Before you begin your second term in the program, you are required to attend a three-day, face-to-face session. The sessions take place in Santa Barbara in January, May, and September.

The first day, Community Building (OMD 610) expands your knowledge and experience of the university, school, and program culture. You engage in small group discussions about academic and professional development goals and explore how relationships develop in online and face-to-face interactions. You also have the opportunity to share interests and ideas with facilitating faculty.

The following two days, Master's Project Preparation (OMD 611) gives students the opportunity to share their ideas about potential master's projects, learn what others are thinking, and contribute to each others' project development. This helps you consolidate your first-term learning and create ways to view and integrate the rest of your future coursework with a project focus. The course brings together several small groups of 5-10 students who present and review ideas, offer feedback, ask questions, and provide support to each other.

 For more information on the courses, please see the Course Descriptions page.