Graduation requirements and regulations for every academic program are provided in this catalog; however, this catalog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Degree and program requirements and course descriptions are subject to change.

 In most cases, you will use the catalog of the year you entered KU (see your advisor for details). Other years’ catalogs»

Graduate Admission

Admission to the Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications program is based primarily on a student’s undergraduate record, references, writing samples, and professional work experience which should reflect a minimum of two years of work post-graduation.

Applicants without baccalaureate degrees in journalism, as well as those without a professional background in journalism, or applicants with less than two years of professional work experience in journalism or a related field (multimedia content creation, marketing, public relations or strategic communications) are encouraged to apply. Admission decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis based on the strength of the applicant’s writing samples, references and/or portfolio of work.

Application Deadlines

Students may enter the Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications program at two points in the year: the summer semester (begins in June) or the fall semester (begins in August).

The application deadline for those wanting to enter in the fall semester is June 1.

The application deadline for the summer semester is the preceding February 1.

Application Materials

Applications will be considered only after the following items have been submitted:

1.    One official transcript of all college-level courses. (from each college attended) Expected GPA: 3.0 or above. Submit to graduateadm@ku.edu
2.    A current resume
3.    Three letters of reference from persons familiar with the student’s academic or professional work or potential for graduate study
4.    Three writing samples or samples of professional work (a link to an online portfolio is acceptable)
5.    A personal statement of objectives

Additionally, applicants whose native language is not English must follow the policy for English Proficiency Requirements for Admission to Graduate Study.

International students are also required to submit evidence of financial support.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Once you have gathered all the necessary items for your application, you will submit your graduate application online.

Official transcripts of all college and university coursework should be sent to Graduate Admissions (graduateadm@ku.edu) or the school:
The University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Stauffer-Flint Hall
Attn: Graduate Program Coordinator
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045

The online master's degree in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications (DIMC) provides graduates the opportunity to build skills in digital marketing disciplines while also offering an integrated marketing communications curriculum with a managerial perspective. The degree is earned by completing 30 total credit hours, with courses offered in both asynchronous and synchronous formats.

All students start the program with JMC 820: Marketing Fundamentals. This course provides a fundamental understanding of marketing theory and process, while illustrating how these theories relate to Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). Specific focus will be spent on the marketing environment, the marketing mix, market segmentation, planning, execution and measurement. As part of the class, students will learn the components of a marketing plan and how to develop a plan based on specific quantifiable corporate objectives.

From there, students choose electives in two of the three course groupings shown in the grids below. If students choose the IMC grouping, they are required to finish with JMC 829: Research and JMC 850: Capstone in Marketing Communications.

Students not choosing the IMC grouping will be required to take JMC 838: Capstone Project in Digital Marketing.

If you have any questions about your specific program of study, please reach out to the school’s graduate program coordinator.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Foundational Course		3
JMC 820	Marketing Fundamentals
Elective Coursework		24
Choose 4 classes from two of the three elective categories below. (8 classes total)
Digital Marketing
JMC 822	Digital Marketing Analytics
JMC 830	Web 3.0 and User X
JMC 835	Search Engine Optimization/Search Engine Marketing (SEO/SEM)
JMC 836	Digital Marketing Compliance/Privacy/Legal
JMC 837	Marketing Automation/CRM
Social Media Management
JMC 865	Analyzing Audiences
JMC 866	Social Media Strategy
JMC 867	Social Media Metrics
JMC 868	Information in Context
JMC 837	Marketing Automation/CRM
These courses also count toward a graduate certificate in social media strategy.
Integrated Marketing Communications
JMC 810	Crisis Communications
JMC 823	Branding in Marketing Communications
JMC 825	Relationship Marketing
JMC 829	Marketing Communications Research
JMC 832	Leadership and Management in Marketing Communications
Capstone		3
JMC 838	Capstone Project in Digital Marketing
or JMC 850	Capstone in Marketing Communications
Total Hours		30

The master's in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications Program may be completed in 1 or 2 years.  Students will enroll in the corresponding courses based on the groupings they choose. Below is a sample plan of study. 

Year 1
Summer	Hours	Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
JMC 820	3	First 8 Weeks	6	First 8 Weeks	6
		Choose 2 courses.		Choose 2 courses.
		JMC 820		JMC 810
		JMC 822		JMC 829
		JMC 823		JMC 835
		JMC 865		JMC 868
		Second 8 Weeks	6	Second 8 Weeks	6
		Choose 2 courses.		Choose 2 courses.
		JMC 825		JMC 832
		JMC 830		JMC 836
		JMC 837		JMC 867
		JMC 866		JMC 850
	3		12		12
Year 2
Summer	Hours
JMC 838	3
For students who choose the Digital Marketing grouping.
	3
Total Hours 30

At the completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Identify key audiences in marketing communications and be able to apply best-practice strategies and customized key messages designed to achieve marketing goals for those audiences.
• Show proficiency and expertise in digital marketing communications channels including social media, interactive web design, search engine marketing, email marketing, inbound marketing automation tools, etc.
• Understand and be able to recognize responsibility for accepted and ethical practices in marketing communications while understanding the cultural and D,E,I,B impacts.
• Understand and be able to apply best-practice marketing research strategies to optimize strategic planning in all forms of marketing communications.
• Develop a critical orientation toward marketing communications management and leadership best-practice in the context of contemporary business.