West Virginia University’s renowned Integrated Marketing Communications master’s
degree program has implemented significant changes for the 2019-2020 academic year,
including reduced tuition, fewer required courses and seven new areas of emphasis.
The tuition and course requirement changes affect both IMC and the relatively new online M.S. in Data Marketing Communications. Tuition for both programs will decrease by 16 percent, lowering the overall program cost to $24,600. And, graduation requirements will be decreased by one course, allowing students to complete their degree with ten courses in as few as one and a half years. This is in response to an increasingly competitive market.
“Our online IMC program was the first of its kind, and we’re always looking for ways to keep our programs innovative and accessible,” said Chad Mezera, assistant dean of online programs. “WVU IMC is among the best online master’s degrees in the country and the DMC program is the first of its kind, developed specifically to address a known talent gap in today’s industry and graduate highly-sought data-minded marketing communicators. We don’t want tuition to be a deterrent from pursuing a world-class graduate education.”
With coursework already being taught entirely online by current industry leaders, the reduction in credit hours and tuition rates will further increase access to the education students need to advance their individual careers in a flexible, affordable and timely manner.
“The other industry trend we’re seeing is a demand for specialized skills,” Mezera added. “Our new IMC areas of emphasis will allow students to really hone in on a subject matter while still mastering general integrated marketing communications strategies and tactics.”
The new areas of emphasis include Creative Strategy, Data Marketing Communications, Digital and Social Media, Healthcare, Higher Education, Management and Public Relations Leadership. Each AOE requires four courses, three of which can be taken in place of IMC electives, enabling students to specialize their IMC master’s degree with just one additional course.
The new areas of emphasis, except for management, are also being offered as five-course graduate certificate programs, which will allow busy professionals to refresh and enhance their skillset without enrolling in a full degree program.
For more information, visit imc.wvu.edu or dmc.wvu.edu.