Media Studies Emphasis

The media studies emphasis in communication studies focuses on knowledge and skills that will prepare you for success in understanding and producing mediated communication. Coursework includes media history, theory and criticism (film, television, internet) as well as hands-on production courses in screenwriting, documentary and narrative video, audio production, and web design and programming.

Graduates with this emphasis regularly find employment in film and television, media marketing and public relations, media and entertainment management, corporate media production, instructional technology, web programming and design, social media management, advertising and information and communication technology.

Examples of Courses

  • Various critical studies courses on film and television
  • Introductory courses in studio, field, audio, and web design and programming
  • Documentary history and theory and film theory
  • Media law and ethics, film history and the history of broadcasting
  • Screenwriting and narrative filmmaking
  • Information and communication technology
  • Advanced seminars in film/video editing
  • Advanced courses in narrative and documentary production

Production and Facilities

There are multiple opportunities for students to work closely with faculty members on productions.

The film/video production portion of our curriculum emphasizes creating actual program materials for both cable television and competitive festival exhibition. Web development courses emphasize service learning with students designing and programming web applications for local non-profits and organizations. Students work in state of the art facilities.

The video production curriculum employs HD and 4K cameras and workflow with a 5K iMac-based editing facility and professional audio equipment. Software our courses use include:

  • Apple Pro Apps Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X, Motion
  • Adobe Creative Cloud Suite 2018 (Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, and more)

Other Cool Things We Do

We annually sponsor the Reality Bytes, an Independent Student Film Festival. The festival accepts films from around the globe and is organized by graduate and undergraduate students.

Every summer, we offer Film Camp, a weeklong video production experience for high school students. 

For questions about the media area courses or curriculum, contact the area coordinator Laura Vazquez.

Undergraduate Advising

Laura Vazquez, Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Watson Hall 213
815-753-7107
lvazquez@niu.edu 

Olivia Monteiro
Academic Advisor
Watson Hall 217
815-753-5354
omonteiro@niu.edu 

Undergraduate Advising Info