Graduate Programs in Emerging Media Studies at Boston University
Emerging media studies explores how technologies like AI, social media, VR, AR, streaming platforms, and big data shape human behavior, culture, institutions, and society. BU launched the nation’s first PhD in this field, and the MA that followed has been preparing students for research, technology, policy, and academic careers ever since.
This is where students ask questions that don’t have established answers yet: How does AI influence public opinion? What does virtual reality do to empathy? How do social platforms govern themselves, and who holds them accountable?
You’ll find the answers inside eye-tracking labs, VR rigs, and live social-data research environments. And you’ll publish them before you graduate.
Programs in Emerging Media Studies
- MA in Emerging Media Studies: Three semesters of research, analytics, client-sponsored projects, and hands-on experience studying how people interact with emerging technologies.
- PhD in Emerging Media Studies: For students ready to push the field forward. Independent, mentored research in one of the most active emerging media programs in the country.
What students here actually do
Recent projects have explored everything from TikTok political memes and VR empathy responses to climate activism on social media and AI’s role in media governance—all presented at the annual #ScreentimeBU conference, the student-run showcase of cutting-edge emerging media research.
Research that solves real problems
The year-long industry lab (EM777) pairs students with professional sponsor organizations — from global tech companies to NGOs — to design and conduct original data-driven research that solves real problems. You’ll present and publish your findings, too.
Career outcomes for emerging media studies graduates
Emerging Media Studies graduates apply research skills across technology, media, healthcare, public policy, consulting, and higher education. They help organizations understand how people interact with technology, make sense of complex data, and navigate the social impact of emerging platforms and tools. They work as research scientists, UX researchers, policy analysts, and university faculty. Employers include Meta Reality Labs, the United Nations Development Programme, NIH, Nielsen, MIT Media Lab, and institutions of higher education around the world.
Rankings and Reputation
Emerging media studies is a field so new it lacks its own popular rankings — but BU is consistently recognized across the disciplines that feed into it.
- No. 3: Best Schools for Digital Communication 2025, College Factual
- No. 1: Best Schools for Public Relations & Advertising in the U.S. 2025, College Factual
- Top Film Schools in North America, Variety (unranked list)
- No. 2: Best Journalism Schools 2025, College Factual
Students publish in journals like New Media & Society and present research at conferences around the world.
The faculty
BU COM’s emerging media faculty are active researchers studying AI governance, disinformation, VR, social media, political communication, and human-technology interaction – and bringing that live research into your courses.
AI and the future
The division’s AI and the Future initiative examines how artificial intelligence is transforming media, communication, work, governance, and everyday life.
Students explore both the opportunities and challenges of AI — from platform governance and algorithmic accountability to audience behavior, trust, and the future of human-machine interaction.
Common questions about BU’s Emerging Media Studies programs
What is emerging media studies?
Emerging media studies is the social science of how new technologies — AI, VR, AR, social platforms, and big data — 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.
What is the difference between emerging media studies and UX research?
Emerging media studies examines how people, technologies, platforms, and societies interact. UX research focuses more specifically on understanding users and improving products. Emerging media studies often explores broader questions about technology’s social, cultural, political, and behavioral impact.
What degrees does BU offer in emerging media studies?
BU’s College of Communication offers two graduate degrees: the MA in Emerging Media Studies, a three-semester research-focused master’s program, and the PhD in Emerging Media Studies, designed for students pursuing independent research and academic careers. BU launched the nation’s first PhD in this field in 2014.
What can I do with an emerging media studies degree from BU?
Graduates work as research scientists, UX researchers, policy analysts, digital strategists, and university faculty. Employers include Meta Reality Labs, NIH, Nielsen, the UN Development Programme, MIT Media Lab, and major tech companies. Some graduates continue into faculty positions at universities in the US and abroad.
Is the MA in Emerging Media Studies STEM-designated?
Yes. The MA is STEM-designated, making international graduates eligible for the 36-month OPT extension to work in the US after graduation.
Do I need a background in media or communications to apply?
No. Both programs welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds — sociology, psychology, computer science, business, and beyond. What matters most is curiosity about how technology shapes human behavior and a commitment to rigorous research.
