Communications Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s (4+1) Curriculum

Program Contact: Blythe Frank 203-582-7624

Quinnipiac offers a five-year Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Cinematic Production Management (4+1) program for students who are currently enrolled in any Quinnipiac undergraduate program and would like to pursue graduate studies at the university. If accepted, students can take up to 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year beginning in the fall semester. Those credits can be applied to both undergraduate and graduate programs. Applications for the dual-degree program are available through the School of Communications.

Film, television and streaming media companies all over the world need professionals who understand and can manage the production cycle from script development through visual post-production editing and international distribution and marketing. The unique, 36-credit Cinematic Production Management (CPM) program teaches technical skills and practical industry knowledge that gives students a strong overview of industry production history and contemporary professional practice.

Collaborative and heavily project-based, the CPM curriculum was designed with input from Los Angeles–based veterans of the entertainment industry, and culminates in a capstone course wherein students develop, schedule, budget and create pitch materials for a professional-level film, show or documentary developed over the course of their studies. Additionally, the majority of CPM courses are delivered online, making it practical, cost-effective and convenient.

Graduates are fast-tracked to succeed in a range of entry-level management positions, including production coordinator, writer's assistant, showrunner's assistant and assistant location manager, to name a few. The CPM program pairs well with a variety of backgrounds, from business to theater. It also complements several undergraduate majors in the School of Communications, including film, television and media arts, media studies and public relations, making it an ideal choice for students in Quinnipiac’s accelerated dual-degree and dual-degree programs.

Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s (4+1) Program of Study

Current Quinnipiac undergraduate students may apply for the five-year dual-degree program in their junior year.

Students in the Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Cinematic Production Management (4+1) program complete 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfills undergraduate electives. Students must work with their undergraduate adviser to ensure that the courses fit into their degree programs.

To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 36 credits with a minimum 3.00 GPA and no grades less than a C. Any graduate course with a grade of less than C has to be retaken.

Program of Study

Program Contact: John Powers 203-582-7939

Quinnipiac offers a five-year Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Interactive Media and Communications (4+1) program for students who are currently enrolled in any Quinnipiac undergraduate program and wish to pursue graduate studies at the university. If accepted, students can take up to six credits of graduate courses during their senior year, beginning in the fall semester. Those credits can be applied to both undergraduate and graduate programs. Applications for the dual-degree program are available through the School of Communications.

The Master of Science in Interactive Media and Communications program merges creative, visual and critical thinking to mold expert digital storytellers and designers who are able to reach audiences on any platform.

The program prepares students not only to design, produce and manage a range of content, but also to become strong creative thinkers and visual leaders. Students learn principles of human-centered design to better understand and connect with a wide range of audiences and apply design thinking strategies to solve creative, technical and business-related obstacles.

The program provides a deep exploration into all aspects of media, including web design and production; social media; digital audio, video and graphics; and UX and UI.

Regardless of the specialty, the completion of a practice-based portfolio capstone is central to the program experience. This capstone is not a singular project, but a robust, web-based portfolio generated over time that will showcase accumulated work and skillset depth. The student’s portfolio is influenced by every course and program experience, and can be shown to employers in a range of fields from marketing, public relations, advertising, journalism, publishing, entertainment, healthcare and more.

Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s (4+1) Program of Study

Current Quinnipiac undergraduate students may apply for the five-year dual-degree program in their junior year.

Students in the Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Interactive Media and Communications (4+1) program complete up to six credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfills undergraduate electives. Students must work with their undergraduate advisers to ensure that the courses fit into their degree programs.

To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 30 credits with a minimum 3.00 GPA and no grades less than a C. Any course with a grade less than C must be retaken.

The program has nine credits of required courses and 21 credits of electives. A flexible elective structure allows students to customize the degree to coincide with career goals. Students have the opportunity to enroll in an optional three-credit internship as part of the program.

Students create a master’s blog to keep a unique record of their research, perspectives and work throughout the program.

A required master’s capstone experience is included in the 30 credits. For the capstone, the students create a professional-quality web portfolio, selecting the best work from their courses and experiences.

Program of Study

Electives (select seven, aligned with your professional goals)

Program Contact: Ben Bogardus 203-582-3417

Quinnipiac offers a five-year Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Journalism (4+1) for students who are currently enrolled in any Quinnipiac undergraduate program and wish to pursue graduate studies at the university. If accepted, students can take up to 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year beginning in the fall semester with the permission of the graduate program director. Those credits can be applied to both undergraduate and graduate programs. Applications for the dual-degree program are available through the School of Communications.

The MS in Journalism program emphasizes the command of journalism fundamentals and new technologies—all in the service of effective and innovative storytelling. A core of foundational courses stresses the development and practice of reporting and digital skills, and provides a solid underpinning in media ethics.

The program is designed so that students, in consultation with their adviser, develop areas of inquiry to engage in a deep exploration of current issues. By taking elective courses in communications and other areas of the university, students are equipped with the knowledge and insight that lead to high-quality journalistic work.

Our graduates are nimble and adaptable journalists who excel at gathering facts, conducting interviews, writing and producing informative and engaging stories, and expertly using a variety of digital tools.

Courses and labs are offered in our professional all-digital broadcast production environment. Our facilities include two high-definition studios, two podcast studios, two LiveU units for performing live shots in the field, two 4K video editing suites, HD editing suites for single or group projects and other areas designed to support both studio and remote productions.

Video cameras, audio recorders, lights and other gear required to capture interviews and events in the field are available to students through our well-stocked and expertly maintained equipment inventory.

Prior to entering the program, students who do not have a journalism background may be required to complete the boot camp course.

Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Journalism (4+1) Program of Study

Current Quinnipiac undergraduate students may apply for the five-year dual-degree bachelor’s/master’s program in their junior year.

Students in the dual-degree program complete up to 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfills undergraduate electives. Students must work with their undergraduate adviser to ensure that the courses fit into their degree programs.

The MS in Journalism is offered in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences. In the School of Communications, students receive journalism-specific theoretical grounding and skills-based instruction. Once matriculated, students must choose an area of inquiry. In collaboration with their academic adviser, students design a course of study that uses elective courses—selected from a pre-approved menu—to deepen their understanding of particular areas of interest.

To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 30 credits with a minimum 3.00 GPA and no grade less than a C. Any course with a grade of less than C must be retaken. Full-time students can complete the program in two semesters and one summer term.

Sample Schedule

Program of Study

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Courses and curriculum requirements are subject to change.

Program Contact: Katie Place 203-582-7804

Quinnipiac offers a five-year Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Public Relations (4+1) program for students who are currently enrolled in any Quinnipiac undergraduate program and wish to pursue graduate studies at the university. If accepted, students typically take 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year beginning in the fall semester. Those credits can be applied to both undergraduate and graduate programs. Applications for the dual-degree program are available through the School of Communications.

The Master of Science in Public Relations program offers students the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree in a highly competitive and growing field. The program is designed for those interested in advancing their careers in public relations and/or transitioning into public relations from complementary fields such as (but not limited to) business, law, healthcare, technology, human resources, journalism and marketing. The program helps recent graduates with bachelor’s degrees in public relations and other disciplines gain a competitive edge as they enter the workforce.

Graduates of the program are qualified to work as public relations specialists in both the public sector and private sector with expertise and skills applicable to corporate, nonprofit and government institutions. Students study the conceptual and theoretical foundations of public relations, learn how to conduct and analyze public relations research and evaluation, and hone their skills in contemporary public relations practices and techniques. The program stresses professional competence, global consciousness, and professional and social responsibility. The 3-credit capstone course is designed to align with the 10 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) areas tested in the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) exam.

Also available is a Social Media Track for students who want to specialize their degree. Students who choose the Social Media Track take courses that cover social media practices, social and web analytics, and strategic planning. In this track, students learn the fundamental practices that have led to the rise of social media and how to deploy them across multiple platforms and disciplines. Students who complete this track have a firm understanding of the role social media plays in today’s communications landscape as well as the tools to deploy new solutions as this media continues to grow and evolve.

Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s (4+1) Program of Study

Current Quinnipiac undergraduate students may apply for the five-year dual-degree program in their junior year.

Students in the Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Public Relations (4+1) program complete 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfills undergraduate electives. Students must work with their undergraduate adviser to ensure that the courses fit into their degree programs.

To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 30 credits with a minimum 3.00 GPA and no grades less than a C. Any graduate course with a grade of less than C has to be retaken.

Sample Schedule

Program of Study

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Students pursuing the Social Media track must complete three social media electives such as PRR 551; PRR 552; PRR 553; etc. (Graduate director approval required.)

Program Contact: Ben Bogardus 203-582-3417

Quinnipiac offers a five-year Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Sports Journalism (4+1) for students who are currently enrolled in any Quinnipiac undergraduate program and wish to pursue graduate studies at the university. If accepted, students can take up to 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year beginning in the fall semester with the permission of the graduate sports journalism director. Those credits can be applied to both undergraduate and graduate programs. Applications for the dual-degree program are available through the School of Communications.

The Master of Science in Sports Journalism prepares students from all academic and professional backgrounds for careers in broadcast/multimedia sports and in traditional and emerging media companies that focus on reporting and analysis of sports.

The program features training in the principles, tools, craft, history and ethics of contemporary sports journalism in the context of innovative approaches to reporting and presenting information via social media and other forms. Our goal is simple: to transform a lifelong passion for sports into a successful career.

Students are challenged to develop story ideas through reasoning and observation, to wisely conduct interviews, to write thoughtful stories, and to learn the technical skills to acquire and edit video and audio, as well as the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing shows. In short, our program prepares students for the daily test-of-strength that is sports reporting in the 21st century regardless of the distribution platform.

Students who successfully complete the program are properly trained for a number of career opportunities including on-camera reporters and anchors for broadcast, cable and network television news, play-by-play announcers, analysts, and talk show hosts for terrestrial, online and satellite radio, producers for broadcast, cable and network television news, producers for news websites, and writers for broadcast news and websites.

Courses and labs are offered in our professional all-digital broadcast production environment. Our facilities include two high-definition studios, two podcast studios, two LiveU units for performing live shots in the field, two 4K video editing suites, HD editing suites for single or group projects and other areas designed to support both studio and remote productions.

Video cameras, audio recorders, lights and other gear required to capture interviews and events in the field are available to students through our well-stocked and expertly maintained equipment inventory. In addition, students have access to M&T Bank Arena for the coverage of games and interviews.

Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s (4+1) Program of Study

Current Quinnipiac undergraduate students may apply for the five-year dual-degree bachelor’s/master’s program in their junior year.

Students in the Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s in Sports Journalism (4+1) program complete up to 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfills undergraduate electives. Students must work with their undergraduate adviser to ensure that the courses fit into their degree programs.

To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 36 credits with a minimum 3.00 GPA and no grade less than a C. Any course with a grade of less than C must be retaken.

Sample Schedule

Program of Study

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Courses and curriculum requirements are subject to change.