Media majors at Ball State learn how to use video, audio, film, and multimedia to develop, design, write, and create stories for a wide range of audiences. Choose from several concentrations, including Production, Sports Production , Esport Production, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics, Film and Media Studies, Broadcast and Multimedia News, Media Promotion and Management or Sports Reporting.
48-57 credits
Media Major Core Curriculum, 16 credits
All Media majors are required to take the following courses as part of their curriculum. These courses count in any concentration you choose.
Production concentration, 32 credits
In the production concentration, you'll examine the theory behind technology and its use in storytelling, master the art of content creation for traditional and innovative media, and learn how to create interactive products for today's media environment. Students may find their passion in one of three main areas: Production, Sports Production or Esports Production.
| MDIA 115 | Media and the Creative Process | 3 |
| MDIA 206 | Writing for Electronic Media: Scriptwriting | 1 |
| MDIA 207 | Writing for Electronic Media: Copywriting | 1 |
| MDIA 332 | Audio and Video Fundamentals | 3 |
| MDIA 499 | Applied Media Production | 3-6 |
15 credits from:
Management Elective, 3 credits from:
Film and Media Studies Elective, 3 credits from:
Sports Production, 33 credits
Combines a passion for media creativity with a love of sports. A concentration in sports production empowers the use of innovative technology to create sports content for distribution across multiple platforms. Students receive special instruction in live-event production and storytelling for leading national sports networks and platforms, as well as esport platforms. Students should choose either Sports Link or Esports Production.
Sports Link, 33 credits
The Sports Link sub-concentration focuses on traditional live event production and sports storytelling with delivery across multiple media platforms.
*Three credits each are required in MDIA 379 and MDIA 381 and MDIA 499 as part of the concentration
| MDIA 110 | Broadcast News and Sports Writing | 3 |
| MDIA 115 | Media and the Creative Process | 3 |
| MDIA 206 | Writing for Electronic Media: Scriptwriting | 1 |
| MDIA 207 | Writing for Electronic Media: Copywriting | 1 |
| MDIA 288 | Special Topics in Media | 1-3 |
| MDIA 332 | Audio and Video Fundamentals | 3 |
| MDIA 334 | Storytelling Techniques | 3 |
| MDIA 337 | Cinematography and Lighting Design | 3 |
| MDIA 379 | Student Media Practicum | 1-12 |
| MDIA 381 | Sports and Electronic Media | 3-6 |
| MDIA 499 | Applied Media Production | 3-6 |
6 credits from:
Esports Production, 33 credits
The Esports sub-concentration explores the world of esports, focusing on live esports event production and storytelling with delivery to audiences and platforms most associated with esports.
*Three credits each are required in MDIA 379 and MDIA 381 and MDIA 499 as part of the concentration
6 credits from:
Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Production, 41 credits
Combine your passion for computer generated effects and film making in our Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Production concentration. This concentration focuses on learning industry practices in integrating live-action footage with computer generated imagery elements to create realistic visual productions. Students will also create content, using XR (extended reality), and working in virtual production studios.
| MDIA 115 | Media and the Creative Process | 3 |
| MDIA 206 | Writing for Electronic Media: Scriptwriting | 1 |
| MDIA 207 | Writing for Electronic Media: Copywriting | 1 |
| MDIA 332 | Audio and Video Fundamentals | 3 |
| MDIA 450 | Virtual Production | 3-6 |
Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Core, 24 credits
6 credits from:
Film and Media Studies, 32 credits
The relationship between film and society has always been complex, and that relationship in our technologically advanced world has become even more compelling. A challenging blend of scholarly study and hands-on learning, our concentration in film and media studies takes students through an in-depth examination of film, television, and other forms of media that people experience every day. This concentration is an excellent precursor to graduate studies or multiple careers across the media industry.
9 credits from:
Media Promotion and Management, 32 credits
Offers courses in the theory and practice of managing, promoting and delivering media time and content. Prepares students for careers in promotion, and management, and media sales.
6 credits from:
| MDIA 347 | Special Topics in Media Promotion and Management | 3 |
| ADPR 250 | Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| ADPR 261 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| ADPR 348 | Social Media Management and Practice | 3 |
| ADPR 352 | Media Planning | 3 |
| ADPR 355 | Branding for Advertising | 3 |
| COMM 251 | Business and Professional Communication | 3 |
| COMM 320 | Persuasion | 3 |
| COMM 322 | Communication and Popular Culture | 3 |
| COMM 375 | Advanced Presentation Design and Delivery | 3 |
| ECON 116 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Elementary Microeconomics | 3 |
| ENG 231 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 |
| HOSP 287 | Introduction to Event Management | 3 |
| HOSP 387 | Event Mechanics and Promotions | 3 |
| MKG 310 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MKG 300 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKG 325 | Professional Selling | 3 |
| MKG 420 | Integrated Marketing Communications | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 32 |
Broadcast and Multimedia News, 35 credits
Take a deep dive into delivering news and information to a diverse audience across multiple media platforms. The Broadcast and Multimedia News concentration prepares you to tell journalistic stories using video, audio and other tools in a multimedia storytelling environment. While not required, students in the Broadcast and Multimedia News concentration can double major, if they choose, in Journalism's News Writing and Reporting concentration with an additional 15 credit hours.
3 credits from:
| MDIA 179 | Introduction to Student Media | 1-6 |
| MDIA 306 | Audiences and Analytics | 3 |
| MDIA 308 | Exhibition and Distribution | 3 |
| MDIA 326 | Podcasts, Play by Play, and Presentation | 3 |
| MDIA 335 | Extended Reality (XR) Design and Development | 3 |
| MDIA 350 | Motion Graphics for Media | 3 |
| MDIA 351 | Web Development | 3 |
| MDIA 352 | Aerial Storytelling | 3 |
| MDIA 379 | Student Media Practicum | 1-12 |
| MDIA 424 | Advanced Sports Reporting and Delivery | 3-6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 35 |
Sports Reporting, 34 credits
Telling the stories of some of America's favorite past times is at the center of the sports reporting concentration. This concentration will prepare you to tell journalistic stories using all the tools of the trade.
| ADPR 122 | Sports Media and Strategic Communication | 3 |
| CCIM 125 | Fundamentals of Sports Content Creation | 3 |
| COMM 355 | Communication and Sport | 3 |
| MDIA 110 | Broadcast News and Sports Writing | 3 |
| MDIA 326 | Podcasts, Play by Play, and Presentation | 3 |
| MDIA 383 | Digital Sports Seminar | 3-6 |
| MDIA 424 | Advanced Sports Reporting and Delivery | 3-6 |
| NEWS 133 | Multimedia: Video | 1 |
| NEWS 215 | News Editing | 3 |
| NEWS 221 | Journalistic Storytelling: Covering Issues | 3 |
6 credits from:
| MDIA 324 | News and Sports Video Storytelling | 3 |
| MDIA 379 | Student Media Practicum | 1-12 |
| MDIA 422 | Advanced Video and Audio Reporting | 3 |
| MDIA 426 | Producing | 3-6 |
| MDIA 497 | Immersion: Internal Projects | 1-6 |
| JOUR 322 | Sportswriting and Reporting | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 34 |