HELP: I need input to select Masters program

Posted: February 22, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Communications, Environmental Science, Leadership, Musings | Tags: , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hello!  As I near completion of my Bachelors in Applied Social Science at Colorado State, I am considering a number of Master’s programs.  In short, I thought I would reach out to my friends and associates to get your input, based on your knowledge of me, my skills, my gaps, and your view of the future.

I chose to pursue social science, because so many of society’s challenges and opportunities in both the public and private sector usually have solutions, but lack an understanding of how to organize the social environment for change; the environment, globalization, inequality, healthcare, and economic growth are all examples.  At the same time, we are in a period of great change with the advent of a global communication network, global transportation network, and the Internet, as we construct the social meaning of our future with these incredible capabilities.  As I consider Master’s programs, I am looking at it through the lens of social change in digital era, and the potential impact we can have on our major challenges, specifically focusing on the role of businesses, government, or NGOs in engineering the social element of solutions.

Therefore, I have thought about a Master’s program in the following ways:

  • Continue focus on social science, going deeper on communication as the key skill to affect change that can be applied to any situation.  These programs typically include focus on communication & media or communication & leadership.  The programs at Gonzaga, John Hopkins University, Seton Hall, University of North Carolina, and University of Southern California fall into this category.
  • Starting applying what I have learned about social science towards one of the most pressing opportunities and challenges of our time, environmental sustainability.  I think that both the public and private sector will need to address sustainability in a meaningful way in the future and will need leaders with a social science background to help affect change.  The programs at Colorado University, Duke, and University of Denver fall into this category.

The attached PDF, named masters thoughts, includes more detail for each program, including curriculum, costs, and duration.  I would very much like to hear your perspective.  Please provide your feedback using the blog comments.  Thanks!

masters thoughts

Beyond the Bachelors

Posted: September 13, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Musings | 1 Comment

A year away from completing my B.S. in Applied Social Science at CSU and I have been thinking about whats next and in the future.  I am having so much fun, its not question of whether I keep going, instead where and for what purpose.  I am leaning towards communications.  Both Gonzaga and Seton Hall have online masters degree programs that combine communication and leadership, two topics that I personally find related, relevant, and utterly fascinating; I am passionate about both.  Another option is USC’s Annenburg School for Communication and Journalism, that has an online Masters in Communication Management.  The third option on the table is through Fielding Graduate University, an MA in Media Psychology with the option of pursuing the PhD.  Media Psychology is particularly interesting to me because of the way digital media is helping people change the world.  Lot’s of good options, any advice?