Southern Polytechnic State
Kennesaw State University absorbed Southern Polytechnic State University in 2015, and now offers students over 150 undergrad, graduate, and doctoral degrees to over 35,000 students. There are 13 different colleges spread over 2 Atlanta campuses. It is a member of the University System in Georgia, and is the 3rd largest university within the state. Students from all over the world are drawn to the strong global ties, diverse population, entrepreneurial spirit, and vibrant campus culture. The alumni count is at 100,000 and is rapidly growing. As a whole, the college claims over 581 acres and is now considered a destination campus, providing a wide range of resources, activities, and facilities. The university has had quick growth for basic research, leaping from $4.3 million in 2006 to $51 million in just 5 years. This allows for students and faculty to take part in unique hands-on opportunities.
KSU has formed a community that puts value on open and honest yet intellectual inquiry, professionalism, creative problem solving, integrity, global understanding, mutual respect, and sustainability. The university works to always compound student success, improve the quality of the institution, and respond to the demand for better higher education. Those who have experience with the university will know that KSU works to empower its members and graduates so that they enter post-academia with the vision, know how, and courage to change the future using all of the tools gained while at KSU—gracing the state, region, and the world with new perspectives found within.
Master of Science program in Information Design and Communication
The MS program for Information Design and Communication was developed to respond to the growing need for professionals within this expanding field of information design, content development, information architecture, visual communication, and communications management. The objectives of the program start with educating students with diverse work and academic backgrounds that are looking to advance training and get ahead in their careers—as employers, managers, or independent consultants. This program is able to offer students a degree with 3 options for the program—an all course work option, a thesis option, and an internship option. Students are required to take 11 separate courses and must decide on the option (thesis, internship, all coursework) in which to complete their program. Each option comes with its own specific set of guidelines and additional classes to be taken to bring the program to 36 total credit hours.
Graduates are allowed to take up to 9 credit hours outside of the specified program with approval from the Department Chair and Graduate Coordinator. Students will have to obtain a B or higher in all courses that are to be applied to graduation. Some of the options available for students to choose from are: usability testing, information architecture, user assistance, applied digital graphics, strategic communication, visual thinking, medical communication, professional oral presentation, mobile user experience, business analysis, and marketing communication. These courses can give you a glimpse into what can be expected when enrolled in the MS program for Information Design and Communication. The wide array of electives allows the program to be customized for each individual.
