Westphal Graduate Program Level Outcomes

Upon degree completion, graduates of our programs will be able to...

Assess and Apply Research. Identify and analyze qualitative and quantitative research. Evaluate research to communicate and support management and leadership decisions in cultural organizations.
Conduct Primary Research. Conduct qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed methods original research. Produce research of significant quality that expands the knowledge of the cultural sector.
Demonstrate competence in interpersonal communication.
Deliver effective written and oral proposals and presentations addressing a range of audiences and concerns relevant to the culture sector.
Collaborate in teams applying leadership theories in cultural practice. Demonstrate competence in management techniques.
Integrate multiple modalities of communications and information sharing for organizational effectiveness and program/service delivery.
Assess the use of technologies to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, make decisions and conduct research, as well as foster creativity and life-long learning.
Demonstrate awareness of the changing environment of the sector and use critical thinking skills to identify issues and broad-based policy solutions.
Compare the particular requirements of managing different types of cultural organizations. Demonstrate knowledge of administrative theories and practices.
Design and complete a self-directed learning experience, for example practicums and theses.
Design solutions for the cultural sector and generate new ideas based on theory and practice.
Develop professional skills through high-quality immersive online and on-site experiences in the culture sector.
Demonstrate capacity for leadership in the cultural community, utilize leadership strengths, ethical standards, and ability to motivate and engage others to create a more just society through culture.
Collaborate with colleagues of diverse backgrounds to construct inclusive and antiracist communities in the cultural sector.
Construct cultural experiences for diverse audiences and stakeholders.
Drive social change and equity within the cultural sector.

Demonstrate an innovative and creative approach to problem solving as it relates to diverse research scenarios in the design research field
Formulate an expressed and observable research strategy
Demonstrate a knowledge of variety of design and research experiences, approaches and viewpoints
Display a sensitivity to social, cultural, ethical and environmental values through knowledge and application of design research
Critically analyze their own work and academic research literature with respect to the global impacts and experimental design research
Use divergent and convergent thinking to generate novel and relevant ideas, strategies, approaches and outcomes in research
Distinguish larger, complex societal forces and systems that affect design directions, trends and public policy

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to enter the Digital Media industry
Demonstrate an innovative and creative approach to Digital Media research
Analyze the cultural impact of digital media
Explore and embrace emerging technologies in digital media
Critically analyze their own work and academic research literature
Communicate design ideas and research results effectively.

Develop the knowledge and skills to lead change in an evolving industry
Grow by collaborating with their peers to thrive in the expanding and converging global community
Cultivate imagination, innovation, technical acumen, and originality to prepare for commercial industry application or entrepreneurship
Understand the diverse global enterprise devoted to the making and selling of apparel, footwear, textiles and accessories
Embrace relevant technology in digital tools as they relate to fashion design
Explore interdisciplinary design research and collaboration opportunities within our comprehensive university setting
Incorporate the fusion of art, design, science, technology, and commerce into a personal design sensibility
Create apparel, textile and fashion products that adopt a flexible, ethical and sustainable interdisciplinary approach
Develop innovative presentations of contemporary contextual design
Recognize the role of fashion in our cultural heritage

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to enter the profession of interior design
Demonstrate an innovative and creative approach to problem solving and be discerning when making practical, responsible, human centered and aesthetic judgments
Demonstrate mastery in expression of a variety of design experiences, approaches and viewpoints
Demonstrate a responsible attitude and awareness toward the safety and well-being of the public and the profession of interior design
Demonstrate an awareness of community engagement, diversity and social stewardship of the built environment
Display a sensitivity to social, community, contextual, cultural, ethical and environmental values
Investigate exploratory approaches to learning through design based on scholarly research, as a means of contributing to the professional body of knowledge
Demonstrate the ability to analyze and synthesize research to reflect various philosophies, integrate technology and generate insightful design solutions
Develop a sophisticated and layered design vision, translate that vision into shared goals and effectively work with others as a leader or follower to achieve these goals.

Demonstrate advanced skills in corporate and market research, wrlitten communication and visual presentation as applicable in the retail industry
Demonstrate the aptitude to analyze and interpret historical and current retail data integrating theoretical principles, data computationJ pr,oduct evaluation, visual acuity, and retail and consumer analysis
Demonstrate the ability to assess merohandising technologies and the related impact on development, buying, manufacturing, shipping and retailing
Demonstrate proficiency of global product supply chains that impact design, production, and consumption
Demonstrate an understanding of the confJuenoe of corporate culture, retajl management, merchandising strategiesJ sales and retail analysis, product qualityJ and future goals as they relate to leadership in the organization
Demonstrate the ability to conduct an advanced research project by applying quantitative and qualitative methodologies and then analyze the results using critical analytical thinking skills

Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the multi-platform/multi-device ecology of the global television industry
Understand the history and evolution of the current global television environment and its central role in the American democracy
Formulate problem statements and research questions and the skill to operationalize them within a research protocol and to apply fundamental research methodologies to the analysis of complex situations
Comprehend the dynamics of change and the forces driving the diffusion of innovation and the ability to assess present and emerging TV technology sufficiently to manage TV organizations at the highest levels
Understand revenue and financial models that drive the TV industry and to exhibit competence with the tools of financial analysis
Evince knowledge of the process by which television content is created and distributed and to understand TV programming strategies, tactics and audience measurement techniques across all media platforms
Understand the structure of media organizations at all levels and to apply ethical standards in all decision-making arenas
Demonstrate fluency in the languages of business (managerial and financial accounting, marketing, new venture planning, micro and macro economic analysis), and technology assessment
Integrate coursework and field experience so as to demonstrate competence in developing and executing a thesis from problem statement to
Understand prevailing models of management and leadership and to be able to apply them to legacy and evolving television organizations
Speak to the impact social media have on the TV industry and to describe new ways of measuring TV through social media, and to demonstrate how digital platforms have
Evince critical thinking skills in the analysis of complex media systems and their related national and global impact
Comprehend and exercise the leadership skill sets required to lead at every level of the television industry and to understand the challenges of managing and leading creative staff
Understand the constitutional, regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks that govern labor relations, contractual obligations, intellectual property rights, and negotiation
Function in the multi-dimensional world of programming that includes knowledge of content production, syndication, programming and counter-programming response mechanisms
Identify the public interest needs of the community and to create media-centric responses that reflect meaningful levels of civic engagement

Problem solving: students will undertake critical analysis and assessment of dynamic urban environments
Data competency: students will gather and manipulate different types of data, including spatial, cultural, historical and demographic data
Leadership skills: students will develop capacity for ethical leadership, understand different leadership styles and methods for motivating others
Cross cultural perspective: students will gain awareness and competence in cross-cultural perspectives, learning how diverse cultures impact urban life
Communication fluency: students will hone their oral & written communication skills, learning how to interact with and impact a range of audiences through democratic, participatory engagement
Collaboration in teams: students will learn to collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams to identify and address urban problems
Grounding in Context: students will understand the role of history and culture in shaping urban institutions and systems
Urban Awareness: students will investigate how cities are shaped by multiple systems, including public policy, health, economic development, and built environment

Westphal College of Media Arts and Design Graduate Program Level Outcomes