The Master of Science Program in Integrated Digital Media is designed to provide the tools, skills, and insight to craft a better future not only for our students, but for everyone their work and life will touch after they graduate. In general, the Master of Science degree is designed to provide a balance of specialized knowledge and experience with a high standard of "cultural capital". Whether it is undertaken as the beginning of a career in academic research, industry, or service, an MS must provide the right mix of mastery of one's particular discipline with a broad understanding of the long-term patterns and tendencies of society and culture. As the reach and impact of new technologies increases, so must the wisdom of those making decisions about their deployment and use.

Our MS in Integrated Digital Media is the best preparation for a rewarding future in the rapidly expanding field of digital media communications.
Individual students and small teams are organized to produce professional work under the direct supervision of senior faculty. Where appropriate, leaders in allied professions are brought in to work hands-on with students and faculty together, including faculty from other departments at the university, or elsewhere in New York City.

The Master of Science program in Integrated Digital Media is full-time and
intensive: three consecutive semesters, including a major creative/research thesis project. This requires complete commitment, albeit for a manageable span of time, from "literate practitioners" who are prepared to make the most of their personal resources. While the formal course requirement of 30 credit-hours including a 6-credit thesis project may seem very manageable, it must be borne in mind that a considerable commitment of work is expected outside of class hours. The curriculum combines hands-on production work with study of historical, legal, and philosophical aspects of digital media communications. Guest scholars and conferences supplement the regular program, and maximize personal contact with leaders in various sectors of the field: business, advocacy, service, entertainment, and education.

On the production side, we emphasize the development of skills applicable to a broad spectrum of media and mandates: small groups working on specific projects, with a focus on content-driven design, planning, and creation. In general, the facilities and strategies are geared to top-of-the-line portable gear, rather than capital-intensive studio setups. This makes it practical for our labs to offer up-to-the-minute technology, and also for our students to prepare for freelance work and/or their own start-ups, as well as the corporate and public sectors.

Polytechnic Institute of NYU's Integrated Digital Media lab, one of several accessible to students at the Brooklyn campus, is designed with a specific approach in mind: to provide access to state-of-the-art audio, video, web, and multimedia tools for studio and "in-the-field" production. It is also an ongoing testbed and case study for getting the most and best from every dollar and minute invested. Whether you're working for MTV, UNESCO, or yourself, you need to understand the difference between a tool, a toy, and a treadmill.