Departments & Programs

The Media School

B.A. in Media
Media Management, Industry and Policy (MIP) Concentration

Purpose

Management, Industry and Policy students will attain a general knowledge and familiarity with the structures of the media "ecosystem," from television to movies, from games to conventional journalism, to broadband and mobile applications and beyond. This "ecosystem" is a complex environment in which people, law, policy, ethics, history, innovation, technology, and organizations function together to create and distribute media content for many different purposes. For this reason, many courses are taught from a "macro" point of view with the intent to help students understand the motivators and pressures which help and limit the success of creative industry of any size, anywhere.

Students must also attain specific knowledge and work methods to enable them to work professionally within the creative industry. While journalism companies and movie studios may share an environment, within their organizations they are very different. These differences are cultural, social, economic, geographical, and ideological. While the attainment of general knowledge helps students appreciate how these businesses are similar, specific knowledge and work methods will help them understand the differences. In a practical sense, specific knowledge--such as how to create project cash-flow statements, or how to clear music rights--may help a student gain a first job with a small production company, that, in combination with a broad understanding, will help them develop a career, no matter what type of company they work for, and no matter how the media "ecosystem" changes over time.

Students will:

  • understand media content as circulated information created, shaped, modified in response to a wide variety of motives and pressures;
  • demonstrate a broad understanding of the media "ecosystem," a complex system of interrelated institutions, technologies and organizations shaped by a variety of policies, laws, and principles that have developed over time with its own history;
  • master specific knowledge and skills essential to success in the creative industries, such as creating cash-flow statements and clearing music rights; and
  • combine their general knowledge of the "ecosystem" with the specific knowledge and skills they acquire to map out a rewarding, ethical, and successful career in media.
Media Management, Industry, and Policy Requirements

1. The Media Management, Industry, and Policy Concentration consists of 15 credit hours, divided as follows:

2. One 9 credit hour Media Management, Industry, and Policy-approved media specialization with a focus closely related to Media Management, Industry and Production. Currently approved specializations include "Creative Industry Management" (MIP) and "Media Law and Ethics."

Within the 24 credit hours for the concentration and approved specialization, students must take:

  • At least one course in each of the three designated areas of study;
  • at least three courses in one of the designated areas of study; and
  • a capstone course or capstone experience.
Designated areas of study in MIP are Creative Industry, Law and Policy, and Technology. These areas are defined as follows:
  • Creative Industry courses are taught at the micro and macro levels, from project management to business management. Courses consider:
    • Creative industries organization and workplace
    • Innovation of media content
    • Project development and management
    • The interaction of media businesses (such as creators and distributors)
  • Law and Policy courses are taught from social science, practical, and economic perspectives. Courses consider:
    • The history of media law and policy in the U.S. and around the world
    • The effect of policy on content creation, audience access, and technology development
    • The role of State, Federal and International law in areas of intellectual property, employment, and business relationships
  • Technology courses are taught from technological, social science, economic, and macro perspectives. Courses consider:
    • The means and practice of media distribution
    • Social networks
    • The impact of device innovation on creative industries

Approved Management, Industry and Policy Concentration Courses

A. Creative Industry (CI) Courses

  • MSCH-A 347 Media Promotion and Marketing (T/CI)   
  • MSCH-A 438 Advertising Issues and Research (LP/CI)   
  • MSCH-A 441 Advanced Advertising Strategies (CI)   
  • MSCH-F 420 Topics in Media History (CI/LP/T)   
  • MSCH-J 409 Media [Journalism] Management   
  • MSCH-J 410 The Media as Social Institutions (CI/LP)   
  • MSCH-J 470 Broadcast Media Analysis (CI)   
  • MSCH-I 492 Media Internship (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-I 497 Telecommunications Internship (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 322 Telecommunications Networks (CI/LP/T)  
  • MSCH-M 326 Network Design (T/CI)
  • MSCH-M 330 Production Management (CI/LP/T)   
  • MSCH-M 329 Cable/Broadband Communications (CI/LP/T)    
  • MSCH-M 343 Electronic Media Sales (T/CI)  
  • MSCH-M 344 Programming Strategies (CI)   
  • MSCH-M 411 Media Industries and Cultural Production (CI)   
  • MSCH-M 421 Economics of Communications Industries (M/CI)   
  • MSCH-M 422 Business Applications in Telecommunications (T/CI)   
  • MSCH-M 446 Telecommunications Management (CI)   
  • MSCH-S 312 Politics and the Media (LP/CI)
  • MSCH-S 348 Audience Analysis (CI)  
  • MSCH-T 427 International Telecommunications (LP/CI)   
  • MSCH-V 496 Foreign Study in Media (CI/LP/T)    

B. Law and Policy Courses

  • MSCH-A 438 Advertising Issues and Research (LP/CI)
  • MSCH-F 420 Topics in Media History (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-I 492 Media Internship (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-I 497 Telecommunications Internship (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-J 300 Communications Law (LP)
  • MSCH-J 407 Newsgathering and the Law (MIP)
  • MSCH-J 410 The Media as Social Institutions (CI/LP)
  • MSCH-S 312 Politics and the Media (LP/CI)
  • MSCH-L 317 Media Ethics and Professional Responsibility (MIP/LP)
  • MSCH-L 322 Telecommunications Policymaking (LP)
  • MSCH-L 424 Telecommunications and the Constitution (MIP)
  • MSCH-L 425 Telecommunications Regulation (MIP)
  • MSCH-L 322 Telecommunications Networks (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 329 Cable/Broadband Communications (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 330 Production Management (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 413 Global Media Issues (MIP/LP)
  • MSCH-M 421 Economics of Communications Industries (M/CI)
  • MSCH-T 427 International Communications (LP/CI)
  • MSCH-V 496 Foreign Study in Media (CI/LP/T)

C. Technology Courses

  • MSCH-A 347 Promotion and Marketing in Telecommunications (T/CI)
  • MSCH-F 420 Topics in Media History (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-I 492 Media Internship (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-I 497 Telecommunications Internship (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 322 Telecommunications Networks (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 326 Network Design (T/CI)
  • MSCH-M 329 Cable/Broadband Communications (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 330 Production Management (CI/LP/T)
  • MSCH-M 343 Electronic Media Sales (T/CI)
  • MSCH-M 421 Economics of Communications Industries (M/CI)
  • MSCH-M 422 Business Applications in Telecommunications (T/CI)
  • MSCH-V 496 Foreign Study in Media (CI/LP/T)