BS in Media Science
The undergraduate curriculum in Media Science provides core learning in media theory and research, and trains students in how to create, distribute, and evaluate media messages in a strategic manner. By acquiring knowledge, skills, and proficiencies in these areas, students will be able to pursue careers in the following areas of strategic media content creation and media practices: media design and content creation, message development and dissemination, and analysis and evaluation. Graduates of this program will also be able to pursue advanced academic study in the field of communication, with a particular focus on media effects and processes, health communication, political communication, marketing communication research, and media and message design and evaluation.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Science, students will be able to:
- Obtain knowledge, skills, and proficiencies based in empirical science for creating, distributing, and evaluating media content.
- Apply communication theories and principles to develop and use effective media strategies and content.
- Conduct research and advanced data analytics for informed media practice.
- Analyze media use and effects within a dynamic media landscape.
Curriculum
All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Media Science will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy all BU Hub requirements in Communication as well as most of the requirements in the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.
Requirements specific to the College of Communication Bachelor of Science degree in Media Science are separated into three levels. The first level is college-wide requirements—4 units comprising COM CO 101 and an additional 0-unit Professional Experience—that provide the foundation for a future in any communication field. Beyond that are departmental requirements, 24 units which encompass important aspects of all three departmental majors: Advertising, Media Science, and Public Relations. Then, there are the Media Science major requirements, 28 units incorporating study in media effects, consumer insight, communication theory, and research-related study available in classroom-based, field-based, and abroad-based environments.
COM Requirements
(1 course and a Professional Experience; 4 units)
- COM CO 101 The Human Storyteller (minimum grade of C required to continue in COM) (coreq: first-year writing seminar or equivalent)
- COM CO 575 COM Professional Experience (0 units)
Departmental Requirements
(4 total courses; 16 units)
- COM CM 180 Understanding Media (can be taken by first-year students)
- COM CM 321 Communication Research Methods (prereq: COM CM 180, sophomore standing)
- COM CM 331 Writing for Communication (prereq: COM CO 201)
- COM CO 201 Introduction to Communication Writing (can be taken by first-year students) (prereq: first-year writing seminar or equivalent)
Major Requirements
(Choose 4 out of the following 5 courses; 4 total courses, 16 units.)
- COM CM 280 Persuasion Theory (prereq: COM CM 180)
- COM CM 434 Media Analytics (prereq: COM CM 321)
- COM CM 481 Media Law and Policy
- COM CM 535 Political Campaigns
- COM CM 539 Health Campaigns
Media Science Electives
(Students must choose 12 units.)
- COM CM 211 Professional Presentation
- COM CM 280 Persuasion Theory (prereq: COM CM 180)
- COM CM 422 Advanced Communication Research Methods (prereq: COM CM 321)
- COM CM 434 Media Analytics (prereq: COM CM 321)
- COM CM 461 Adv Special Topics for Undergrads (prereq: COM CM 180)
- COM CM 462 MedSci Special Topics for Undergrads (prereq: COM CM 180)
- COM CM 463 PR Special Topics for Undergrads (prereq: COM CM 180)
- COM CM 464 Communication Cross-Dept Special Topics (prereq: COM CM 180)
- COM CM 471 Internship (2–4 units) (prereq: COM CM 280 and CM 331, good academic standing)*
- COM CM 481 Media Law and Policy
- COM CM 501 Design Strategy and Software
- COM CM 504 Data Visualization (prereq: COM CM 321)
- COM CM 507 Media and Well-Being
- COM CM 509 Digital Deception: AI, Deepfakes, and Deceiving by Design
- COM CM 510 Media Expression and Communication
- COM CM 514 Communication Technologies
- COM CM 517 Entertainment Media and Society
- COM CM 520 The COMunicator (prereq: COM CM 331)
- COM CM 521E British and European Marketing Strategy (only offered through the London internship program)
- COM CM 523 Design and Interactive Experiences (prereq: COM CM 501 or CM 510)
- COM CM 529 Design Strategy & Software II (prereq: COM CM 501)
- COM CM 531 International Communication
- COM CM 535 Political Campaigns
- COM CM 539 Health Campaigns
- COM CM 551 Children and Media
- COM CM 557 Media Effects (prereq: COM CM 180 and CM 321)
- COM CM 561 Special Topics
- COM CO 531 Advanced Media Writing in the Age of AI (2 units) (prereq: COM CM 331 OR CM 707 OR FT 310 OR JO 200)
* Only 4 total units of COM CM 471 can count for this requirement.
Students pursuing research-based opportunities would be best equipped by taking courses such as COM CM 422, CM 526, and CM 557.
Please note that students cannot double major between Advertising, Media Science, and Public Relations, due to a shared core experience.
While 48 units are required within the College of Communication, students are encouraged to take the majority of the remainder of their courses, both in and out of the Hub, in areas outside of their major in order to augment their academic experience with the professional aspects of their major.
