BA.MDST - Media Studies, B.A.

The Media Studies program at the Woodbury School of Design and Media Arts provides students with a framework in which to analyze the history, theory, aesthetics, and industry of moving image media in all its diverse forms, including cinema, television, radio, and digital media. Media Studies is a robust and growing field that enables students understand and thrive within our visually- driven culture. We live in an era of digital transformation in which we are bombarded by thousands of moving images on a variety of different screens every day. Media literacy, writing, and analytical skills are more important than ever. It is also increasingly urgent to understand and question the links between media and structures of power. Our program aims to give students practical and critical- thinking skills in the face of the everchanging forms of media in the digital age.

We emphasize writing and critical analysis in our program, two skills that we develop through the study of media, but that are applicable to a wide range of other disciplines. Our program combines theory and praxis; in other words, we believe in developing students’ critical-thinking skills and providing students with hands-on practical skills. To that end, our curriculum balances courses that develop students’ written and verbal communication skills, research skills, and analytical skills with courses that give students practice in the basics of digital media production.

The Media Studies program is a vital part of the Woodbury School of Design and Media Arts. Students in the major are encouraged to take courses (or consider minoring) in the school’s other programs, including Animation + VFX, Game Art & Design, Fashion Design, Filmmaking, Graphic Design, and Experience Design. Students must complete an internship before graduation, and our program benefits from its strategic location in proximity to numerous established and emerging media companies. Students who graduate from our program are well-prepared for careers in film, television, radio, social media, writing, entrepreneurship, and more. A Media Studies degree also provides solid preparation for graduate study in fields such as law, education, business management, cinema, media studies, and more. The major culminates in a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree.