Online Master's in Design Management & Communications
Online Course Schedule for Spring 2025

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.

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.

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.

Ethical Design

Visual communications and design professionals face ethical challenges that impact both personal and organizational integrity. In recognition of the overarching importance of sound ethical judgment in these fields, Georgetown MPS students start their program with a required core course in applied ethics. Students will gain a solid foundation in ethics and relate what they learn to their own professional situation through class discussions, case studies, and guest lectures conducted by industry experts. Looking at ethics through a professional lens, students are asked to explore their own values and are challenged to codify and commit to their own code of ethics in relation to a broad range of professional codes of conduct and best practices. Foundational concepts in ethics are woven throughout the program’s other courses and revisited throughout a student’s tenure in the program.

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

In Search of the Big Idea

Inclusive Marketing

Course Description: In this course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of inclusive marketing as we explore how inclusive marketing aligns with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) culture—recognizing that marketing is a powerful tool for shaping perceptions, challenging bias/stereotypes, and driving business growth. Students will also study and engage in the practical application of marketing strategies and integrated campaigns that are inclusive and culturally sensitive, leveraging various platforms and tools to reach a larger and more diverse customer base.

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

The Creative Brief