Among the Best Schools for Communications and Media
At one of the best schools for communications and media, BU’s media science degrees place you at the intersection of strategy and creativity. Get hands-on experience to understand how media influences individuals, communities, and industries. Explore topics with expert faculty like health or political communication, branding, and entertainment in high-tech labs, eye-tracking and social listening tools, and more.
Advanced research labs—work in BU’s Communication Research Center and Zimmerman Center, designing studies and understanding audiences. Join cross-disciplinary teams at the Media Innovation Center to explore media’s impact on climate action and civic trust.
Faculty experts + mentors—learn from scholars shaping public opinion research, social media trends, health messaging, political communication, and media psychology. You’re connecting with mentors who can access networks to help you grow.
Tailored career paths + immersive experiences—choose courses across advertising, PR, UX, entertainment, health or political communication, or marketing communication—then build experience to land a career in research, strategy, or content.
Media Science Awards & Other Proof Points
BU COM is ranked among the best schools for communications and media. Students in our media science degrees present at national conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Faculty win top research honors and lead international projects on digital behavior and media influence.
- No. 3: Best Schools for Digital Communication 2025, College Factual
- No. 4: Best Colleges for Communications 2025, College Transitions
- Best Communication and Media Studies Schools, College Factual
Programs in Media Science
Undergraduate
Where Media Science Can Take You
Media science degree alumni from BU COM, one of the best schools for communications and media, go into UX research, media strategy, health communication, political communication, marketing analytics, and more. They work at places like Meta, Lenovo, Boston Celtics, National Crime Prevention Council, Digitas, hospitals, NGOs, and entertainment networks.
91% of BS in Media Science alumni are employed, in school, or in another chosen activity as one of the best schools for communications and media
Alumni in Media Science
Ben Sturner (COM’99)
Ben is the founder and CEO of Leverage Agency, a firm that focuses on sponsorship and branded integration with leagues, teams, events, stadiums, athletes, and television shows. He is widely regarded as one of the top entrepreneurs in the global sports and entertainment marketing industry.
Sara Al-Tukhaim (COM’07)
Sara turned her BU Media Science degree into a powerhouse career—rising to SVP of retail insights at Kantar Consulting, where she was a go-to voice on shopper trends. She then launched the Toyary, a sustainability-minded toy-lending start-up spotlighted by the Boston Globe.
Michaela Ion (COM’04)
Michaela channels her BU Media Science training at Sony Electronics, where she is editor in chief of the Alpha Universe platform and architect of the $25K Alpha Female creator-in-residence program, powering inclusive storytelling worldwide.
Events and Experiences in Media Science Degrees
Research Colloquia
Share your findings with faculty and peers in student-led symposiums.
Internships at Home + Abroad
Work with local firms, hospitals, or media orgs to apply your social scientific study of media in real-world roles—or consider an internship abroad in London.
Research Facilities and Student-Run Agencies
Our facilities, labs, and studios make BU COM one of the best schools for communications and media. We are home to the longest-running student-led ad agency in the world.
Communication Research Center
Collaborate with leading faculty on cutting-edge research in media effects, AI, and communication technology at BU’s hub for scholarly innovation.See the Research Center
Zimmerman Family Social Activation Center
Put your media insights to work designing real-world campaigns that drive social change, using state-of-the-art tools for behavioral strategy and audience engagement.
AdLab
Gain agency experience by creating strategy-backed advertising for real clients—no simulations, just results.
COMLab
Test your strategic thinking in this student-run communications agency, where you’ll develop campaigns, messaging, and media plans for actual organizations.
PRLab
Build your portfolio and sharpen your PR skills in the nation’s oldest student-run public relations agency serving real clients.
The COMmunicator
Cover the stories shaping COM and the media world—while refining your writing, editing, and content strategy skills on a student-run multimedia platform.
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