Media

S. Smith, Chairperson

bsu.edu/media

Media permeates our everyday lives. In the Department of Media, we prepare students to work in a variety of roles in the ever-growing and always-changing media industry. In general, Media courses are open only to declared departmental majors and minors, or by permission of the Department of Media chairperson.

Students who major in media can choose an area of interest from among these concentrations:

Production: Through application and skills-based courses, students learn to create audio, video, and multimedia content for distribution across multiple platforms, including interactive and online media, plus television, radio, and film. Prepares students to work in content creation roles across film, television, marketing, social media, and others.

Sports Production: An offshoot of the production concentration, these students focus on producing and creating media content to tell sports stories across media platforms, including live event broadcasts and live streams. Sports Production students choose one of two areas: Sports Link (additional application required) or Esports Production. Sports Link students focus on creating content that promotes Ball State University Athletics teams and athletes. Esports Production students learn to create content for the growing world of esports by producing and delivering live, multi-player gaming competitions for the Ball State Esports varsity team.

Multimedia and Broadcast Storytelling (News): These students learn to gather, prepare, and present ethical, fair, and relevant news content across multiple platforms. Through application and skills-based courses, students learn to research, write, shoot, edit, and present audio and video news stories for traditional and emerging platforms. Prepares students for careers in news and related industries.

Sports Reporting: This concentration teaches students to tell sports stories using a journalistic lens so they are prepared to work in the world of sports broadcast journalism. Whether reporting the stories of athletes, organizations, or the games themselves, students in this concentration will be prepared for careers across the sports media spectrum. 

Media Promotion and Management: Offers courses in the theory and practice of promoting and managing media campaigns and content. Prepares students to work in client-facing roles in media and media-related companies.

Film and Media Studies: Using a mix of theory and applied courses, Film and Media Studies students examine the relationships between visual media and society, focusing on critical thinking, writing, and research. Designed for students who want to hone their writing, research, and analysis skills, and expand their knowledge of both modern and historic media content. An excellent choice for students interested in graduate studies in film, media, popular culture and more.

The Department of Media prioritizes experiential, immersive, and high-impact learning that happens in facilities managed by students and professional staff. The department has a history of providing practical learning opportunities through internships at media outlets, including broadcast operations, film studios, ad agencies, and production facilities. Accolades include Student Academy Awards®, nearly 60 regional Emmy® awards, and more than 40 NATAS Student Production Awards, plus honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, Indiana Association of School Broadcasters, and the Sports Video Group.  

To graduate as a Media major or minor, students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

Majors cannot choose more than one concentration in the department but may be eligible to select a minor in the department:

Minor in Film/Screenwriting: An 18-credit minor offered jointly by the Department of Media and the Department of English that includes 9 credits from each unit. The minor is open to all Ball State students except Media majors in Film and Media Studies concentration; only ENG 285 may count in both the minor and any Media or English major.

Minor in Sports Studies: An 18-credit minor offered jointly by the Department of Media and the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication. The minor is open to declared majors in either department, except for Media majors in the Sports Reporting concentration, and to other majors with permission of the chairperson of the Department of Media.

Minor in Media Promotion and Management: A 20-credit minor open to all Ball State students except Media majors with a concentration in Media Promotion and Management. 

Media majors have the option of earning a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. The B.A. degree requires additional credit in four semesters or the equivalent of one modern or classical language, or American Sign Language (ASL); students may earn credit for previous language study through placement tests administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Classics.

Department of Media Transfer Policy

No more than 6 transfer credits are accepted in any Media major or minor, and transfer credits are limited to 100- and 200-level courses. All Media courses at the 300- and 400-levels must be completed at Ball State University. Policies pertaining to departmental credit older than seven years are available from the department chair.