Program Notes
- No GRE required.
- Merit scholarships available, with no additional application required.
- Current BU students & alumni: learn about the Double Terrier scholarship.
- International students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
What is emerging media studies?
Emerging media studies is the social science of how new technologies — AI, VR, AR, social platforms, big data, streaming — shape human behavior, culture, and society. It combines media theory, data analytics, psychology, and applied research to understand not just what people do with technology, but why, and what it means.
An Emerging Media Master’s with hands-on research experience
Conduct research that matters — You’ll learn social science research methods, including focus groups, experiments, surveys, and content analysis, and apply them to the technologies defining contemporary life: VR, AR, social media, big data, and more — rather than the traditional media of a master’s in media studies.
Solve a client challenge — A semester-long research project puts you on a team working with an actual client — a nonprofit, a media startup, an organization with a problem worth solving. Faculty guide the process as you do the work.
Present at a public conference and build your network — The program culminates in COM’s annual #Screentime conference, where you’ll present your research to peers, industry leaders, and the public. It’s built into the program, not an optional extra.
Build a portfolio that shows your range — Research projects, presentations, and consulting solutions to real media challenges – you’ll graduate with evidence of what you can do, not just a credential that says you did something.
Career outcomes for emerging media graduates
MA in Emerging Media Studies graduates work across industries that might surprise you — and a few that won’t. You’ll be ready for a range of careers in the tech industry and data sciences, as well as creative media, marketing, and public relations firms.
Example Employers
- Amazon
- Apple
- China Merchants Bank
- Fidelity
- Hubspot
- IBM
- Linkgraph SEO services
- ODK Media
- Sky Solutions AI
- Target
- Universities in the US and abroad
- And more
Example Roles
MA in Emerging Media Studies alumni hold roles such as market research analysts, UX/UI researchers, product managers, PR specialists, digital marketing specialists, content marketing managers, web developers, multimedia artists, editors — and roles that didn’t exist ten years ago.
Some alumni continue into PhD programs. Others go directly into industry. The degree travels well in both directions.
I knew that I was entering a workforce where I would be surrounded by rapidly changing technology and media… I was looking for guidance on how to learn as much as I could before becoming a subject matter expert in my career.
Samantha Middleton, Alumna and Director of Project Management at Digitas Health
What you’ll learn in this emerging media master’s
You’ll take courses in human behavior, social media analysis, media sociology and psychology, big data, and more. The program is highly customizable — you’ll build your area of expertise with electives across the University.
Explore our courses and curriculum.
- Learn to use software platforms and analytic techniques to study emerging media.
- Analyze online and offline behaviors using theoretical and empirical models.
- Use cutting-edge tools in big data analysis (Gephi, NodeXL, UCINET) and user experience research (iMotions biometric platform), as well as data visualization and core web and data tools such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SPSS, Stata.
- Lead and manage research projects on emerging media issues.
- Produce reports with sophisticated analytical tools and translate research into meaningful insights for clients and audiences.
- Understand and create data visualization from raw data.
You’ll build depth in areas that interest you most — journalism, politics, psychology, sociology, policy — and can draw on electives from other BU colleges, from music to public health to computer science. You define the focus. The program gives you the research foundation to go deep in it.
One of the most impactful courses was EM757. I was introduced to UX research for the first time – methodologies, design principles, and the chance to work with clients to build a portfolio. This experience led me to a career in UX research.
Brittany Andersen, Alumna and Senior User Experience Researcher at Google
Go deeper: research experience and labs
Solve a client challenge with research
You’ll participate in an extensive group research project blending practical skills with social science insights. As part of a team, you’ll address a client problem through research, analytics, and critical thinking. For example, projects might help a local nonprofit build community awareness or a media start-up identify prospective users. Faculty guide you in the research design, data collection, and analysis. Then you’ll present your findings and solutions in a final report.
- AI Use in Higher Education: A Comparative Study of Faculty and Student Perceptions
- Preparing for an AI-Mediated Future: A Mixed-Methods Study of How Student and Media Professionals Perceive Required Competencies
- Trusting the Machine: Psychological Mechanisms Behind Users’ Continuous Intention to Use ChatGPT
- Exploring the motivational driving forces of frequent flyer program engagement: A self-determination theory approach
- Understanding Effective Digital Narratives for Mental Health Branding Among Youth: A Case Study
- From Personalization to Resignation: Interpreting User Attitudes Toward Online Advertising and Data Profiling
- Optimizing AI Literacy Education in K-12: Assessment Strategies in Collaboration with Day of AI Initiative
- Retro Rewind: Nostalgia in Sharing Children’s Media
- Exploring Donor Intentions and Digital Fundraising Strategies for NGOs: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Elaboration Likelihood Model
- Screened Perceptions: Social Media, Am I Not Enough?
- Determinants of Sense of Community Belonging Among Asian-American Social Media Users: Informing the Design of Social Media Strategies for NPOs’ Community Outreach and Engagement
- Cross-Cultural Differences in On-Campus Wellbeing Seeking Behavior: Integrating Theory of Planned Behavior and Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory
- What Do Students Think of Blackboard? Tailoring the Technology Acceptance Model to Evaluate an Online High School’s Learning Management System
Present to industry leaders at the Emerging Media Conference
The program culminates in COM’s annual #ScreentimeBU conference, where you’ll present your research to peers, industry leaders, and the public. You’ll develop your public communication skills and get valuable feedback from experts in the field.
- One of the oldest continuously operating television services in the US
- A user experience (UX) consulting agency
- A nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy and outreach for refugees
- A youth-led nonprofit organization dedicated to youth mental health
- A major research university
- A nonprofit organization founded to democratize access to digital media technology
- A network that’s a top producer of public media that creates groundbreaking children’s content
- A pioneering nonprofit dedicated to making social media safe for all users
- A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the cultural, economic, and historic vitality of neighborhoods
- A university organization dedicated to enhancing the well-being of college students
- A nationally accredited public charter high school that operates entirely online
Pursue rich research opportunities in top labs
Communication Research Center
The Communication Research Center is COM’s primary research hub, established in 1959, with active research groups and labs in:
- Information integrity
- Biometrics
- International communication
- Children’s media
- Story technology and audience response
- Public opinion on societal issues
Zimmerman Family Social Activation Center
You’ll also have access to the Zimmerman Family Social Activation Center, a state-of-the-art facility built for in-depth social media analytics.
Faculty researching the future of media
You won’t find a deeper bench of emerging media researchers anywhere. BU COM faculty are studying social media and polarization, physiological responses to media, augmented and virtual reality, AI, big data, and the psychology and sociology of how people engage with technology – and bringing that active research into the classroom. In a typical master’s in media studies, you dedicate only a portion of time to these technologies, but in BU’s emerging media master’s, you become a true expert.
Are You Ready for the Metaverse?
Margaret Wallace fishes an Oculus 2 headset out of a paper shopping bag. She pulls the boxy white goggles over…
Common questions
Do I need a background in media or communications to apply?
No. The program welcomes applicants from sociology, psychology, computer science, business, and beyond – any background that brings curiosity about how technology shapes human behavior.
Is this program STEM-designated?
Yes. International graduates are eligible for the 36-month OPT extension to work in the US after graduation.
How is this different from a traditional media studies degree?
Traditional media studies programs often focus on journalism, mass communication, or historical media analysis. This program treats media as measurable social systems, combining data-driven research, theory, and applied problem-solving at the intersection of technology, design, policy, and social impact.
See all frequently asked questions.
Also worth exploring
Learn more about our other graduate programs in communication and media, including:
- MS in Media Science: Focuses on how media messages influence audiences, with specializations in health, marketing, or political campaigns.
- MS in Media Science (Marketing Communication Research Concentration): Deep focus on consumer behavior and data-driven marketing strategy. Strong fit for careers in consumer insights, UX research, and analytics across business and nonprofit sectors.
- MS in Media Ventures: Launch bold ideas in entertainment and media in just 11 months. Gain business, strategy, and creative development skills while working in both Boston and Los Angeles.
- MS in Human Centered Design: Built for students heading into UX/UI careers, with end-to-end expertise in product strategy, research, and design.
- PhD in Emerging Media Studies: For students with a master’s degree who want to pursue independent research and academic careers.
Study emerging media in Boston
Boston isn’t just livable – it’s one of the most concentrated tech and innovation ecosystems in the world. Akamai, Hubspot, Wayfair, Moderna, Toast, ScaleAI, and dozens of other companies are headquartered here, which means internships and career opportunities aren’t hypothetical. They’re down the street.
For a program focused on emerging technology, there’s no better city to be in.
