Create a Personal and Rewarding Experience.

Loyola University’s Master of Digital Media and Storytelling program is for makers. Makers of all forms of digital content who desire the tools to turn their ideas into compelling, marketable stories they can share with the world. The two-year program prepares professionals for a career in digital media by teaching them the most important skills hiring managers need: How to write, shoot and edit powerful digital content.​

One of the greatest strengths of our program is that students can shape their own experience. Prospective candidates should demonstrate an interest in digital media and/or storytelling in relation to:

• Journalism
• Advertising
• Public relations
• Documentary filmmaking‌‌

Digital Media and Storytelling Program Highlights

• Real-world curriculum equips students from diverse backgrounds with a broader, more in-depth skill set so that they can become productive members of communications teams in a variety of organizations.
• Create a digital portfolio in the heart of Chicago–Courses take place at Loyola's Water Tower Campus in Chicago, a world-class city that is recognized as a leading communications and business district.‌
• A capstone course that integrates learning from all coursework and culminates in a professional project that is widely distributed to the public.
• Students can work with faculty to help determine the right career for them or how to become more marketable in their current area of employment.

The Digital Media and Storytelling (MComm) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year.  Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.

Related Programs

Curriculum

The MComm is a 30 credit hour program.

Besides the traditional Master's program, the Digital Media and Storytelling (MComm) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year.  A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
COMM 400	Designing for Digital Environments	3
COMM 405	Story Development and Production	3
COMM 409	Video Production Lab	3
COMM 415	Data-Powered Digital Storytelling	3
COMM 420	Digital Production: Storytelling with Impact	3
COMM 425	Digital Marketing and Analytics	3
COMM 430	2D Design for Print and the Web	3
COMM 448	Advanced Storytelling	3
COMM 449	Capstone Seminar	3
COMM 450	Capstone II	3
Total Hours		30

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Traditional Master's Program

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Summer		Hours
COMM 400	Emerging Creative Technologies	3
COMM 409	Video Production Lab	3
	Hours	6
Fall
COMM 405	Story Development and Production	3
COMM 420	Digital Production: Storytelling with Impact	3
COMM 430	Multiplatform Visual Design	3
COMM 449	Capstone Seminar	3
	Hours	12
Winter
COMM 448	Short-Form Series Production	3
	Hours	3
Spring
COMM 415	Career and Portfolio Development	3
COMM 425	AI-Powered Marketing and Analytics	3
COMM 450	Capstone II	3
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	30

Accelerated Master's Pathway

Students can take up to 6 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP.  These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.

Plan of Study Grid

Senior
Fall		Hours
COMM 430	Multiplatform Visual Design	3
	Hours	3
Spring
COMM 425	AI-Powered Marketing and Analytics	3
	Hours	3
Master's
Summer
COMM 400	Emerging Creative Technologies	3
COMM 409	Video Production Lab	3
	Hours	6
Fall
COMM 405	Story Development and Production	3
COMM 420	Digital Production: Storytelling with Impact	3
COMM 449	Capstone Seminar	3
	Hours	9
Winter
COMM 448	Short-Form Series Production	3
	Hours	3
Spring
COMM 415	Career and Portfolio Development	3
COMM 450	Capstone II	3
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	30

When Do Classes Meet?

Each course numbered COMM 400 Emerging Creative Technologies or above is held one night per week. Most courses meet between 7:00pm - 9:30pm.

Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways

In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.

Admission and Matriculation

Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.

Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.

Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.

Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.

Advising and Registration

Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.

Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.

Shared Credits

Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.

In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.

Degree Requirements and Conferral

Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.

The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.

If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.

Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.

Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the graduate program in Digital Media and Storytelling will:

• Gain proficiency in using industry-standard cameras and sound equipment, including smartphone technology in video storytelling.
• Develop the ability to craft engaging and well-structured non-fiction narratives across multiple digital platforms.
• Analyze digital audience behavior and the legal, marketing and economic environment for finding ideal audiences and distributing digital content.
• Gain proficiency using the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, AfterEffects, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) and achieve proficiency in digital and print visual design.
  
  
• Create industry-standard content that integrates learning from all coursework and culminates into a capstone project suitable for a professional portfolio. 
• Develop a mindful approach to ethical storytelling and the representation of diverse voices and perspectives. By understanding the impact of media, students create projects that reflect inclusivity and social responsibility.