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Launch Your Career with West Chester University's Degree in Media and Culture

Do you spend hours checking out content and posting your own to social media? Maybe you thrive on following the news cycle or the latest social media trends? Then a career in media with a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Culture at West Chester University might be right for you!

Our B.A. degree program in Media and Culture will help you develop your expertise in the latest media technologies and software, including specialized skills like media performance, production, strategic messaging, research, and analysis. You will stand apart from the competition thanks to dynamic hands-on coursework, internships, and practicum opportunities offered by our program.

 

Tracks in the Media and Culture Major

Production

The media production concentration focuses on production and performance in various media environments, such as TV, radio, film, and online content. Courses include topics like web design, video production, communication on television and radio, and the Philadelphia Media Experience.

Strategic Communications

The strategic communications concentration integrates marketing and communications courses to reach the right audience at the right time. Courses cover topics including search engine optimization, strategic social media, media audiences, and content strategy.

Cultural Communications

This concentration builds expertise in changing media industries and technology, as well as intercultural competence needed to operate successfully in media organizations. You’ll learn skills through courses covering culture and organizations, games culture and theory, mass media & protest, and intercultural communication training.

 

Benefits of Earning Your Degree in Media and Culture Studies at WCU

Faculty Experts

Our faculty are experts in the field of media and culture studies. Many of them have worked in the industry and can share their firsthand knowledge with you. Faculty also serve as advisors who are an integral part of your student success team, creating a truly personalized experience.

Hands-On Experience

You will gain hands-on experience through internship and practicum courses, as well as the opportunity to attend conferences as an attendee or presenter.

You will also learn to lead through participation in our student clubs and organizations including:

Specialization

You will gain specialized skills through your choice of concentrations in media production, strategic communications, or culture communications.

 

What Can You Do with a Degree in Media and Culture?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that the field of media and communications will grow by about 3% growth rate through 2032.Our media and culture program was built with industry needs in mind and will help you stand apart from the crowd in a competitive job market.

Our graduates are prepared to enter a wide range of fields in the global workforce including media production, broadcasting, advertising, strategic communication, social media and public relations, international media, diversity training and development, and others.

Specific careers in media and culture studies include:

  • Account executive
  • Content creator
  • Digital marketer
  • Director
  • Editor
  • Journalist
  • Media analyst or researcher
  • Media buyer
  • Producer
  • Public relations specialist
  • Social media manager
  • Writer

Where are our graduates?

 

What Will You Study as a Media and Culture Studies Student?

In our media and culture studies program, you will develop specialized expertise and skills in media-related fields, be able to create and deploy content for a variety of media technologies and think critically about the intersections of media and diverse cultural contexts.

B.A. in Media and Culture

Code Title Credits
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Foundations
First Year Experience requirement4
English Composition requirement 16-4
Mathematics requirement3-4
Interdisciplinary requirement3
Diverse Communities requirement3
Ethics requirement3
Distributed Disciplinary Foundations
Science requirement6-8
Behavioral & Social Science requirement6
Humanities requirement6
Arts requirement3
ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
University Requirements
Writing Emphasis requirement9
Speaking Emphasis requirement9
Degree Requirements
Language/Culture requirement 20-15
Demonstrating language proficiency through the intermediate level (202) or demonstrating language through the elementary II (102) level of a language and further acquiring a cultural foundation
Capstone requirement1-15
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Major Core Courses 3,4
MDC 250Intercultural Communication3
MDC 251Media Technology 53
MDC 252Media Writing3
MDC 253Media Literacy3
MDC 254Media & Culture Theory3
MDC 255Mass Communication Research Methods3
Concentrations 3
Students will work with their advisors to select six appropriate courses from the three concentration areas: Culture, Production, and Strategic Communication. At least three courses must be from one of the concentrations. The remaining courses can be from that same concentration or either of the other two concentrations. 18
Culture Concentration
MDC 314
Games Culture and Theory
MDC 316
Mediated Communication: The Internet, Culture, and Society
MDC 322
Culture and Organizations
MDC 350
Advanced Intercultural Communication
MDC 360
African American Culture and Communication
MDC 420
Mass Media & Social Protest
MDC 422
Consulting for Careers in Media and Culture
MDC 470
Intercultural Communication Training
MDC 490
Special Topics Seminar in Culture
MDC 493
Directed Studies in Media and Culture
Production Concentration
CSW 131
Introduction to Web Design
MDC 203
The Philadelphia Media Experience
MDC 217
Introduction to Video Production
MDC 317
Advanced Video Production
MDC 308
Multimedia Performance
MDC 320
Communication on Television and Radio
HON 320
Honors Seminar: Global Issues
MDC 491
Special Topics Seminar in Production
MDC 493
Directed Studies in Media and Culture
Strategic Communication Concentration
MDC 311
Communication Professions in Sports
MDC 321
Search Engine Optimization Management
MDC 323
Media Audiences
MDC 325
Strategic Social Media
MDC 355
Introduction to Public Relations
MDC 370
Event Production Using Media
MDC 375
Communicating Through Risk and Crisis
MDC 421
Content Strategy
MDC 423
Media Campaigns
MDC 455
Public Relations Management
MDC 460
Communication and Advertising
MDC 492
Special Topics Seminar in Strategic Communication
MDC 493
Directed Studies in Media and Culture
Capstone Requirement 3
Students will select from either the Internship Experience in Media & Culture (MDC 494) or the Media Practicum Experience (MDC 495) for their Capstone Requirement.3
MDC 494
Internship in Media and Culture 6
MDC 495
Media & Culture Capstone Practicum 6
Student Electives
Courses selected in consultation with advisor to meet career objectives (can include a selected minor)21-24
Total Minimum Credits Required120

Accelerated B.A. in Media and Culture to M.A. in Communication Studies Program 

Any Media and Culture major with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher who has completed at least 84 credits may substitute up to 12 credits to be applied to the required core and the 15 credit hours required from departmental offerings towards the undergraduate degree. Those credits will also apply toward the M.A. program in Communication Studies.

Code Title Credits
Required Courses 7
COM 501Theoretic Perspectives On Human Communication3
COM 502Communication Research Methods3
Elective Courses
Select up to 6 credits from the following:6
COM 500
Communication And Leadership
COM 503
Communication & Persuasive Influence
COM 505
Rhetoric And Leadership
COM 506
Communications In Small Groups
COM 508
Special Topics Seminar
COM 509
Communication & Conflict Resolution
COM 510
Culture, Media And Representation
COM 511
Understanding Close Relationships
COM 520
Political Communication
COM 530
Advances In Nonverbal Communication
COM 535
Communication Competence
COM 550
Listening: Verbal & Nonverbal Perception
COM 551
Public Relations Research And Writing
COM 561
Strategic Media Content
COM 563
Visual Communication
COM 570
Conc Foundations Comm Train & Devel
COM 575
Seminar On Speech Pedagogy
1

To encourage B.A. in Media & Culture majors to further develop written competence, a grade of C or better is required in WRT 120 and the 200-level composition course.

2

A grade of C- or better is required in the 202-level course in another language. If a major employs the culture cluster option to fulfill their language requirement, a C- or better is required in the 102-level of the language and in each of the culture cluster courses.

3

A grade of C or better must be earned in any MDC course in order for it to meet a department requirement. Also, a 2.5 average or better must be earned in the aggregate of lower- and upper-division courses before graduation will be recommended.

4

Students who exhaust their course repeat options and have not earned a grade of C or better in all the prerequisite MDC courses will be advised that they will not be able to complete the requirements for a B.A. in Media & Culture. The department chairperson will offer an exit interview and help them to identify available alternatives.

5

ART 113 can be used instead of MDC 251.

6

This course fulfills the Capstone requirement.

7

COM 501 and COM 502 are required as part of the 12 allowed graduate credits but do not have to be completed before electives. However, early completion is encouraged.

Upon completion of the degree in media and culture, you will have a versatile skillset and a professional portfolio of your work built through your courses, internships, and practical experiences.

Get Started on YourMedia and Culture

Take the next step on your journey toward a media and culture major. Start your application today.

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