Digital Media M.A.

Overview

The Digital Media M.A. prepares you with a theory-and-practice to design, research, and build interactive experiences across emerging platforms, from web and mobile to VR/AR and AI-driven interfaces. This 36-credit, two-year program combines UX and interaction design principles with hands-on programming, interactive storytelling, and media theory, so you can create experiences grounded in both creative vision and evidence-based research.

Choose the Thesis track to pursue original research and prepare for a Ph.D., or the Studio Production track to build a professional portfolio of exhibition-ready interactive works. Either way, you will graduate ready for careers in UX design, AR/VR development, game design, interactive media, or doctoral study. Evening courses at UCF Downtown make it possible to advance your career without putting it on hold.

More Information

• Graduate funding information
• Faculty Research and Creative Areas of Work
• Digital Media M.A. Student Research

Requirements

Application Materials

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• A written statement (1 – 2 pages) describing the student’s personal goals, objectives, and research interests in seeking the degree.
• Three letters of recommendation from former professors or employers who can address the applicant’s ability to undertake graduate-level courses.
• For students intending to pursue the studio track, a link to a web portfolio of 2 – 5 substantial creative and/or technical works. For students intending to pursue the thesis track, writing sample(s) totaling 10 – 15 pages.
• Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Desirable background skills for this degree include familiarity with computer coding and/or digital design, but these are not required as coursework addresses these areas.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant’s career/academic goals, the applicant’s potential for completing the degree, and the current applicant pool.

Deadlines

Digital Media MA	*Fall Priority	Fall	Spring	Summer
Domestic Applicants	Jan 15	Jun 1	—	—
International Applicants	Jan 15	Jan 15	—	—
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date. Applications will be reviewed at the end of each month, with the last review after the July 1st deadline.