Course Overview!

Ball State University's Master of Arts in Emerging Media Design and Development (EMDD) is designed for working professionals seeking to enhance their skills in managing and directing interdisciplinary teams using advanced storytelling techniques. The program emphasizes design thinking, human-computer interaction, and cross-platform storytelling, equipping students to plan, develop, deploy, and test communication designs and narratives effectively. The curriculum caters to individuals from creative and technology backgrounds, integrating project management, applied research, and cross-platform storytelling to build upon existing skills. The low-residency format offers flexibility with most coursework delivered online, supplemented by in-person sessions in the Indianapolis area at the start of each semester. This unique structure balances professional commitments with valuable face-to-face interaction with faculty and peers. The program features a strong focus on practical application, culminating in substantial lab experiences with external partners, where students solve real-world challenges.

Course Structure

The EMDD program is a 36-credit program consisting of foundational coursework (18 credits), applied lab experiences (18 credits), and a culminating project (thesis or creative project). Foundational courses cover usability and evaluation research methods, emerging media design thinking, theories and frameworks in human-computer interaction, transmedia storytelling and publishing, nonlinear and interactive storytelling, and interactive media design and development. The lab experiences are a critical component, involving real-world project work with external partners, fostering practical application of learned skills. Students can choose between completing a thesis or a creative project to fulfill the culminating requirement. Students can complete coursework according to a suggested schedule or take one course at a time.