SUNY Polytechnic Institute
SUNY Polytechnic Institute, New York’s premier public polytechnic, provides an innovative and affordable higher education for students interested in science, engineering, technology, business, healthcare, and other liberal arts offerings for a well-rounded approach to experiential learning. This hands-on education is cognizant and respectful of the customary academic enterprise while fostering the fast-evolving culture of discovery in today’s knowledge-driven global economy, providing students an unmatched education targeted for success in our fast-changing world. SUNY Poly students enjoy public school tuition with benefits that many small, private institutions boast, including small class sizes, individualized learning experiences, and a tight-knit community.
MS Information Design & Technology
The Program
Our program offers an interdisciplinary examination of the role of new and emerging media within contemporary culture and communication, while allowing students to develop a specific area of research to suit their unique academic and professional goals.
Through theory, practice, and individual research, students examine the complex relationship between diverse types of information and the technologies that are used to work with and communicate that information. Offering historical perspective alongside technical instruction, the IDT program places particular emphasis on the social impact and potential of new communication technologies.
The IDT program accommodates both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program within a 24-month period. Part-time completion will vary based on the total number of credits taken each term. The program is available in a full online format.
Career Opportunities
The skills and knowledge taught in the IDT program are interdisciplinary and can be adapted to many fields and careers. The following are examples of the types of work graduates of the IDT program can do:
• Instructional Media/Educational Technology
• Teaching/Training using Information Technology
• Social Media Strategist
• Web Archivist
• Digital Strategist
• Information Designer for a wide variety of fields
• Internet Researcher
• Web Developer and Designer
• Professional Communicator
• Public Relations
• College Admissions
• Digital Exhibitions and Publications
• Information Help Desk
• Blog/Wiki Specialist
• Permanent Certification K-12 Teaching (with NYSED approval)
“ I was recently promoted to Director of Web programming and Development and I owe this promotion mostly from what I have learned from the IDT program and applied that knowledge to my job.”
Sylvia Navarro ’14 Information Design & Technology
Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Information Design and Technology consists of 33 credit hours distributed as follows:
IDT Core Courses
12 credit hours
IDT Electives ...........................................................12 credit hours
Unrestricted Electives
Thesis/Project
IDT Core Courses (12 credit hours)
IDT 501 Social Information Theory
IDT 507 Information Technology
IDT 534 Information Design
6 credit hours
3 credit hours
Total: 33 credit hours
IDT 530 Research Methods for Information Design and Technology*
* With permission of an IDT adviser, students may choose IDT 524 or CSC 507 in lieu of IDT 530.
IDT Electives (12 credit hours)
Complete 4 courses from the following:
IDT 503 Human Factors in Information Design
IDT 505 Computing Environments
IDT 519 Gamification
IDT 520 Gender and Technology
IDT 521 Global Communication
IDT 522 Computer-Supported Cooperative Work
IDT 523 Digital Narratives
IDT 524 Websphere Analysis
IDT 531
IDT 535
IDT 536
IDT 541
IDT 545
IDT 551
Technical Editing
Typographic Design and Communication
Graphic Design
Instructional Design
Informational Technology and Organizational Change
Evaluating Technology
IDT 553 Principles and Projects in New Media
IDT 554 Web Development and Design
IDT 555 Ethical and Legal Issues of the Information Age
IDT 585 Seminar in Emerging Technologies
IDT 590 Topics in Information Design and Technology*
IDT 591 Independent Study
IDT 592 Internship
* Students may take additional sections of IDT 590 as long as the topics covered are not the same.
IDT electives are offered on a rotating basis. Check the online course schedule for offerings each semester.
Unrestricted Electives (6 credit hours)
In consultation with an adviser, students choose two additional graduate level electives or an internship and one elective. These can be additional IDT courses or courses from another accredited graduate program that are approved by an advisor.
Thesis/Project (3 credit hours)
IDT 599 Thesis/Project
Working with faculty member teaching the course, or an adviser, students either write a thesis or complete a project for the program.
“ The IDT program accommodates both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program within a 24-month period. Parttime completion will vary based on the total number of credits taken each term. The program is available in a full online format.”
Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, all applicants to the MS Information Design & Technology program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college with an average of B or better (a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Lower GPAs will be considered if the student has a strong portfolio, related experience, or does well as a non-matriculated student in the program.
The Application for Graduate
Admission and all required forms are available at:
www.sunypoly.edu/graduate
The Faculty
SUNY Poly faculty work closely with students and challenge them to excel. Many have experience in industry in addition to strong academic credentials. Small classes allow faculty to really get to know their students.
IDT students often have the opportunity to engage in research alongside a faculty member. Research specialty areas for our graduate faculty members in the Information Design and Technology program include:
Computer-mediated communication and instructional systems, computer-supported cooperative work, cross-cultural communication, online communities and culture, human computer interaction, online learning, social impact of technologies, video game design and development, web archiving and analysis, and web design. Also, the study of and creation of massively open online courses (MOOCs), use of digital storytelling, and the impact of social media. Learn more about the IDT faculty: sunypoly.edu/idt/faculty
Online Learning
The IDT program has been offered asynchronously online for more than 15 years. Asynchronous learning enables our students to set their own schedule, and complete their coursework at a time and a place of their choosing. At the same time, faculty are also available to meet synchronously or on-campus with students who seek additional engagement.
Our faculty are well-versed in the challenges of creating engaging learning opportunities for our online students. The IDT program uses innovative and leadingedge techniques and technologies to create learning environments, while at the same time providing experience with and exposure to the emerging information technologies available in professional, educational and recreational settings.
