Whether you?re a current student or faculty member, or are in the early stages of researching graduate programs offered online to communications professionals, it?s surely an exciting time for the IMC program at WVU.

2008 IMC Weekend

First and foremost, you may have received an invitation in the mail recently for this year?s upcoming and much-hyped IMC Weekend to be held May 30-31. From all the scuttlebutt, this is the one opportunity in the year for students, graduates, faculty and even prospective students and their families to gather for a variety of events?both informational and social?and in many cases, to demystify the faces behind the many names in the virtual classroom. Judging by the chatter and vibe of previous years? events, this year?s is sure to bring the promise of another enlivening experience!

This year?s event includes a welcome reception and dinner and a rare opportunity to hear from industry leader Bruce Nelson, Vice Chairman of Omnicom Group, during the keynote address. This is followed by a succession of events that include an information session for prospective students; interactive panel discussions with IMC students, graduates and faculty members; a guided walking tour of the university?s Morgantown Campus; breakout sessions to gain insight on the latest industry trends; and finally a roundtable discussion where students, graduates and faculty discuss in an open forum their challenges and successes that will help to shape the future of the IMC program.

To learn more about the IMC Weekend, you can visit http://www.imc.wvu.edu/theimcprogram/infoweekend.php on the IMC web site and you can read about it on the IMC Weekend, http://imc.blogs.wvu.edu/imc_weekend . For an even closer look, you can also view/download videos, particularly from last year?s panel discussions, by visiting WVU?s iTunes U Site at http://itunes.wvu.edu/.

IMC Curriculum Enhancements

As the ever-evolving nature of communications continues to change at its rapid pace, the IMC program is right there to reflect the trends of the industry. Starting in the fall, students enrolled in the program working tirelessly toward their master?s degree in IMC at WVU, will now have the opportunity to select from a greater number of elective courses to better match their specific needs and interests. As such, new courses in the areas of cause marketing, multicultural branding, and green marketing will be added to the variety of elective course selections.

Unfortunately, for all you slackers who were looking for less course requirements to obtain your master?s (kidding), you?re still required to complete a total of 13 courses. Currently, IMC students complete a total of 13 courses, including IMC 610, ten core courses (611-620), one advanced elective (621, 625, 626, or 628), then IMC 636. Under the program?s new structure, students are able to select from four elective options, as indicated below:

New Requirements for the Master of Science in Integrated Marketing
Communications Degree:

1 Prerequisite Course (3 cr.):

IMC 610 – Introduction to IMC

7 Core Courses (21 cr.):

IMC 611 – Marketing Research & Analysis
IMC 612 – Audience Insight
IMC 613 – Brand Equity Management
IMC 615 – Creative Strategy & Execution
IMC 616 – Interactive Marketing
IMC 618 – PR Concepts & Strategy
IMC 619 – Emerging Media & the Market

4 Electives (12 cr.): Choose FOUR from the following:
IMC 614 – Media Analysis
IMC 617 – Consumer Sales Promotion
IMC 620 – Measurement & Analysis
IMC 621 – Current Topics in IMC
IMC 625 – Advanced Creative Concepts
IMC 626 – B2B Direct Marketing
IMC 628 – Applied Public Relations
IMC 693A – Cause Marketing

1 Capstone Course (3 cr.):

IMC 636 – Campaigns

I also like the fact that some of the courses were renamed, as the courses give a certain flair of freshness, and aren?t at all dull sounding?for lack of a better way of putting it. They just simply sound more interesting, which I think will surely help to pique the interest of prospective students and further, I think this fresh coat of new paint (i.e. Consumer Sales Promotion vs. Sales Promotion, Interactive Marketing vs. Direct Marketing, etc.) will also make current students feel more proud that their degree and the courses they will have completed, will reflect the essence of graduate level courses in communications as opposed to sounding well…undergradlike.

IMC Program Launching Newsletter

Okay, so I?m going to take a moment to take claim for naming the new newsletter as part of the contest that was held late last year. Aptly called the_link, http://www.imc.wvu.edu/theimcprogram/link.php, I thought the name would directly reflect the newsletter?s attempt to keep students, graduates and faculty connected with relevant news about the program and each other. Also, the underscore gives the name that sort of ?e? (electronic) feel, as it is the core of the IMC program.

Published bi-annually (beginning in May), each issue will contain features and articles about current students, graduates, faculty and IMC Program events, as well as industry trends. As contributions to the newsletter are welcome from all the above, I say get those brains ready to submit ideas. The deadline for article submissions for the premiere issue is April 1.

As the proverb goes, there is no better time than the present.

Jamie