Information Arts & Technologies

Doctorate in Communications Design

Program Requirements:

The degree requires 48 credits, including 6 credits of work on a Doctoral Project or Thesis:

4 core courses 12 credit hours
3 skills 9 credit hours
3 area of focus 9 credit hours
2 electives 6 credit hours
1 thesis/project 12 credit hours
 
Total: 48 credit hours

Program Prerequisite: Hypermedia Proficiency Exam

To enroll in the core courses, students must demonstrate proficiency in basic hypermedia skills either by passing the hypermedia proficiency examination or by successfully completing PBDS 660: Hypermedia, an Introduction. For more information about the hypermedia proficiency exam, visit http://iat.ubalt.edu/profExam/

Additional Requirements:

All requirements for this graduate degree must be completed within seven calendar years after admission. The requirements for a student to graduate will be those listed in the catalog that is current at the time the student entered the program.

Doctorate Core Courses

Skills Courses

9 credits (3 courses) in any of the following areas. Courses marked with an * have a prerequisite course

  • Graphic Design/Media Studies:

    Design Principles and Strategies (PBDS 640)
    Typographic Form and Function (PBDS 645)
    Media Design (PBDS 600)
    Advanced Graphic Design (PBDS 650)
    Video Aesthetics and Technique (PBDS 639)
    Advanced Motion Graphics (PBDS 671)

  • Information Design and New Media:

    Sequential Visualization and Analysis (IDIA 614)
    Hypermedia Production (IDIA 616)
    Dynamic Web Sites (IDIA 618)
    Interactive Multimedia (IDIA 619)
    Information Architecture (IDIA 630)

Areas of Focus

9 credits (three courses) in ONE of the following bulleted fields. Courses marked with an * have a prerequisite course

  • User Research

    Learning & Cognition (APPL 603)
    Biological Basis of Behavior (APPL 601)
    Information Architecture (IDIA 630)
    Human Computers, and Cognition (IDIA 640)
    Research Methods (APPL 632)
    End-User Computing (INSS 775)
    Human Factors in Information Systems (INSS 777)
    Marketing Information and Research (MKTG 780)

  • Interaction Design for New Media

    The Art of Narrative (PBDS 622)
    Image Making (IDIA 680)
    * Systems Simulation (INSS 711)
    * Systems Analysis & Design (INSS 739)
    * Decision Support Systems (INSS 761)
    * Group Support Systems (INSS 772)
    * End-User Computing (INSS 775)
    * Human Factors in Information Systems (INSS 777)
    * Advanced Topics in Information Systems (INSS 797)
    Copyright and Publishing (PBDS 704)
    Information Resources Management in Public Administration (PUAD 626)
    Strategic Marketing (MKTG 640)
    Market Opportunity Analysis (MGMT 762)
    Marketing Information & Research (MKTG 780)
    e-Commerce Technologies and Applications (INSS 765)
    Project Management (INSS 784)

  • Government/Public Sector Applications

    Innovations in Public Management (PUAD 625)
    Information Resource Management (PUAD 626)
    Public Information Management (PUAD 780)
    Advanced Information Resource Management (PUAD 812)
    Business Process Re-engineering (PUAD 789)
    Information Technology & Public Sector Applications (PUAD 781)
    Special Topics (PUAD 6xx/8xx)

  • Educational Applications (Towson University)

    Web-Based Instruction in Education (ISTC 605)
    Web-Based Instruction in Education (ISTC 605)
    * Theory and Design of Computer-Based Instruction (ISTC 635)
    * Media Design and Production (ISTC 655)
    * Applied Psychology of Learning (ISTC 663)
    * Instructional Development (ISTC 667)
    Research in Instructional Technology (ISTC 685)
    * Computer-Based Instruction (ISTC 687)

Note: Computer Technology and Utilization (ISTC 541)
This course is the prerequisite for the *courses at Towson. It is however an undergraduate course. It does not count towards the 48 credits needed for the doctoral degree.

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