect to reach at least 90 hours toward their undergraduate degree. 
Students receive their Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media upon completion of their graduate requirements. To qualify for the accelerated option, students must meet the following requirements: 

• Completed admissions application to UT’s MA in Social and Emerging Media Accelerated Program;
• Completed at least 90 hours of undergraduate coursework and be enrolled in the senior year of undergraduate studies;
• Have an overall GPA of at least 3.25 out of 4.0 at time of application or a minimum of 3.25 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study. 

Degree Requirements

“C” is the minimum passing grade in a graduate course at the University of Tampa, as well as the minimum acceptable grade for a graduate prerequisite course. Graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in both their required courses and a cumulative 3.0 GPA to graduate. 

Core Courses

Students must take all of the following courses:

MAPC 611	Emerging Technologies	4
SEM 601	Digital Storytelling	4
SEM 602	Visual Design for Emerging Media	4
SEM 603	Audio and Video Production for Emerging Media	4
SEM 604	Social and Emerging Media Strategy and Analytics	4
Total Credit Hours:		20

Capstone Project or Thesis

The capstone experience is the final course for the Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media, and it culminates in a project that demonstrates the student’s expertise in the field. The capstone experience is largely independent, and students will plan and produce a project under the supervision of a faculty member. Students who choose to do so have the opportunity to coordinate work on their projects with a nonprofit organization or a business in the Tampa Bay area.

After departmental approval, students are required to submit an electronic version of their thesis, dissertation or final project to the Macdonald-Kelce Library for inclusion in the digital repository, which is accessible on the internet.

Embargoes restricting access of full text to only the UT community may be selected for one, three or five years, before the work is released freely on the web through the repository. Students also have the option to release the work for immediate access worldwide.

SEM 700	Capstone in Social and Emerging Media	4
Total Credit Hours:		4

Elective Courses

Students must take two elective courses (8 credits) from the following list:

SEM 610	User Experience and Audience Research	4
SEM 611	Media Creation and Project Management	4
SEM 612	Emerging Media: Industry, Policy, and Law	4
SEM 613	Advanced Production in Emerging Media	4
SEM 614	Motion Graphics and Visual Effects for Social and Emerging Media	4
MAPC 612	Ethics and Communication Law	4
Total Credit Hours:		8

Total Credit Hours: 32