Media and Communication

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Media and Communication, M.S.

The School of Journalism and Strategic Media offers the Master of Science degree in Media and Communication. The degree is designed for students seeking an advanced degree in media theory and methods of research.

The degree is appropriate for students who may wish to:

  • advance the level of their work and value as professional
  • become researchers
  • or pursue a doctoral degree

The degree is most relevant to fields such as:

  • advertising
  • journalism
  • online and social media
  • political communication
  • public relations
  • publishing
  • sports media

The degree is especially useful for those seeking to broaden their understanding of the field of media communication and to develop skills relevant to decision making in media-related organizations. The dynamic Media and Communication master's program has a slogan: A time to reflect, a time to advance. Whether the goal is to become a professor, conduct research, or enhance a media career, graduate studies can be tailored to suit each student's needs. One quarter of the coursework in the degree builds a required, strong foundation based on media theory, research, an the First Amendment. The remaining three quarters of coursework are electives chosen by the student in consultation with the program's expert faculty to best customize the degree to the students goals. Master's candidates can choose either a thesis or a professional project track. The thesis is a time-honored approach using cutting-edge methods to create research that generates new knowledge about media and communication. The professional project creates work that helps media and communication professionals add to their career portfolios in innovative ways. MTSU is one of the few universities that offers extensive expertise from both qualitative or quantitative perspectives. Members of the nationally and internationally recognized faculty have a wide range of professional and academic experience. Students are encouraged to think critically and develop creatively with support from peers, guidance from faculty, and resources for research and production. The relatively small size of graduate classes allows for individualized attention to students. Assistant-ships are available, as well as awards, fellowships, and other financial support.

Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Information
Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Information

News Briefs

Professor examines epidemics and media — at a safe distance

Dr. Katie Foss has spent the last few years tracing media's coverage of epidemics in U.S. history. In her latest book project, Foss explores the construction of outbreaks — from smallpox in colonial newspapers to the March of Dimes campaigns for polio research — highlighting how such impactful events have been remembered and forgotten in collective memory. Foss, a professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, routinely brings this research into the M.S. program in Media and Communication, where she teaches Healthcare Communication, Qualitative Methods, and TV Culture and History and advises master thesis students.

Foss is the author of Breastfeeding and Media: Exploring Conflicting Discourses That Threaten Public Health (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) and Television and Health Responsibility in an Age of Individualism (Lexington Press, 2014). She is the editor ofBeyond Princess Culture: Gender, Marketing, & Media (Peter Lang, 2019) andDemystifying the Big House: Exploring Prison Experience and Media Representations(Southern Illinois University Press, 2018).

International media and youth practices dominate Asthana's research

Since 2005, Dr. Sanjay Asthana has been researching children and youth media practices in the Global South. That research resulted in the publication of a monograph for UNESCO, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, policy-oriented reports, and several books. The research dealt with a set of interlinked themes around questions of the capacity of children and youth to give an account, narrate, and resist, even under difficult socioeconomic situations wrought by global capitalism. In March 2007, he presented the research work in Saudi Arabia at an international media education workshop. A year later, Asthana was invited by the United Nations and the Prime Minister of Spain to participate at the First Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Madrid. Building upon these scholarly interests, he researched youth media projects from the United States, South Africa, India, Israel, and Palestine and published a book in 2012.

Asthana recently published another book entitled India's State-run Media: Broadcasting, Power, and Narrative, in which he analyzed broadcasting in colonial and postcolonial India, as well as India's complex state-run media outlets and the ways in which radio and television were instituted and the ways in which people encountered them. "In the current scenario, where broadcast seems to be losing relevance and broadband on the ascendant with the rise of over-the-top streaming media, it is imperative that we understand how radio and television came to be, and the potential continuities and discontinuities between broadcast and broadband. Although there is a growing body of work on Indian media in general and television in particular, I felt that there is more to be explored and studied, hence this book."

News Briefs

Professor examines epidemics and media — at a safe distance

Dr. Katie Foss has spent the last few years tracing media's coverage of epidemics in U.S. history. In her latest book project, Foss explores the construction of outbreaks — from smallpox in colonial newspapers to the March of Dimes campaigns for polio research — highlighting how such impactful events have been remembered and forgotten in collective memory. Foss, a professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, routinely brings this research into the M.S. program in Media and Communication, where she teaches Healthcare Communication, Qualitative Methods, and TV Culture and History and advises master thesis students.

Foss is the author of Breastfeeding and Media: Exploring Conflicting Discourses That Threaten Public Health (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) and Television and Health Responsibility in an Age of Individualism (Lexington Press, 2014). She is the editor ofBeyond Princess Culture: Gender, Marketing, & Media (Peter Lang, 2019) andDemystifying the Big House: Exploring Prison Experience and Media Representations(Southern Illinois University Press, 2018).

International media and youth practices dominate Asthana's research

Since 2005, Dr. Sanjay Asthana has been researching children and youth media practices in the Global South. That research resulted in the publication of a monograph for UNESCO, numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, policy-oriented reports, and several books. The research dealt with a set of interlinked themes around questions of the capacity of children and youth to give an account, narrate, and resist, even under difficult socioeconomic situations wrought by global capitalism. In March 2007, he presented the research work in Saudi Arabia at an international media education workshop. A year later, Asthana was invited by the United Nations and the Prime Minister of Spain to participate at the First Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Madrid. Building upon these scholarly interests, he researched youth media projects from the United States, South Africa, India, Israel, and Palestine and published a book in 2012.

Asthana recently published another book entitled India's State-run Media: Broadcasting, Power, and Narrative, in which he analyzed broadcasting in colonial and postcolonial India, as well as India's complex state-run media outlets and the ways in which radio and television were instituted and the ways in which people encountered them. "In the current scenario, where broadcast seems to be losing relevance and broadband on the ascendant with the rise of over-the-top streaming media, it is imperative that we understand how radio and television came to be, and the potential continuities and discontinuities between broadcast and broadband. Although there is a growing body of work on Indian media in general and television in particular, I felt that there is more to be explored and studied, hence this book."

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CAREERS

The Media and Entertainment M.S. program has a successful placement record for students. The MTSU master's degree also has a national reputation for preparing students for doctoral study at prestigious programs throughout the nation. Some potential professional careers include

  • Advertising executive
  • Content manager
  • Designer account executive
  • Director of communication
  • Director of marketing
  • Director of management
  • Editor
  • Health care communication
  • Media expert
  • Professor
  • Public relations executive
  • Reporter
  • Researcher
  • Writer (professional/technical)

Employers of MTSU alumni include

  • Apple
  • Bohan Advertising
  • Bone McAllester Norton
  • Courthouse News Service
  • Dupuch Publications
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Emeril's Homebase
  • Jarrard, Phillips, Cate, & Hancock
  • Sherwin-Williams Paints
  • The Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union
  • The Tennessean
  • TNA Impact Wrestling
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • University of Illinois
  • Washington State University
  • WESTMARC

REQUIREMENTS

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FACULTY

INFORMATION

Degrees

 

Graduate

The College of Media and Entertainment offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Media and Communication, designed for students seeking an advanced degree in mass media theory and methods of research or for those wishing to advance in their professional field. The degree is appropriate for students who wish to become researchers or pursue a doctoral degree or for media professionals already in the field who seek a broader understanding of the field of media and communication and to develop research and management skills for decision-making in media-related businesses.

A graduate minor in Mass Communication is also available.

Applicants to the M.S. in Media and Communication program must have

  • an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college with official transcripts;
  • an acceptable grade point average (GPA) in all coursework completed;
  • a 500-word Statement of Purpose outlining academic interests and professional goals;
  • three letters of reference

All students in the Media and Communication graduate program must take MC 6000 and 6010 among their first year of coursework.

For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS  tab above.

 

Thesis and Professional Project Information

Thesis
The thesis option is designed for the student seeking to concentrate studies in a particular area and to experience in-depth independent research. The thesis results in the production of traditional academic research.

Professional Project
A professional project is an opportunity for a graduate student to produce work that is both researched and theorized but that also has a professional component.

FAQs

Q: How long does it take to complete the M.S. degree?

A: The program requires completion of 12 courses (designated for the option or concentration the student is seeking) and is designed to be completed in two years for full time students taking three courses for each fall and spring semester. Students taking two courses in the fall, spring and summer semesters, can potentially complete the degree in two years (12 courses). You can have up to six years to complete the degree.

Q: Where do I send my application materials?

A: Admission forms can be found in the Graduate Catalog or online at the College of Graduate Studies. Send admission forms and fees, transcripts, and three letters of reference and statement of purpose to the MTSU College of Graduate Studies, 121A Sam Ingram Building, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.

Q: May I enroll in classes before being formally admitted into the program?

A: Yes. MTSU is an open enrollment university, which means that you may enroll in one course in the Mass Communication program before being formally admitted into our program. However, only certain classes are permitted for students not formally admitted and require a permission of department to enroll. You must be admitted to the program in the semester after you apply for admission into the Mass Communication program in order to continue taking courses in the program.

Q: Is financial aid available?

A: Yes. Limited numbers of graduate teaching assistantships and scholarships are available in addition to other forms of aid. Applications may be obtained from the College of Graduate Studies or from the academic department.Those seeking an assistantship must meet requirements for admission to graduate school and have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. A student who is conditionally admitted cannot be considered for a Graduate Assistantship until the student has met the requirements of the conditional admission. The Student Financial Aid Office in Student Services & Admissions Center, Room 150 has information on various kinds of financial aid.

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