Master of Arts in Media Studies and Production

Increase your knowledge of media analysis, creation and management with the Master of Arts in Media Studies and Production in the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication at 51¶¯Âþ. In this age of digital production and global distribution, media are essential elements of public communications in any professional field, including advocacy, art, commerce, entertainment and politics. Graduates of this program are empowered to enter a broad range of careers in the media world, or to pursue advanced research at the doctoral level.

Media are powerful vehicles for self-expression and social transformation, vital to any contemporary organization. The interdisciplinary media studies and production program explores the potential uses and impacts of media across an array of evolving technologies, platforms and practices. Our approach to education is holistic, structured around two core principles.

  • Creative production emphasizes the cultivation of sophisticated media creators and entrepreneurs, who are empowered to develop innovative and ethical content and to sustain a career doing so.
  • Critical engagement emphasizes the intellectual comprehension of media and the understanding of their relationship to society.

Situated in the heart of Philadelphia, a leading center of media, art and commerce, this program connects you to a diverse urban landscape where local and global cultures interweave. Through our program, you will collaborate with peers and professionals who have unique interests and academic backgrounds, from social sciences and the humanities, to mass communications and communication theory.

Our faculty are acclaimed media scholars and accomplished professional practitioners whose work integrates theory and practice to successfully navigate the continuously evolving media-centric world. .

Find Your Focus

Personalized research and professional opportunities characterize the media studies and production program, and your studies can be tailored to your individual interests. Focus your coursework on one of three areas of specialization, ensuring you achieve your unique academic and career goals.

  • The Media Business specialization covers corporate communications, marketing and research, media management, and media publicity and advertising.

  • The Media Production specialization covers digital platforms, multimedia production, radio, TV and emergent communication technologies.

  • The Communication Scholarship specialization examines media and technology through various lenses, including cultural, economic, historical, political and sociological, and explores the behavior and management of communications systems.

Program Format & Curriculum

The 36-credit Media Studies and Production MA program’s in-person courses are held on 51¶¯Âþ’s Main Campus. Students may complete the program on a full- or part-time basis. 

The following courses are required. 

  • Communication Research Methods

  • Introduction to Communication Concepts

  • Masters Colloquium

  • Media Institutions or Media Technology and Culture

Departmental courses must constitute a minimum of 19 of the 36 credits required to graduate. Provided this requirement is met, students are free to take courses in other departments and pursue an interdisciplinary focus. Learn more about requirements of the Media Studies and Production MA.

Related Graduate Degrees

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Tuition & Fees

In keeping with 51¶¯Âþ’s commitment to access and affordability, this Master of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,221.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,634.00 per credit

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CO-MSP-MA

Additional Program Information