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Florida Institute of Technology

florida-institute-of-technologyFlorida Institute of Technology Graphic Design Degrees Available

Florida Institute of Technology appears in our ranking of 21 Affordable Master’s Degrees in Marketing and Advertising.

Graphic designers are in high demand in today’s increasingly digital world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions for graphic design experts are expected to grow by almost 9,000 positions over the next ten years. The average salary for a graphic designer is $50,370 per year and most positions require at least a bachelor’s degree. Florida Institute of Technology offers several degree programs designed to prepare individuals not only for careers in graphic design but those related to the field as well.

The Florida Institute of Technology Bachelor of Science in Multiplatform Journalism, offered through the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts’ School of Arts and Communication, is designed for those who wish to prepare story context for a diverse range of media outlets. The program combines journalism and communication technology, providing an understanding of how to merge text, images and video to create engaging content. Courses required for the program include:

  • Digital and Graphic Design
  • Editing
  • Mass Communication
  • Mass Communication Law and Ethics
  • Media Production: Audio
  • Media Production: Video
  • Photography
  • Reporting, Interviewing and Data Analysis
  • Speech
  • Writing for the Media

A practicum is also required. Students may choose to concentrate their studies in Business/Marketing or Scientific/Technical Communication. The program is offered on the Melbourne campus.

The Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication provides students with critical-thinking, problem-solving and strategic planning. The program covers the theories, concepts, methods of inquiry and skills used in strategic communication. Students develop an understanding of the concepts and theories that surround visual and written communications as well as the ability to convey material clearly and concisely through multiple media formats. The program also promotes student inquiry and critical thinking skills. Courses that may be required for the program include:

  • Advertising and Promotion Management
  • Digital and Graphic Design
  • Global Communication
  • Mass Communication
  • Mass Communication Law and Ethics
  • Introduction to Visual Communication
  • Public Relations
  • Reporting, Interviewing and Data Analysis
  • Research Methods and Materials in Technical and Professional Communication
  • Speech
  • Strategic Communication
  • Writing for the Media

A practicum in media, as well as a communication internship, are also required. Students may choose to concentrate their studies in Business/Marketing or Scientific/Technical Communication. The program is offered on the Melbourne campus.

The Master of Science in Global Strategic Communication is designed for those who wish to develop strategic communication and new media as well as corporate communications. The degree focuses on theory and document analysis, helping students develop the skills to create written documents in a wide range of styles. They are provided the tools to create technical, scientific and managerial documents as well as methods for creating professional-quality documents. Courses required for the program include:

  • Communication Research Methods
  • Communication Theory
  • Covering Science and Technology
  • Global Communication
  • International Political Communication and Global Politics
  • Linguistics and World Languages
  • Mass Communication in Society
  • New Media and Strategic Communication
  • Proposal Writing
  • Qualitative Research Methods
  • Services Marketing Communication
  • Strategic Communication
  • Technical Editing
  • Visual and Graphic Communication

The non-thesis degree program requires students to take a final comprehensive examination no later than the last full semester of coursework. The thesis option requires students to complete either a traditional, research-based thesis or a design project. The program is available at the Melbourne campus.

About the Florida Institute of Technology

The Florida Institute of Technology has roots in several different institutes of higher learning. The first, The University of Melbourne, was created by three women from Dayton, Ohio. Virginia Wood, Elizabeth Nutting, and Margaret Hutchison created the University to provide higher education for the residents of Brevard County. The Brevard Engineering College was founded in 1958 by Dr. Jerome Keuper in order to provide educational opportunities to NASA staff.

Classes began in Eau Gallie Junior High School in 1959 for the small engineering school. In addition to Eau Gallie Junior High School, classes were also taught in the First Methodist Church until a permanent home was found when 40 acres and a building were donated by the University of Melbourne. In 1966, the University of Melbourne and the Brevard Engineering College merged to become the Florida Institute of Technology. In 1970, the Aerospace Technical Institute joined the school and, in 1972, the Jensen Beach campus was acquired, allowing Florida Technical Institute to begin offering oceanography and ocean engineering programs. An additional campus opened on the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland in 1972 at the request of the United States Navy, offering programs in electrical engineering.

Today, FIT is one of the top 200 universities in the world according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings and is the only independent, technological university in the Southeast. It is also named as one of the top technological institutions by the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

Florida Institute of Technology Accreditation Details

Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Regional accreditation indicates that the school offers programs of the highest quality as determined by criteria developed by the Association. It also indicates that the Florida Institute of Technology has the resources to meet their stated goals and objectives. In addition, specific degree programs are accredited by the following organizations:

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI)
  • American Chemical Society
  • American Psychological Association

Florida Institute of Technology Application Requirements

Applicants to the undergraduate communications programs must submit official high school transcripts and official ACT or SAT scores. They must provide an essay and letter of recommendation as well. Transfer applicants must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Applicants to the Master of Science in Global Strategic Communications must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in any discipline. They must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Two letters of recommendation, a statement of objectives and a current resume are also required.

Florida Institute of Technology Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the Bachelor of Science in Multiplatform Journalism or the Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication is $1,115 per credit hour. Tuition for the Master of Science in Global Strategic Communication is $1,205 per credit hour.

Students may qualify for a wide range of financial aid at the Florida Institute of Technology. Scholarships are available with some offered to Florida residents and others offered based on the program the student plans to enter. There are also grants available through the state of Florida, which are normally just for Florida residents, as well as the federal government. Students may also qualify for both federally subsidized and private loans. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to receive financial assistance.

Florida Institute of Technology offers several degree programs for those who wish to work in the graphic design field as well as those who want to expand beyond a graphic design position.