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 strategically creating, distributing, and evaluating media messages. 
• Understand the role of theory in developing effective media strategies and evaluation approaches for media content and media practices.
• Demonstrate research and professional knowledge, skills, and proficiencies that are conducive for careers in the following areas of strategic media content and media practices: media design and content creation, message development and dissemination, and analysis and evaluation.
• Demonstrate research knowledge, skills, and proficiencies that are conducive for 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.

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 credits comprising COM CO 101 and an additional 0-credit Professional Experience—that provide the foundation for a future in any communication field. Beyond that are departmental requirements, 24 credits which encompass important aspects of all three departmental majors: Advertising, Media Science, and Public Relations. Then, there are the Media Science major requirements, 28 credits 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 credits)

• COM CO 101 The Human Storyteller (minimum grade of C required to continue in COM)
• COM CO 575 COM Professional Experience (0 credits)

Departmental Requirements

(4 total courses; 16 credits)

• 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: CAS WR 120 or transfer equivalent WR 13X)

Major Requirements

(4 total courses; 16 credits)

• COM CM 280 Persuasion Theory (prereq: COM CM 180, sophomore standing)
• COM CM 481 Media Law and Policy (sophomore standing)
• COM CM 535 Political Campaigns (sophomore standing)
• COM CM 539 Health Campaigns (sophomore standing)

Media Science Electives

(students must choose 12 credits)

• COM CM 211 Professional Presentation (sophomore standing)
• COM CM 422 Advanced Communication Research Methods (prereq: COM CM 321)
• COM CM 471 Internship (variable credit) (prereq: COM CM 180 and CM 331, junior standing, good academic standing)*
• COM CM 501 Design Strategy and Software (sophomore standing)
• COM CM 510 Media Expression and Communication (sophomore standing)
• COM CM 514 Communication Technologies (sophomore standing)
• COM CM 520 The COMunicator (prereq: COM CM 331)
• COM CM 523 Design and Interactive Experiences (prereq: COM CM 501 or CM 510, sophomore standing)
• COM CM 526 Integrated Marketing Communication (prereq: COM CM 280)
• COM CM 529 Advanced Design Strategy and Software (prereq: COM CM 501)
• COM CM 555 Advanced Media Writing (prereq: COM CM 331)
• COM CM 557 Media Effects (prereq: COM CM 180 and CM 321)

* Only 4 total credits 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.

-Students pursuing opportunities based more around behavioral and organizational aspects of communication would be best served by taking courses such as COM CM 211, CM 514, and CM 520.

-Students looking for creative opportunities within a media science field would be best suited to take courses such as COM CM 501, CM 523, and CM 529.

-Please note that students cannot double major between Advertising, Media Science, and Public Relations, due to a shared core experience. 

While 48 credits 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.

Students in the College of Communication can count no more than 52 credits (13 courses) in their home department, on the Charles River Campus, toward the degree program. This would include COM CO 201.