Media Studies Emphasis

The emphasis in Media Studies includes courses in mass communication  theory, history, film theory and criticism, screenwriting, and  production. Graduates with this emphasis regularly find jobs in the  film and television industries or in corporate media production  working with new technologies such as interactive multimedia and  Internet web design.

The production curriculum employs HD cameras and professional audio  equipment. Our editing facility uses the Final Cut Pro Suite. All  production facilities for media are Mac-based though the interactive  media production is PC-based.

The production portion of our curriculum is structured with an  emphasis on creating actual program materials for both cable  television and competitive festival exhibition. To remain current with  industry standards and practices, digital media equipment and  resources are constantly upgraded and updated. Introductory  production courses are worth 4 credit hours because of their demanding  schedules and labs.  They include studio (COMS 357 taught by Dr. Mary  Larson), field production (COMS 358 taught by Dr. Laura Vazquez), and  digital media production (COMS 359 taught by Dr. David Gunkel).

While course-offerings change, frequent offerings are taught by the  following faculty: Dr. Jeffrey Chown teaches (Narrative scriptwriting  (COMS466); Dr. Gretchen Bisplinghoff teaches Documentary History and  Theory (COMS 457), Film Theory (COMS 462) and Critical Interpretation  of Film/Television (COMS 356); Dr. Robert Miller teaches COMS 455  (Media Law and Ethics), COMS 456 C and D (Film History), and COMS 459 (the History of Broadcasting).

Please contact the area coordinator: Laura Vazquez (lvazquez@niu.edu),  if you have questions about the media area courses or curriculum.

Media Studies Resources

Requirements for Graduation

Careers in Communication

Advising Information