Technology, Media, and Communications

For Students who declared before Fall 2025

 

The TMaC specialization equips students for careers in today’s digital workplace. We believe that understanding the policy implications of digital technology and having practical skills are essential. Digital technologies have transformed all the areas that SIPA students care about: development, advocacy, policy making, media, human rights, business, and government, so we offer courses that cut across disciplines.

Our skills courses teach data visualization, speech writing, data scraping, and using social media for campaigning. Current digital production techniques and distribution channels have given organizations new communications strategies, and we explore the technical and theoretical tricks, turns, and pitfalls of this new 21st-century paradigm. Many of our writing courses are taught by award-winning journalists who emphasize research and how to communicate clearly and effectively.

TMaC offers courses on design thinking, digital diplomacy, e-government, digital activism, surveillance, and the regulatory and policy questions surrounding digital technology. We consider the digital revolution's effect on international affairs and government and the policies and practices that can help new technologies promote development, human rights, and social change.

Students enrolled in the Technology, Media, and Communications Specialization must take three courses but may take more if their schedule permits. We don’t have required courses or tracks because we know that our students are interested in a wide range of subjects. We tweak our course listings each year in response to what students, alumni, and employers tell us is essential for today’s workplace.