Master of Science in Information Design and Technology

Master of Science in Information Design and Technology
Master of Science in
Information Design
and Technology
Offered Online Only
Overview
The MS in Information Design and Technology (IDT) offers an interdisciplinary
examination of the role of new and emerging media within
contemporary culture and communication while allowing students to
develop a specific area of research to suit their unique academic and
professional goals. Through theory, practice, and individual research,
students examine the complex relationship between diverse types of
information and the technologies that are used to work with and communicate
that information. Offering historical perspective alongside
technical instruction, the IDT program places particular emphasis on
the social impact and potential of new communication technologies.
The IDT program accommodates both full-time and part-time students.
Full-time students can complete the program within a 24 month period.
Part-time completion will vary based on the total number of credits
taken each term.
Career Paths
The skills and knowledge taught in the IDT program are interdisciplinary
and can be adapted to many fields and careers. The following are
examples of the types of work graduates of the IDT program can do:
• Instructional Media/Educational Technology
• Teaching/Training using Information Technology
• Social Media Strategist
• Web Archivist
• Digital Strategist
• Information Designer for a wide variety of fields
• Internet Researcher
• Web Developer and Designer
• Professional Communicator
• Public Relations
• College Admissions
• Digital Exhibitions and Publications
• Information Help Desk
• Blog/Wiki Specialist
Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, all applicants to the MS Information
Design & Technology program must possess a baccalaureate degree
from an accredited university or college with an average of B or better
(a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Lower GPAs will be considered if the
student has a strong portfolio, related experience, or does well as a
non-matriculated student in the program.
Required Application Materials
• Application for Graduate Admission
• $60 application fee
• Official transcripts from colleges previously attended
• Two letters of reference* preferably from a current/former
supervisor or faculty member
• Digital portfolio* of selected creative materials supporting
preparation for graduate study such as research papers,
presentations and design work
• Educational objective statement
• Résumé
* A non-matriculated student who takes an IDT course and attains a 3.5
GPA or higher does not need to submit a portfolio or letters of reference
when applying to enter the program.
The Application for Graduate Admission and all required
forms are available at:
www.sunyit.edu/graduate_center/apply_now
Submit all graduate application materials to:
SUNYIT Graduate Center
100 Seymour Road
Utica, NY 13502
Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Information Design and Technology consists of 33 credit
hours distributed as follows:
IDT Core Courses.................................................12 credit hours
IDT Electives........................................................12 credit hours
Unrestricted Electives............................................6 credit hours
Thesis/Project.........................................................3 credit hours
Total: 33 credit hours
IDT Core Courses (12 credit hours)
IDT 501 Social Information Theory
IDT 507 Information Technology
IDT 534 Information Design
IDT 530 Research Methods for Information Design
and Technology*
* With permission of an IDT adviser, students may choose
ANT 531 or CSC 507 in lieu of IDT 530.
IDT Electives (12 credit hours)
Complete 4 courses from the following:
IDT 503 Human Factors in Information Design
IDT 505 Computing Environments
IDT 520 Gender and Technology
IDT 521 Global Communication
IDT 522 Computer-Supported Cooperative Work
IDT 523 Digital Narratives
IDT 524 Websphere Analysis
IDT 531 Technical Editing
IDT 535 Typographic Design and Communication
IDT 536 Graphic Design
IDT 541 Instructional Design
IDT 545 Informational Technology and
Organizational Change
IDT 551 Evaluating Technology
IDT 553 Principles and Projects in New Media
Graduate Catalog 2011-2013
www.sunyit.edu/idt.homepage
39

Master of Science in Information Design and Technology
IDT 554
IDT 555
IDT 585
IDT 590
IDT 591
IDT 592
Web Development and Design
Ethical and Legal Issues of the Information Age
Seminar in Emerging Technologies
Topics in Information Design and Technology*
Independent Study
Internship
* Students may take additional sections of IDT 590 as long as the topics
covered are not the same.
Unrestricted Electives (6 credit hours)
In consultation with an adviser, students choose two additional graduatelevel
electives or an internship and one elective.
Thesis/Project (3 credit hours)
IDT 599 Thesis/Project
Working with faculty member teaching the course, or an adviser,
students either write a thesis or complete a project for the program.
Special Program Notes
• Students must receive a “B” (3.0) or better in all core
courses.
• Unless otherwise noted, all graduate courses are 3 credit
hours.
• Over the course of their studies, students can only apply
two “C” grades in courses taken toward the degree.
• All students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate.
• Students may transfer up to six credit hours,
if applicable, from another graduate program.
• Students must maintain continuous registration, equal
to or greater than one credit while working on their final
thesis or project. MS IDT students can do this by
registering for CMT 600- Continuous Registration.
This may be taken up to six semesters at which time
it is expected that all program requirements will have
been met.
Faculty
Russell L. Kahn
Associate Professor
Ph.D. University at Albany
Social, political, business and educational implications of the web,
web design, and computer software documentation
Steven Schneider
Professor
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Computer-mediated communication and computer-mediated
instructional systems, social impact of technologies, Web archiving
and analysis, political science
Kathryn Stam
Associate Professor
Ph.D. Syracuse University
Online learning, cross-cultural communication, computer-supported
cooperative work, social and ethical aspects of information
technology, anthropology of work, Thai studies
Ibrahim Yucel
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Penn State University.
Video game design and development, online communities and
culture, human computer interaction, serious games, AI and
intelligent agents
40 Graduate Catalog 2011-2013