Online Course Schedule for Summer 2021

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 issues 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. *Must be in the MPDC program, core course requires a B or better.

Design Bootcamp

This course introduces students to a variety of digital tools used to create effective visual designs. Students will learn how to successfully communicate and evaluate design plans and strategies with internal and external stakeholders. Topics include visual design technologies, approaches and techniques, visual trends and design intelligence, and global and cultural impacts on visual design.

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: Must be in the MPDC 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: DMC students must've completed their foundation courses to enroll in this class. This is a cross-listed 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: 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, requires a B or better.

In Search of the Big Idea

Project Management and Budgeti

The Creative Brief

Visual Communications

In today’s digital world, it has become necessary for communicators to use visual tools to communicate ideas effectively. In this course, students learn how to research, apply and critique typography, color strategies, digital imaging, design principles, and visual trends. Students should have working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suites and other relevant computer programs prior to taking this course.

Note: Foundation course. Must be in the MPDC Program.

Visual Persuasion & Promotion

Visuals can be a persuasive and powerful tool in communications. This course discusses effective strategies, tactics, and tools that are used to create persuasive and compelling visual content, messages, and products.