School of Journalism

During this period of dynamic change in traditional print and broadcast media, it is absolutely essential that anyone interested in pursuing a career in media have a fundamental grasp of how the Internet, social media and technology is changing the way we gather, report, write, distribute news and information.

Please see information regarding gainful employment data.

Even in public relations and advertising, professionals must be fully versed in how best to reach traditional and emerging audiences in innovative ways.

This 18-hour interdisciplinary academic certificate with the College of Information provides students and professionals written, visual and technical competencies required to successfully communicate in the modern online and information-oriented environments.

Admissions

To enroll in the Mayborn Graduate Institute’s 18-hour Graduate Certificate in Interactive and Virtual Digital Communications, candidates will apply to UNT through the Toulouse Graduate School website and will send official transcripts demonstrating completion of a bachelor’s degree. The Graduate Record Examination is not required. Departmental admission requirements include a resume and a statement of purpose (how this certificate will help you with your career goals). Please submit these documents to the graduate student coordinator in the Mayborn Graduate Institute (MaybornGraduateInstitute@unt.edu). Once admitted, students registering in INFO courses must seek department approval to take courses by filling out an advising form. Contact ci-advising@unt.edu for more information. For questions regarding LTEC courses, contact Scott.Warren@unt.edu or Greg.Jones@unt.edu. Call 940-565-4564 for information.

Program Objectives

• Provide you with a solid foundation on the current trends in how to communicate news and information in today’s world
• Provide you with a theoretical and practical framework to assess how interactive and digital media, e.g. websites, blogs, social media, mobile media, is impacting current business models for media and most companies today
• Help you understand how to best use technology and digital media to better reach new and existing readers, viewers, consumers and customers
• Update your knowledge and skills related to digital media to take on a more active role in your company

Courses

Choose from the required courses listed below (18 hours):

• JOUR 5520    Advertising and PR for Social Good
• JOUR 5500    Integrated Communications OR JOUR 5320    New Technologies of Mass Communication

• INFO 5040     Information Behavior
• INFO 5615     Electronic Databases and Information Services
   
• LTEC 5200    New Technologies of Instruction
• LTEC 5260    Computer Graphics for Mediated Communications

Related Careers

• Corporate communications at non-profits and media companies
• Interactive media manager at a newspaper, broadcast, online media outlet or a public relations or advertising agency
• Media analyst: Helping a company decide which media to use to best communicate with staff, consumers and/or industry colleagues
• Interactive Marketing Manager
• Media strategist for a PR or advertising agency
• New Media Strategist
• Social Marketing Program Manager
• Manager, social media and digital marketing
• Digital community manager
• Manager/Director Online Services
• Interactivity Producer
• Digital Content Manager/Producer/Director