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Our media world: graduate studies in media and communications
Media studies, mass communications, media and communications, journalism, global media, and many other media-related subjects have quickly come to the forefront of graduate education. Whether you want to be an academic or a publicist, obtaining a Masters degree or PhD program in media will prove fruitful for those wishing to embark on one of the most “modern” of current careers.
Media studies is a newer branch of the social sciences, and as such, most universities with established social science departments offer graduate programs in media studies and the likes. The London School of Economics (LSE) is one university whose one-year MSc in Media and Communications program has gained notoriety around the world; it is estimated that more than 70% of this year’s class are international students. Professor Robin Mansell, who teaches the New Media, Knowledge, and Innovation Systems course at the LSE, discusses why many students are drawn to graduate programs in this field: “Postgraduate training in the field of media gives one a better understanding of the media around us. The graduate will be able to relate things going on in the media to other things of our time – like democratization, citizenship, and globalization. The skill set and breadth of knowledge a graduate of the MSc program in Media and Communications will attain will allow the person to step back from simple claims and assess issues at a greater level.”
Professor Mansell also talks about the career benefits of having a graduate degree in Media: “It is also an entrée to a more senior level of employment. Having a Masters will regard the candidate as having a number of skills that someone with a Bachelor’s does not have.” And what types of careers do media graduates embark on? “A surprising range of careers,” says Robin, “some have a deep interest in journalism; some go into public relations; and more go on to issue-specific sorts of careers like working for NGOs. Interestingly, some get into the legal profession; particularly those interested in new media regulation.”
The University of Melbourne, in Australia, also offers Masters degrees and PhD programs in Media and Communications, and attracts students from all over the world. Students taking Masters degrees can elect from a wide range of courses like Stardom, Media, Culture; The Contemporary Publishing Industry; Cultural Policy and Power; and Literature and Film in Contemporary China, to name a few. The MA in Global Media Communication focuses on the impact of globalization, but also offers practical experience – students are given the opportunity to intern at a media-related business in order to get that hands-on experience they may be seeking.
Should I specialize?
If the realm of media is too general for your liking, you may consider a more specialized Masters degree or PhD program. Journalism and new media are two such graduate degrees that are offered at top universities around the world.
There are myriad options from which to choose, regardless of your study destination.
UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, for example, offers the two-year Master of Journalism (M.J.), which allows students to specialize even further – Photojournalism; Environmental and Science Journalism; Documentary; Radio; Urban Reporting; and New Media are a few of the programs of study offered by the school.
Tomorrow’s journalist craving the international experience can apply for the Universiteit Van Amsterdam’s European Masters Program in Journalism. The course enables the student to study in a variety of European countries. The first semester commences in Denmark; the second in Amsterdam. Students then have the option of studying in Germany or the UK. In the ever-shrinking international media world, graduates with this kind of experience will be amongst the most in demand in their field.
The academic subject of media and communications is often firmly grounded in its social science background, offering less practical and more contextual programs that are offered in many internationally respective universities.
