Online Master's in Design Management & Communications
Online Course Schedule for Spring 2024

Business Communications

Successful communication skills have become a critical management tool to thrive and survive in today's increasingly complex and fast-moving business climate. This hands-on, practical course teaches students to analyze, develop, and effectively communicate via all forms of business writing, presenting, visual storytelling, leadership, client management, and negotiating. This course covers the challenges of communicating across global organizations as well as the role that listening and emotional intelligence play in creating effective communication strategies.

Note: Students must successfully complete MPDC 500/5000 and MPDC 520/5042 before registering for this course.

Capstone

MPDC Capstone

Note: During this final course, you will apply the comprehensive skills that you have built throughout your study of the concept and practice of design management and communications (DMC). Multiple forms of assessments—including an ethical issue paper, capstone project milestone deliverables (scope of work, research plan, creative strategy outline), and final design deliverables and pitch—track and evaluate each student's level of competency in learning outcomes from the DMC program. You will also be required to meet regularly with your Capstone Advisor and the full class. These meetings will be graded as class participation. The capstone experience is intended to ensure you have the strategic skills and confidence necessary to be a leader in DMC and provide a unique networking and career-enhancing opportunity. *Core course requirement for the DMC Program, A minimum grade of "B" is required to pass. Requires successful completion of MPDC 500/5000, 520/5042, 600/5041, 610/7364, and 620/5003.

Content Strategy

In response to changing consumer expectations, marketing has become less about paid advertising and more about providing value-added content to attract and retain customers. It is no longer acceptable to speak at customers; rather, they expect to be engaged in conversation around topics that they are interested in. Moreover, the addition of new web-based and social channels has created demand for large amounts of new content. Students in this course will work with clients to develop content tailored to a specific target audience. They will learn how to create a cross-channel content plan and build a portfolio of content samples for web stories, social media, email newsletters, and other channels.

Design Leadership

Design, as both a concept and a practice, has the ability to affect change within business and throughout society. Design Leadership focuses on approaches to problem-solving that are human-centered and guided by the underlying principles of design–a solution that is built within a given set of parameters–and of leadership–the stake one puts in the ground for a design solution. In this course, students will learn to build a design leadership practice by digging into the multiple dimensions of design leadership including empathy mapping, ethnographic research, and case studies of applied solutions to a set of “wicked design problems”. Upon completion, students will be able to lead cross-functional teams working on solutions for the wicked problems faced by brands, businesses, and social issues. This is a foundation course.

Note: Foundation course requirement for the DMC program. A minimum grade of "B" is required to pass.

Design Management & Strategy

This course introduces students to design management concepts. Students learn to work at the intersection between visual design and business strategy. The course covers an overview of business fundamentals; students learn how to successfully manage a team and visual projects within visual communications and design industry, advertising and marketing, creative processes and business models, client relations and management, and business development and evaluation.

Note: Foundation course requirement for the DMC program. A minimum grade of "B" is required to pass.

Design Portfolio

If there is one thing you need to succeed in any creative field -- it's a way to showcase your talent and talk about your body work (aka an amazing portfolio). In this hands on course, students will learn how to build and/or refine a portfolio and will leave the course with tailored personal portfolio and the skills required to continue building it throughout the program. This course will also enhance personal branding skills as well as touching on job searching and career development. This course is taught by an experienced integrated marketing and creative professional with copy and creative direction experience in financial services, automotive, publishing, travel, and telcom on both the corporate and agency side.

Design Thinking

Design thinking is a creative way to problem solve. Through a series of design challenges, this course prepares students to lead teams in envisioning new ideas by using both creative and strategic skills and developing innovative solutions to real-world design issues.

Note: Foundation course requirement for the DMC program. A minimum grade of "B" is required to pass.

Dig. Analytics & Measurement

This course examines the processes for gathering, interpreting, and presenting compelling digital data. Students will learn to use digital public opinion polling, specialized reports, social media platforms, digital analysis tools, and news aggregators to explain market research, audience trends, and social conversations. Students will also create data visualization tools to streamline data presentation into succinct, engaging formats.

Note: Students must successfully complete MPDC 500/5000 and MPDC 520/5042 before registering for this course.

eCommerce Marketing/Management

Note: Students must successfully complete MPDC 500/5000 and MPDC 520/5042 before registering for this course.

In Search of the Big Idea

Strategic Leadership in IMC

Why are some organizations innovative and forward-thinking while others continually struggle to find a competitive advantage? In one word, the answer is leadership. Leaders determine if an organization is able to be flexible, responsive and innovative in the face of change. Yet, the majority of leaders unknowingly reward behaviors that curtail strategic thinking rather than nurture it. They confuse innovation with the creation of new products and technologies. And they miss the opportunity to create a competitive advantage in areas from fundraising and programming to marketing and communications. In this course, we will learn which leadership practices create a culture that overcomes obstacles and promotes creative problem solving. Through hands on, interactive exercises, students will develop the creativity and critical thinking skills to develop high-performing teams, construct industry-leading ideas and, ultimately, generate an enduring competitive advantage.

The Brand Concept

What is a brand? What is the definition of a great brand? Why do some brands survive generation after generation while others fail after a short shelf life? This course will explore the core principles of branding. You will learn how brands compete in an environment full of choices for consumers, and the tactics they employ to be best in class. Using a consumer-centric approach, you will learn how to think critically and creatively about measuring, sustaining, building, and defending brands in today’s competitive environment.

Note: Students must successfully complete MPDC 500/5000 and MPDC 520/5042 before registering for this course.

The Creative Brief

User Experience

Today, visuals need to engage customers by offering an exceptional experience that people can identify with, purchase, and enjoy. This course provides an overview of user experience (UX) design, the role of research in a design process, and UX design approaches, including archetypes, storyboards, customer journey maps, and empathy maps.