West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s Integrated Marketing Communications graduate program is the largest master’s degree program at the University. Beginning with 17 students in 2003, the exclusively online program now serves 337 students across the country and around the world.

IMC Program Director Chad Mezera says the flexibility of online delivery makes the program very attractive to working professionals, but it’s the personalized attention that keeps students coming back.

“Our team knows that our identity is wrapped around our ability to deliver a quality experience – both for faculty and for students,” said Mezera. “It’s very easy online to forget that you’re dealing with people, and we never have. We never will. Even though our program is online, it’s very interactive.”

School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed also stressed that – beyond the numbers – the IMC program is developing a national reputation for the delivery of quality online graduate instruction.

“The courses in the program are rigorous and highly relevant for today’s media professionals,” said Reed. “In addition, they’re taught by outstanding professionals and academics with high-level industry experience.”

Alumni surveys show that graduates of the program are gaining professional confidence, receiving promotions and even landing new positions with greater responsibility and higher pay as a result of their IMC education.

Growing the University online makes sense in today’s global environment, according to WVU Provost Michele Wheatly.

“The IMC program represents a growing trend in higher education,” said Wheatly. “Developing innovative online programs enables the University to reach diverse and global audiences who may otherwise not have access to a WVU education. The characteristics of the IMC program are a realization of important tenets of our strategic plan.”

The School’s IMC program was the world’s first exclusively online master’s degree program and was designed to meet the needs of busy working professionals.

The School has been offering cutting-edge online programs for more than 10 years at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The School also offers a Graduate Certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing Communications.

To learn more about programs offered by WVU’s School of Journalism visit http://journalism.wvu.edu/.

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CONTACT: Kimberly Brown, School of Journalism
304-293-3505 ext. 5403