Digital Media MS

Major: Digital Media
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0 
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 11.0801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 15-1134

About the Program

The Master of Science (MS) in Digital Media at Drexel University is a 45-credit, interdisciplinary graduate program that prepares students for advanced work in digital design, animation, games, immersive media, and critical media studies. Grounded in three core domains—Art and Design, Technology, and Critical Thinking—the program offers a balanced education that combines creative practice, technical proficiency, and critical insight.

Students gain hands-on experience with emerging tools for real-time rendering, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), AI-enhanced workflows, and interactive storytelling. Whether building animated worlds, designing playable experiences, prototyping interfaces, or analyzing the ethical impact of media technologies, students graduate ready to contribute meaningfully to a rapidly evolving field.

The curriculum is adaptive by design, with advanced coursework that evolves based on emerging technologies and faculty expertise, ensuring students engage with cutting-edge tools and ideas while building a strong foundation across the program’s three core domains. In the final year, students choose between a Capstone Project or a Research Thesis, each designed to demonstrate mastery through applied or scholarly work.

This program is ideal for students who:

• Have a background or strong interest in animation, game design, immersive media, or interactive digital arts and want to advance their creative and technical capabilities.
• Seek to apply emerging technologies—such as AI, machine learning, and spatial computing—in their design practice.
• Are interested in examining the ethical, social, and critical dimensions of digital media production.
• Value interdisciplinary collaboration and project-based learning.
• The MS in Digital Media is STEM-designated and offers options for full-time or part-time study.
• For more information, visit Drexel’s Graduate Studies in Digital Media webpage.

For more information, visit Drexel’s Graduate Studies in Digital Media webpage.

Admission Requirements (MS)

Master of Science Program

The MS in Digital Media is an advanced interdisciplinary program designed for students who are ready to engage with creative technologies, critical frameworks, and emerging media practices. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. While a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2 is recommended, applicants with a lower GPA may still be considered if they demonstrate strong potential through other aspects of their application.

We welcome students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds—including but not limited to animation, game design, visual communication, computer science, media studies, architecture, engineering, and the humanities. However, applicants must show evidence of prior experience in digital media—either creative, technical, or theoretical.

Admission is based on a holistic review of the following:

• Academic transcripts
• A portfolio or documented experience (if available).
• A statement of purpose outlining professional goals and research/creative interests
• A resume or CV
• Letters of recommendation

Additional Information

For more information on requirements and how to apply, visit Graduate Admissions at Drexel University.

Degree Requirements (MS)

The MS in Digital Media is a 45-credit interdisciplinary program completed over two academic years (six quarters). The curriculum is structured around three core domains—Art and Design, Technology, and Critical Thinking—and integrates creative practice, technical proficiency, and critical inquiry.

Year 1 (27 credits) establishes foundational competencies through nine required 3-credit courses across the three domains. Coursework includes speculative design, visual storytelling, interactive media, emerging technologies, media theory, and project management. This first year provides students with the conceptual and technical fluency needed to specialize in Year 2.

Year 2 (18 credits) focuses on advanced topics and independent research or creative production. Students take three upper-level courses (9 credits) that reflect emerging areas in digital media and complete either a Capstone Project or a Research Thesis, distributed as 3 credits per quarter over three terms (9 credits total).

There are no elective requirements, but advanced courses rotate based on faculty expertise and current developments in the field, ensuring that students remain engaged with cutting-edge tools and ideas.

Capstone Project or Research Thesis

In the final year, students complete either:

• Capstone Project – A professional digital media artifact (e.g., animation, game, interactive experience, or immersive application) developed in consultation with a faculty advisor and accompanied by reflective documentation.
• Research Thesis – A scholarly investigation that contributes new insights to the field of digital media through critical analysis, theory-building, or methodological innovation.

Both options span three quarters and carry 3 credits per term. Students are required to submit a proposal, participate in a final presentation or defense, and produce documentation appropriate to the format (project or thesis).

*

 Required for Minor in Digital Media.

Sample Plan of Study (MS)

Full-Time

Part-Time

*

Note: This term is less than the 4.5-credit minimum required (considered half-time status) of graduate programs to be considered financial aid eligible. As a result, aid will not be disbursed to students this term.

Facilities

Graduate students in Digital Media at Drexel University benefit from access to cutting-edge facilities housed within the award-winning URBN Center. These include animation and game development studios, immersive media labs, and fabrication spaces. The program features a professional-grade LED volume wall for real-time virtual production, enabling dynamic in-camera visual effects and immersive storytelling. Complementing this are an industry-standard green screen cyclorama and a Vicon motion capture system, supporting a wide range of projects. Additional venues such as the Pearlstein Gallery, URBN screening room, and black box theater provide spaces for exhibitions, critiques, and performances, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment for digital media exploration.

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

Digital Media Faculty

Emeritus Faculty