Who should apply for the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication program?

The IMC program typically draws from one of the three following areas:

• Those working in advertising, brand management, corporate communication, marketing, public relations and sales
• Those working in other fields, but who have some background in an IMC-related discipline and who are seeking a positive career change
• New graduates with a Bachelor's degree in IMC-related disciplines, such as advertising, public relations and marketing

An undergraduate degree in communication or business/marketing is preferred, but is not required.
Applicants looking to make a career change are also strongly encouraged to apply.

Read more about who should apply for the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication program.

What does the application process entail and when is the application deadline?

Those interested in fall enrollment should apply by August 1. Spring applicants have a December 1 deadline.

Applicants to the Master of Arts in IMC must submit:

• A completed application for graduate admission;
• A $50 non-refundable application fee;
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate (including two-year colleges) and graduate institutions with a cumulative GPA of 3.0;
• A current résumé;
• A written statement of purpose;
• Two letters of recommendation;
• GRE and GMAT scores are required upon request

NOTE: Marist graduate programs require a minimum of a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. Also, if a student has taken graduate-level coursework at another college/university the student may apply for a transfer of credits. The application for transfer of credits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Under no circumstances will more than 6 transfer credits be allowed.

What is the cost of the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication program?

The current tuition rates may be found by visiting the Tuition & Fees page.

Are any types of financial aid available for prospective students?

The Office of Student Financial Services will make every effort to assist you with financing the cost of your education. Information for applying for aid, tuition and fees, and types of aid can be found on our Tuition and Finances page.

Read more about financial aid available to students in the M.A. in IMC program.

How are the courses formatted and how long will it take to complete the curriculum?

There are two rounds of courses in each semester, each lasting eight weeks, in fall and spring semesters.

Fall Round 1 classes are offered the first eight weeks of the traditional fall semester, and Fall Round 2 classes are offered the last eight weeks of the traditional Fall. Spring Round 1 classes are offered the first eight weeks of traditional spring semester. Spring Round 2 classes are offered the last eight weeks of the spring semester.

Summer classes are offered each lasting eight weeks.

Full-time students will generally take four courses in fall (two classes in Fall Round 1 and two classes in Fall Round 2) and spring (two classes in Spring Round 1 and two classes in Spring Round 2), and two courses in summer

• Full-time students starting in fall should be able to complete the program the following summer.
• Full-time students starting in spring should be able to complete the program the following spring.

Part-time students will generally take two courses in fall (one class in Fall Round 1 and one class is Fall Round 2) and spring (one class in Round 1 and one class in Round 2) and one in summer of each year.

• Part-time students starting in fall or spring should be able to complete the program in two years.

Learn more about the course formatting and completion time for the program.

How many IMC classes are required for the program?

There are 10 IMC courses in total, each 3 credits.

What are the academic and degree conferral requirements?

To qualify for the Master of Arts in IMC, a student must:

• complete a total of 30 credits as described in the curriculum.
• maintain at least 3.0 cumulative grade-point average with no course grade less than a C.

Any student whose GPA falls below the required 3.0, or who receives a letter grade of F, will be subject to academic review and may be placed on probation or dismissed from the program.

Students placed on probation will receive a statement of requirements necessary to achieve good standing and will be given a limited time period in which to meet these requirements. Failure to achieve probationary requirements will result in dismissal.

What type of support services are offered for students in the IMC program?

The Director of the Graduate Communications Program is the advisor to students in the M.A. program. Students are encouraged to contact their advisor to discuss academic progress and planning

Instructors are also available to help students throughout their time in class

In addition, The Marist College Office of Career Services can provide students with assistance in job placement throughout the course of their enrollment in the program and upon graduation from the program.

Because the IMC program is full online, students also have access to the Marist Help Desk for any kind of technical help that they may need.

Does Marist provide networking and career placement opportunities?

Marist College's goal is to ensure graduates of the Master's in Integrated Marketing Communication program are successful in their career endeavors. Our Career Development Services can match IMC students with prospective employers and help students develop the necessary career skills while they are pursuing their marketing graduate degree.

The Marist College Office of Career Services provides Integrated Marketing Communication students assistance with career counseling even after graduation. Students can stay a part of the Handshake network or check employment listings that are posted. Also available are networking events such as career fairs, hosted by the college, where students and alumni can meet with potential employers to discuss career possibilities within respective companies. These events are held on the main campus in Poughkeepsie, NY, online and throughout the country.

Contact us to learn more about the career options you have with an IMC degree and the services provided to students outside classrooms at Marist College.

Can international students apply for the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication program?

Yes. Since this a fully online program, students located in any part of world can enroll in this program. In addition, because the program is asynchronous, students can access the course materials and join chat room discussions at any time.

How do I obtain my books if I am completing an online program or course?

Textbooks can be ordered from Amazon or ordered online and shipped through the Marist College Bookstore.  Read more about obtaining textbooks for Marist's online classes.

How do online courses work for the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication?

Typically, instructors will utilize a variety of teaching methods to demonstrate and explain various theories, concepts and principles. Here are a few overarching guidelines:

• Lesson plans typically include readings, examinations, different kinds of writing, online discussion, and sometimes working with peers on projects.
• Readings, like all other assignments, are assigned in advance and detailed on the course syllabus.
• Examinations are not present in every class. The classes that do have exams vary widely in how they are administered. Some of the exams will be multiple choice, some are short answer/essay, while others are a mixture of all of the above. The purpose of these exams is to test a student's overall knowledge of the subject material.
• In most courses, students will be assigned a variety of writing assignments -- ranging from short paragraph
  assignments to full research papers or case study analyses. The goal in some classes is the production of a research paper, while in other classes a cumulative project may be required to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of course material.
• Online courses also include online discussion forums. Forums are a way to encourage interaction between students and between students and faculty. Individuals discuss and debate key points in the course. Often, these forums are graded and are a requirement for a class.

How do I access my online class?

To access your online class, you must go to: https://ilearn.marist.edu/xsl-portal

From here, you log into the iLearn system. One of the benefits of the online world is that you can attend a class as a student, from anywhere in the world and at any time that is convenient to you. Also, your faculty member can teach the class from anywhere in the world. Read more about accessing online courses through the iLearn system.

Is there a thesis or a comprehensive exam at the end of the program?

No. There is no thesis or comprehensive exam at the end of the program for the MA in IMC. Instead, students will take a Capstone class as their final class in the program, giving students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in their previous classes.

What kind of operating system and web browser will I need to access iLearn?

For optimal performance, we recommend using the following:

• Operating Systems: Windows 2000, MAC OSX 10.2.x and later.
• Hardware: 512MB of RAM.
• Web browsers: We recommend using the latest versions of either Firefox or Internet Explorer.
• Note: Marist's iLearn does NOT support the Camino, Opera, Chrome, or Safari Web browsers.

Can I take classes out of sequence?

This is highly discouraged as not every class is offered every semester. Taking classes out of order can have a negative impact on your graduation date and any changes to the order in which you take your classes must be pre-approved by the Director, who is also your academic advisor.

What if I can't finish my courses or need to take leave due to personal or financial reasons?

Students who need to leave the program due to personal or financial reasons can ask to go on a Leave of Absence, which is valid for 180 calendar days. If a student cannot return after 180 days, they will be dismissed from the program. Once dismissed, students may have the opportunity to return with Director approval.