There’s an energy at St. Edward’s that few universities can match. And its new daytime MBA concentration in Digital Media Management (stedwards.edu/godigital) proves it by exploring the convergence of digital technology, the arts and business in Austin — home to some of the industry’s most prominent digital media companies and the South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Conferences and Festivals.

In Texas alone, 2003 film industry budgets exceeded $229 million, and the music business is growing exponentially. And, Austin is home to some of the digital media industry’s most prominent studios. According to a recent economic development strategy report, “Because of its existing presence in the digital media industry, metro Austin is poised to become a national — and potentially international — leader in new media content creation and production.”

Housed in the university’s School of Management and Business, the Digital Media Management program consists of two years of intense, fast-paced, full-time study. Each fall and spring semester includes two seven-week sessions with students completing three courses per session. Classes will challenge students to explore every field in the digital realm — music, film, interactive media — as they gain more traditional business school competencies. Classroom knowledge will be coupled with experiential learning as students are immersed in the industry through an eight-week summer internship with an existing multimedia organization and a week out of the classroom in the fast-paced real world of SXSW — platinum passes are included in tuition so students can attend, learn and network. It’s not all fun and games, though, as students will be required to present a business plan to professors, financing professionals, media executives and business leaders.

Recruiting for the program is already underway, and classes are scheduled to begin in Fall 2005. Prospective students are encouraged to attend an information session held in the Robert & Pearle Ragsdale Center on the university campus. Register online. Info sessions are currently scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on:
• Tuesday, April 19 in Mabee C
• Tuesday, May 10 in Mabee C
• Tuesday, June 7 in Mabee A