Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media
The Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media (MASEM) program introduces students to state-of-the-art research methods, strategies, production and practices for social and emerging media.
Students will learn to plan, research, write, produce and distribute professional media for multiple platforms and to do so strategically. Specific areas of study include emerging media technologies, digital storytelling, visual design, audio-video production, user experience production, audience and user experience research, media strategy and analytics, project management and emerging media policy, law and regulation. The program blends technological expertise with the creative arts and promotes peer engagement and faculty mentoring.
Students will learn to approach media creatively and strategically, to understand and to respond effectively to media audiences and to engage users through compelling storytelling, arresting visual design and adept implementation of the latest interactive technologies. This program will prepare students for work in a variety of fields that value strong written and visual communication skills, professional training in audio and video production, an understanding of new and emerging media platforms, technical savvy, training in research and data analysis, collaboration and teamwork, critical thinking and creative problem-solving.
General Admission Requirements
To be considered for acceptance into MASEM, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Completed application
- Official transcript confirming an overall GPA of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 in an accredited bachelor’s degree program (2.75 may be considered for conditional enrollment)*
- Personal statement describing professional goals, how the degree aligns with educational and career objectives, and how the student can contribute to the program
- Two names of academic or professional references of individuals who can attest to the applicant's background and potential in social and emerging media (waived for UTampa grads)
*Official transcript must be sent directly from the institution.
Guaranteed Admission for UTampa Graduates
Students and alumni who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from UTampa with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 will be guaranteed admissions to the MASEM program provided other stated requirements are satisfied. The admissions application fee, reference forms and TOEFL requirements are waived. All other admissions requirements apply.
The guaranteed admission opportunity recognizes the exceptional quality of UTampa’s academic programs, and the University’s mission to support continuing education and professional growth.
MASEM 4+1 Accelerated Program
Qualified UTampa students can save money and finish sooner by taking SEM 601 and SEM 602 during the Spring semester of their senior year and counting the two courses towards both their undergraduate and graduate degrees (ADPR, CMS, and JOU majors can also count one as a major elective). To apply, students must be registered to complete at least 126 credits at the undergraduate level and meet or exceed the following minimum requirements:
- 90 credits
- 3.25 GPA (overall or last 60 credits)
- Approval of their advisor and the MASEM program director
Academic Standards
MASEM requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for good academic standing and eligibility to graduate. Any student that fails to meet this standard will be placed on academic probation. If they don’t meet the 3.0 GPA standard within eight credit hours, they will be dismissed from the program. If they return to good academic standing during the probationary period, they must maintain a 3.0 GPA for the remainder of the program. If not, they will be immediately dismissed. Similarly, students conditionally accepted into MASEM will already be under probation during their first eight credit hours of coursework and be dismissed if their GPA falls below 3.0. MASEM does not accept transfer credits and the minimum passing grade in a MASEM graduate course is a “C.” Students may be allowed to repeat one course, but MASEM does not offer grade forgiveness. This means the original grade will still be included in the calculation of that student’s overall GPA.
Attendance Policy
As an in-person and hands-on program, MASEM requires all students to consistently attend and participate in class. While individual professors will decide how missing class will affect student grades in their particular course, the MASEM program has an absence threshold policy of 25% for all courses. As such, whether the absences are excused or not, once a student misses three days of a ten day course (January and May 2-week terms), three days of a twelve day course (Summer 6-week terms), or four days of a fourteen day course (Fall and Spring 7-week terms), they will automatically fail the course. If students anticipate being unable to meet this threshold, they should wait to take the course at another time or consider a different program. If students experience unexpected absences that cross the 25% threshold, they should withdraw from the course. If this occurs after the withdrawal deadline, students may petition for a late or medical withdrawal with proper documentation.
Capstone Project
The capstone project is the final course in the MASEM curriculum and culminates in a project that demonstrates the student’s expertise in the field. The capstone experience is largely independent and students will plan and produce a project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Students who choose to do so will have the opportunity to coordinate work on their projects with a nonprofit organization or a business in the Tampa Bay area.
Institutional Repository
After departmental approval, students are required to submit an electronic version of their final project to the Macdonald-Kelce Library for inclusion in the digital repository, which is accessible on the internet. Embargoes restricting full access to only the UTampa community may be selected for one, three or five years, before the work is released freely on the web through the repository. Students also have the option to release the work for immediate access worldwide.
Degree Requirements
“C” is the minimum passing grade in a graduate course at the University of Tampa, as well as the minimum acceptable grade for a graduate prerequisite course. Graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in both their required courses and a cumulative 3.0 GPA to graduate.
Core Courses
Students must take all of the following courses:
| SEM 601 | Digital Storytelling | 4 |
| SEM 602 | Visual Design for Emerging Media | 4 |
| SEM 603 | Social Media Production | 4 |
| SEM 604 | Social Media Strategy and Analytics | 4 |
| SEM 605 | Emerging Technologies and Applications | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20 |
Elective Courses
Students must take two elective courses (8 credits) from the following list:
| SEM 610 | User Experience and Audience Research | 4 |
| SEM 611 | Media Creation and Project Management | 4 |
| SEM 612 | Emerging Industries, Policies, and Law | 4 |
| SEM 613 | Special Topics in Social and Emerging Media | 4 |
| SEM 614 | Motion Graphics and Data Visualization | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Capstone Project or Thesis
The capstone experience is the final course for the Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media, and it culminates in a project that demonstrates the student’s expertise in the field. The capstone experience is largely independent, and students will plan and produce a project under the supervision of a faculty member. Students who choose to do so have the opportunity to coordinate work on their projects with a nonprofit organization or a business in the Tampa Bay area.
After departmental approval, students are required to submit an electronic version of their thesis, dissertation or final project to the Macdonald-Kelce Library for inclusion in the digital repository, which is accessible on the internet.
Embargoes restricting access of full text to only the UTampa community may be selected for one, three or five years, before the work is released freely on the web through the repository. Students also have the option to release the work for immediate access worldwide.
| SEM 700 | Capstone in Social and Emerging Media | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: 32