Media, Technology, and Ethics, MS (Boston)

Through a combination of empirical analysis and problem solving, the Master of Science in Media, Technology, and Ethics program enables students to wrestle with the ethical and communicative dimensions of new technology. Its interdisciplinary approach highlights the need to continually think about technological developments in the context of democracy, politics, and civic engagement through the situated analysis of new developments in technology, data, and communication practices.

The program examines the ethical, communicative, and political issues raised by data-driven technologies as well as the foundational knowledge, intellectual creativity, and practical skills to address them. Possible career paths include designers, policymakers, and thought leaders in the wide range of professions that involve working closely with digital technologies from healthcare to marketing and education to law. In addition to acquiring professional qualifications, graduates may continue their education in PhD programs in media studies, communication studies, and other related fields, should they choose to do so.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Media, Technology, and Ethics Core

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
COMM 5250	Communication and Technology Research Methods	4
MSCR 5300	Media and Technology Ethics	4
Data and Technology Courses
Complete three of the following:		12
MSCR 6310	Critical Data Studies
MSCR 6320	Digital Technologies and Global Society
MSCR 6330	Democracy, Technology, and Equality
MSCR 6340	Race and Technology

Experiential Concentrations

Complete one of the following options:

• Applied Research
• Civic Engagement and Policy
• Data Visualization
• Game Design
• Information Ethics
• Media Content

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

32 total semester hours required

Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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Concentration in Applied Research

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
COMM 6995	Research Project	4
INAM 6360	Ethnographic Methods and the Arts	4
Elective
Any 5000- or 6000-level course approved by advisor		4

Concentration in Civic Engagement and Policy

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Course
JRNL 5400	Media and Advocacy in Theory and Practice	4
Electives
Complete two of the following:		8
COMM 6320	Political Communication
COMM 6500	Environmental Issues, Communication, and Media
INAM 6200
JRNL 5480	Research for Media Strategy

Concentration in Data Visualization

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
ARTG 5150 and ARTG 5151	Information Visualization Principles and Practices and Information Design Critique Seminar	4
ARTG 5330	Visualization Technologies 1: Fundamentals	4
Elective
Complete one of the following:		4
ARTG 5310	Visual Cognition
ARTG 6110	Information Design Theory and Critical Thinking
ARTG 6330	Information Design Mapping Strategies

Concentration in Game Design

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Course
GSND 5110	Game Design and Analysis	4
Electives
Complete two of the following:		8
GSND 6000	Advanced Topics in Game Design
GSND 6240	Exploratory Concept Design
GSND 6250	Spatial and Temporal Design
GSND 6460	Generative Game Design

Concentration in Information Ethics

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete three of the following:		12
CY 5240	Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights
PHIL 5002	Ethics and Public Policy
PHIL 5005	Information Ethics
PHIL 5010	AI Ethics

Concentration in Media Content

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Course
MSCR 6100	Digital Media: Theory and Practice	4
Electives
Complete two of the following:		8
COMM 5510	Technology and Strategic Communication
JRNL 6306	Media Innovation Studio 1
JRNL 6307	Media Innovation Studio 2
JRNL 6341	Telling Your Story with Data