Digital Media Design for Learning

The Master of Arts Program in Digital Media Design for Learning (DMDL) is a 36-credit program that prepares students to create, use, and evaluate media and technology for learning, from software and websites to video and mobile phone applications. The DMDL studio-based curriculum is complemented by an excellent internship program with host sites in all areas of educational technology and media.

Unlike programs that are focused on the application of existing technologies to formal schooling (such as how to use PowerPoint in teaching high school), our program is appropriate for people who wish to design the media and technology of the future for all kinds of learning environments, or who wish to conduct academic research on how people learn with technology.

Our alumni work in a variety of areas, including the ed tech and media industries, the education sector, government and policy, and research and development. Previously called Educational Communications and Technology, the program has a rich history dating back more than 60 years. 

By selecting electives from a specified list of courses, students may optionally concentrate in Games for Learning within the DMDL degree. The concentration is notated on the transcript, and does not lengthen the degree. 

Students take the thesis course twice, in two consecutive semesters (Research in Educational Communication and Technology). Students are advised to complete all other course requirements prior to enrolling in the thesis course for the second time, in order to devote their final, graduating semester exclusively to the thesis.

Background in education, teaching, learning, and such related areas as psychology is useful to successful completion of the Program. Students who in their adviser's view lack background academic or work experience necessary to effective performance in the Program or achievement of individual goals may be required to complete course work in such areas, either to fulfill the cognate requirement or by taking courses beyond the 36 credit requirement for the degree.

International students may be required to take English language courses in addition to the 36 credits required for the Master of Arts degree. This determination is made on the basis of scores on an English language proficiency examination all international students take upon arriving at NYU.

Master of Arts Thesis Project

Master of Arts students develop their thesis projects in the course EDCT-GE 2095, Research in Educational Communication and Technology. Students take the thesis course twice, in two consecutive semesters. They are advised to complete all other course requirements prior to enrolling in the thesis course for the second time, in order to devote their final, graduating semester exclusively to the thesis.

Thesis projects take various forms, including design and development of technology-based learning environments; scholarly critical inquiry papers; small-scale research projects; action media projects, and field service media projects.

The thesis is a culminating project for which graduating students are expected to integrate and apply what they have learned through previous academic work and field experiences, with faculty supervision. Thesis projects may be "new," relative to work done in previous courses; or they may be projects started in a previous course that become significantly expanded and enhanced for the thesis.

Thesis students meet in class as a group weekly, reporting on the progress of their projects, discussing their research, and screening prototype media for peer and faculty critique. At the conclusion of the semester, students present their thesis projects to the DMDL community at the Master of Arts Thesis Colloquium.

Requirements

1. A minimum cumulative grade credit average of 3.0 for the baccalaureate degree.
2. Some experience (professional, academic, or personal) in a related field, such as psychology, learning, design, technology, or media.
3. Basic or, preferably, intermediate skills in technology, e.g., computer-based multimedia, web, or productivity tools; video. That is, applicants should be very comfortable using computers and the Internet, but need not be programmers or media developers.
4. Applicants whose first language is not English are required to take one of the following English proficiency exams and submit the scores: TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic.