Attend the biggest technology event in Central Texas
Welcome to SXTXState 2019
Hybrid Grad Course – Spring 2019
Deadline to apply, Sept. 30, 2018
The SXTXState.com project has provided students in the Graduate Program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University with access to the South By Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival for 12 years. The project is offered as a hybrid class in the Spring. Students will be selected to enroll in the class and receive a SXSW Interactive Badge. Selected students will attend SXSW Interactive March 8-15. This is the week before Spring Break. We will work with you to establish a schedule for that week. During the spring semester, students will communicate and meet with the instructor via online and in-person methods. And, some preliminary preparation will be required prior to the beginning of the Spring semester.
This is a wonderful opportunity to take a unique course that includes attendance at an event emphasizing many of the concepts covered in classes, seeing many of the big thinkers in media and the opportunity to develop a strong portfolio demonstrating your own digital competencies. Past years have included Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, social media expert and author Gary Vaynerchuk, Marissa Mayer – Yahoo’s former CEO, Craig Newmark of Craigslist, Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia, David Karp of Tumblr and many more. Students who have participated in the project have gone on to key roles in digital media companies (see the Testimonials page). Participation in the project can advance one’s knowledge, provide access to professionals and inspire a platform from which many future conversations can emerge.
We will recruit a select group to represent the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Please review the materials on this site, including the instructions for Submitting an Application. This project course is open to any graduate student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. While Digital Media concentration students will receive preference, any student in our program who submits a strong application will be considered.
Applications will be evaluated by a team of judges from the SJMC Digital Media Faculty and may also include alumni of the project. Participants will enroll in the SXTXState Project during the Spring Semester. This is a hybrid course, with most meetings prior to SXSW occurring online, through TRACS and Skype. Students will be publishing content and using social media to document the event.
Selected students will receive an Interactive Badge (valued at $825). Other events and perks may be announced later. Students will be required to cover other expenses associated with the event, like food, merchandise purchases and parking.
Questions should be directed to Dr. Cindy Royal at croyal [at] txstate.edu.