The Master of Arts in Interactive Media Program

The M.A. in Interactive Media program is designed to immerse students in the world of digital interaction design and media production. Working closely with faculty in classes that provide a scaffolded approach to building interactive projects, the program combines a critical understanding of the purpose of interactivity with the skills required to construct complex interactive products.

While the Interactive Media program is distinctive in many ways – from its intensive, accelerated timeline to the close, personalized professional mentoring it provides – three experiences stand out. The program’s signature experiences include the technical boot-camp (ensuring each student has the skills to succeed, regardless of their academic background), a professional study away project for the public good (where small teams develop their professional skills by completing an interactive media project for an authentic client), and a capstone project (a significant interactive project designed and produced by each student). Supported by these transformative experiences, students develop a rich portfolio and deep professional knowledge before they even graduate.

Elon’s School of Communications is uniquely positioned to offer a graduate degree in interactive media. The school has a faculty of more than 60 members who have extensive professional experience and cutting-edge facilities to guide graduate students to create innovative and exciting projects. The School of Communications and the M.A. in Interactive Media are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Elon is one of only nine private institutions in the nation with an accredited graduate communications program.

Long Interactive Media Suite houses a state-of-the-art computer studio, classroom and innovation lab designed for user experience testing and exploration. The suite includes six editing suites, graduate study space and a Student Commons. Long houses an array of digital media equipment such as drones, virtual reality hardware, 360-degree cameras and more to aid students in the development of interactive projects. Additionally, high-definition cameras, audio recorders, lighting kits, booms and other equipment to produce interactive media are available for checkout from the School of Communications. Faculty and staff offices are also located in the suite.

The M.A. in Interactive Media has three enrollment options for outstanding students with demonstrated academic ability and professional potential.

• Traditional enrollment is for motivated and engaged students who have previously completed any undergraduate degree.
• The IME Accelerated Dual Degree (ADD) Program is for graduating high-school seniors who want to complete both their undergraduate degree and the IME MA in four years.
• The IME+1 Program is for enrolled Elon undergraduate students who are seeking a scaffolded entry into the IME MA immediately following their undergraduate degree (either a 3+1 or 4+1, depending on student schedule and needs).