Media & Communication B.A.
Degree: B.A.
Location(s): Rhode Island
Length: 4 years
Internship: Required, 6 credits
Credits: 120
Everyone Has a Story to Tell
Whether your passion is film, music, television, news, photography or any aspect of the media landscape, this program affords you the opportunity to explore how media shape the way we live.
Our interdisciplinary approach allows you to view the world through a variety of perspectives and apply academic theories to real work in media production and storytelling. You’ll have access to hands-on experiences in our Center for Media Production, where you can learn how to use an impressive inventory of industry-standard media equipment.
And you’ll have an opportunity to get involved in our media clubs and organizations, such as the campus newspaper (The Campus Herald), the JWU Media Production Club, the AD Team and the JWU Players theater group.
Curriculum
Credits Major Courses | ||
| MCOM1005 | Introduction to Media & Communication | 3 |
| MCOM1150 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 |
| MCOM2010 | Media Industries | 3 |
| MCOM2030 | Media Texts | 3 |
| MCOM2050 | Media Audiences | 3 |
| MCOM2550 | Introduction to Multimedia Storytelling | 3 |
| MCOM3090 | Critical Perspectives on New Media | 3 |
| MCOM4010 | Global Media | 3 |
| MCOM4200 | Media & Communication Capstone | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Choose seven of the following courses (at least two in each elective category): | 21 | |
Media Studies | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Art History | ||
| World Cinemas | ||
| Media Law | ||
| The Graphic Novel | ||
| Communicating for Social Change | ||
| Children, Youth and Media | ||
| Visual Communication | ||
| Television Studies | ||
| American Film | ||
| Media Identities | ||
| Radio, Records and Popular Music | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Hip-Hop Culture | ||
| Latinx Music Culture | ||
| Media Research Methods | ||
| Media & Popular Culture | ||
Media Production & Storytelling | ||
| Newswriting | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
| Sports Writing | ||
| Fashion Writing | ||
| Advanced Nonfiction Writing Workshop | ||
| Writing for Radio, Television and Film | ||
| Foundations of Digital Photography | ||
| Writing for Publication | ||
| Writing in Digital Media | ||
| Environmental Journalism | ||
| Motion Picture Editing | ||
| Sound Production | ||
| Advanced Photographic Practices | ||
| Narrative Filmmaking | ||
| Documentary Filmmaking | ||
| Cinematic Lighting Studio | ||
| Applied/Experiential Learning | ||
| Choose 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| College of Arts & Sciences Internship | ||
| Undergraduate Research Experience | ||
| Honors Directed Academic Experience | ||
Study Abroad | ||
| Related Professional Studies | ||
| Choose three of the following: | 9 | |
Food Media | ||
| Foundations of Wine | ||
| Introduction to Food Product Development | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| Food Media Presentation Skills | ||
| Advanced Food Writing: The Food Memoir | ||
| Beverage Appreciation | ||
| Food In Film And Literature | ||
| Introduction to Food Systems | ||
| Culture and Food | ||
Marketing | ||
| Marketing Communications | ||
| Influencer Marketing | ||
| Content Creation and Generative AI | ||
| Media Buying and Planning | ||
| Introduction to Digital/Social/Mobile Media | ||
| Marketing Foundations | ||
| Social and Digital Media Marketing | ||
Design | ||
| Motion Design I | ||
| Motion Graphics II | ||
| Design for Video I | ||
| Design for Video II | ||
| 3D Modeling & Animation | ||
Entertainment | ||
| Introduction to the Music Industry | ||
| Concert, Tour and Music Festival Production Management | ||
Social Identities | ||
| Introduction to Gender Studies | ||
| A Multicultural History of America | ||
| Race, Politics and Power in America | ||
| Women in American Political Life | ||
| Gender in Global Perspective | ||
| University Core Curriculum | ||
| Communicating | 9 | |
| Rhetoric & Composition I | ||
| Rhetoric & Composition II | ||
| Communication Skills | ||
| Connecting | 6 | |
Two courses with the Connecting attribute (ECNG), one at the 2000 level, one at the 4000 level | ||
| Experiencing | 6 | |
| Introduction to Film | ||
Additional course with the Experiencing attribute (EEXP) in a different discipline | ||
| Measuring | 6 | |
| A Survey of College Mathematics (or higher, based on student’s placement) | ||
Additional course with the Measuring attribute (EMEA) | ||
| Exploring | 3 | |
One course with the Exploring attribute (EEPL) | ||
| Interacting | 6 | |
| Sociology I | ||
Additional course with the Interacting attribute (EINT) in a different discipline | ||
| A&S Electives | 6 | |
Two courses with the Arts & Sciences elective attribute (EASC) | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| 15 credits selected from 1000-4999 numbered offerings within the university | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120.0 | |
“I found my home in this program.”
Liznett Rivera ’24 shares why she chose the Media & Communication program and what she loved most about it in a video she produced with fellow classmate CJ Perrone ’24.
Experiential Education
Whether you’re analyzing existing media or creating your own, you need real-world examples and projects to fuel your lessons. Dissect movies, music or news articles to understand their effects on society. Write and direct your own short film. Work with local businesses and organizations on projects that will impact the community. When your education is experiential, every day of class is an exciting one.
Why Study Media & Communication at JWU?
- You’ll collaborate with other majors on integrative projects.
- You’ll have exciting internship opportunities — students in this program have recently interned at local news and radio stations, Sony Music, the R.I. International Film Festival, iHeart Media and more.
- JWU has a dedicated Center for Media Production built for this program.
- This program is housed in the arts district of downtown Providence, where you have walkable access to an array of media performance venues.
Special Events & Programs
Media & Communication students enjoy program-specific events and trips organized by faculty.
You’ll participate in events and trips such as:
- Film festival screenings for the Rhode Island International Film Festival, the Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Film Festival and the Rhode Island Black Film Festival, hosted by the Center for Media Production
- Industry panels and guest speakers
- Alumni speakers
- Visits to the Providence bureau of the Boston Globe
- Field trips to New York and Boston media venues and museums
Careers Launched
Here’s a small sample of Media & Communication alumni placement:
- Katie Gillen ’19, Royalties Coordinator, Universal Music
- Aaron Aguilar ’24, Promotions Assistant, WPRI
- Danielle Flores ’22, News Producer, WPRI
- Georgie Dean ’21, Graduate Student, University of Arkansas
- Olivia Randolph ’20, Associate, People Experience, Sony Music
- Alexandra Elliot ’20, International Marketing Assistant, Warner Music
- Laina Terry ’19, Founder, Pronto Public Relations
Career Possibilities
*Media can include news, film, television, digital/social, video games, music and radio.
Some professions may require additional study, background checks, certifications, licenses, exams and/or experience as required qualifications for employment. Students are responsible for verifying that they can meet the employment requirements of potential employers.
- Art director
- Journalist
- Marketing research analyst
- Media editor*
- Media director*
- Media producer*
- Project manager
- Social media manager
- Brand manager
- Speech or technical writer
The Center for Media Production
This center is home to two light-controlled studio spaces with moveable green screens, a soundproofed podcast studio, two editing suites, a writer’s room, 24 powerful Mac Pro workstations, a 4k projector and projection screen, and high-end video and photo equipment.
Explore the Center for Media Production
Study Media & Communication in Providence, Rhode Island
Faculty Contact
Evan Villari
Professor and Director of The Center for Media Production
College of Arts & Sciences
401-598-2463
evan.villari@jwu.edu