M.S. Data Marketing Communications + DINFOS

A fully online, asynchronous graduate degree designed for military public affairs and communications personnel that are on the move and need to balance pursuing their continuing education opportunities with the demands of active duty service. Specialize your communications and marketing knowledge with data and gain skills tailoring marketing messages and targeting the right audiences.

Limited to only 10 seats this Spring 2024 term.

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10 Online Courses

Take courses in Data Visualization and Campaign Metric Assessment and learn tools like Tableau. You'll progress through these 10 courses alongside a cohort of data-minded colleagues.

Courses Sample Schedules

Practitioner Faculty

WVU's Data faculty have the perfect combination of left- and right-brain that they exercise every day for clients all over the world.

Meet the Instructors

Military Rate

West Virginia University has worked hard to make its programs affordable for military personnel and veterans. Military Public Affairs service members can receive a special discounted rate of $250 per credit.

Course Deadlines and Commitments

Limited Availability

We have 10 seats available in our Spring 2025 term starting in January. Apply by December 15 to be considered.

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A Unique Partnership

West Virginia University has opened up 10 seats for Defense Information School alumni in our Master of Science in Data Marketing Communications program. You’ll receive the discounted military tuition rate for the Spring 2025 term.

This program offering does not allow transfer credit for DINFOS courses.

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Alumni salary

56%

of alumni reported receiving more than a 25% increase in their salary

Gain a Competitive Advantage

98% of alumni said they felt more competitive and/or received a promotion upon completing their master's degree. WVU's M.S. Data Marketing Communications degree will not only give you the skills needed. As a nationally-recognized program, you'll stand out against the competition.

“I appreciate the program and one of my main factors for applying to the program was how it was in partnership with the Defense Information School where I attended my Navy A-School training.”

— Ian Carver (DINFOS 2010, IMC 2019)

The Data Marketing Communications master’s program at WVU was developed in response to industry needs. In today’s world, everything is data. Data Marketing Communications is taking a wealth of data and working to find the metric that matters - the metric that tells the story. Data Marketing Communications is designed for storytellers, creatives, strategists, and problem-solvers alike. Data is at the heart of the marketing communications industry and having the ability to be a data-driven storyteller is a highly sought-after skill set at any level.

How to Apply for the M.S. IMC Military Public Affairs (DINFOS) Cohort

Our Military Public Affairs (DINFOS) M.S. Data Marketing Communications capacity is highly competitive with only 10 seats available this Spring 2024 term. We will be admitting on a first-come, first-served basis until the seats are full, implementing a waitlist as needed. Admission decisions are based on qualifications and capacity.

Within weeks of your admission, you'll meet with our advisor to discuss your course schedule and individual options. We recommend you submit your Federal Tuition Assistance as soon as you are notified of admission. Make sure you review the Federal Tuition Assistance information and plan accordingly.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must indicate qualification for the Military Public Affairs (DINFOS) cohort in your application to be considered and receive the partnership rate. You can also waive the application fee by confirming your military service.

Spring Cohort

Dec 15 Application Deadline
JAN
13 Classes Start

Designed to Fit Your Schedule

In our 8-week online, asynchronous courses, you can work while completing classes.

Weekly Time Commitment

The format of each course is consistent, with the same deadlines utilized in all courses you'll take in the program. That's because we want you to focus on the content, not on trying to keep track of changing deadline schedules. Generally, the workload is projected to be around 8-10 hours a week per class in this cohort. In each course, you'll read lessons and case studies. You'll participate in discussion on a topic relevant to that week and assignment to reinforce your learning. Most students report being able to manage their coursework and still work full-time by following a dedicated time management strategy.

Assignments & Deadlines

Each week, you'll prepare a response for discussion, then respond to the posts of your colleagues in the course. You'll also complete an assignment based on that week's topic. Your initial discussion board posts are due by Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET, with responses to classmates due Friday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Discussions are in APA format, with an expectation of 3-4 paragraphs and cited sources. Assignments are due Mondays at 11:59 p.m. ET and are generally a few pages, but vary depending on the assignment. Especially for deployed servicemembers, submitting work prior to the communicated deadline is encouraged and supported.

COURSES In The M.S. Data Marketing Communications Program

We're always evolving course content to meet the needs of our dynamic industry. As a Data Marketing Communications student, you will take 10 three-credit courses, totaling the 30 credit hours required for graduation. You will also progress through the program as a cohort, taking courses alongside classmates in a sequential order that pairs courses that complement one another.

Introduction to Data Marketing Communications

In this Data Marketing Communications intro course, students explore database marketing, loyalty programs, financial and marketing metrics, audience targeting and segmentation, data for digital marketing, data visualization and marketing automation.

Audience Segmentation

Explore demographic data and other key indicators that can inform successful campaigns, and which data best serve the development of unique market segments to support specific marketing communication goals.

Brand Data Collection and Visualization

Examine the benefits of mining your own brand data for insights that could influence marketing communications decisions with an emphasis on how that data can be presented visually to key stakeholders.

Campaign Metrics and Assessment

Explore how data informs key performance indicators that define a campaign’s success. Students examine how metrics can rely on data for maximum benefit and survey available metrics and assessment platforms.

Campaign Planning and Programmatic Media Buying

Examine the automated media buying landscape with a focus on the risks, rewards and tools used. Explore software platforms available for automated buying to understand the connection between how data input affects media buying output.

Data Management Platforms

Explore database platforms and how data can be analyzed to develop specialized and highly targeted marketing communications. Examine the relative merits of various platforms based on their specific needs.

Message Customization

Examines how data enables marketing communicators to customize messages to target audiences as small as a single consumer. Students will examine how to motivate consumers by provided brand communications that are relevant, timely and personal.

Messaging for Customer Relationship Management

This Data course examines how data is leveraged for communications intended to retain current customers and acquire new ones.

Examine how data from social media can be leveraged to ensure marketing communications messages reach intended target audiences. Students explore gathering data from social media and customizing messages for maximum impact.

Data Marketing Communications Campaigns

In this Data capstone course, students develop a cohesive marketing communications campaign that demonstrates both a conceptual and practical mastery of data driven marketing communications. (Must be completed in a student's final academic term)

This program offering does not allow transfer credit for DINFOS courses.

Let's Chat

We're here for you every step of the way ... we'll answer your questions, help with your applications for graduate school and financial support, schedule your classes, provide tech support, welcome you for graduation and keep in touch once you cross the finish line.

lucinda.hart@mail.wvu.edu

304-293-3286

Schedule a Time to Chat

Request Information

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Application to the M.S. Data Marketing Communications Cohort

STEP 01
Discuss your options.

Let us know you're interested by completing our above Request Information form. After receiving your inquiry, our enrollment team will contact you and walk you through your next steps.
STEP 02
Know what you need to apply.

To apply, you'll need to submit an application to the University. In this application, you'll submit your personal statement and résumé, as well as submitting your official academic transcripts. The GRE/GMAT is not required for admission. However, International students must provide TOEFL or IELTS Scores.

You must note the DINFOS cohort in your personal statement to be admitted into this cohort and receive the partnership rate.
STEP 03
Request official transcripts.

Academic transcript requests can sometimes get delayed, so it's best to go ahead and get the ball rolling! Contact your prior academic institution(s) and request that official academic transcripts be sent (via postal mail or electronic delivery) directly to:
WVU Office of Graduate Admissions
One Waterfront Place
PO Box 6510
Morgantown, WV 26506-6510
Email: GraduateAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-2121

NOTE: If you earned your Bachelor's degree at WVU, you do not need to request these transcripts as they are already on file.
STEP 04
Login to the application portal.

To apply for WVU's full online master's degree in Data Marketing Communications through the WVU Graduate Admissions portal. You don't have to complete your application all at once - use this login anytime to continue the app or submit additional materials.

Start Your Application

Accreditation and Accolades

WVU Marketing Communications programs are accredited by The Higher Learning Commission which is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the U.S. by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is also recognized with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The Higher Learning Commission accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region.

In 2022, the WVU Reed College of Media (now the WVU Reed School of Media and Communications) was one of 35 institutions named to the 2022 PRNEWS Education A-List, which recognizes the best institutions of higher education for career advancement in public relations and marketing communications. It was named to the PRNEWS Education A-List again in 2023. Our Integrated Marketing Communications online graduate program was named a "Program of Excellence" by the WVU Board of Governors in 2020 and was a finalist in the PRWeek US Awards 2016 “Education Program of the Year” category. WVU IMC was also named the “Outstanding Online Program” for 2015 by the Online Learning Consortium, the leading professional organization devoted to advancing the quality of online learning worldwide.