The University of West Alabama's College of Liberal Arts - Online Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications

The University of West Alabama (UWA) offers an online Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). This program features an entirely online curriculum with no required campus visits, and can be completed within approximately one year of full-time study. This program is suitable for professionals who want to understand and excel at working at the intersection of media, marketing strategy, and business development. It utilizes the Blackboard Learn online learning management system, which provides platforms for pre-recorded lectures, synchronous discussions, assignment management, asynchronous learning modules, examinations, and other key aspects of the program.

UWA’s online Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications is comprised of 30 credit hours, divided between 12 hours of core courses and 18 hours of Communications Electives. The core course credits include one 3-credit class called Exploration of Mass Media (wherein students learn the technologies and principles that are integral to mass media messaging), a Portfolio Design course (3 credits), an IMC Thesis Project (3 credits), and a Professional Media Internship (3 credits). The Communications Electives include classes in media campaign development, graphic design, commercial video production, multimedia strategies, broadcast production, social media methodologies, business and marketing planning, strategic marketing, branding strategy, and sports marketing and management.

The Integrated Marketing Communications Thesis Project entails completing an independent project under faculty guidance that seeks to address an IMC challenge or develop an innovative improvement to marketing campaign management. This thesis project enables students to apply all that they have learned in the program to a project that illustrates their professional development and competencies. During their work on their thesis project, students receive guidance, feedback, and evaluations from faculty advisors. The Professional Media Internship requires the fulfillment of 135 working hours in a position related to IMC at a real-world organization, culminating in at least three concrete deliverables that students can add to their professional portfolio. The Portfolio Design course provides students with faculty guidance and peer support as they work on their professional portfolio, which should contain projects from both courses and internship work. Students are required to defend their portfolio (both physical and digital versions) before a faculty committee.

The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

*Estimated tuition is calculated by multiplying the cost per credit hour by the number of credits required to graduate. It does not include fees or other expenses.