Media Studies

Undergraduate Program

Introduction to the Major

Media Studies(link is external)is an interdisciplinary group major that weds a variety of traditions including communication, anthropology, sociology, political science, and journalism with contemporary critical and cultural studies to examine media technologies, forms, institutions, economics, policies, culture, and audiences. Students learn media history, practice, and theory in the United States and abroad. Media Studies students specialize in one of three areas of concentration: Digital Studies, Global Cultural Studies, or Media Law and Policy.

Admission to the Major 

For information regarding applying to the Media Studies major, visit the Media Studies Applying pages: mediastudies.ugis.berkeley.edu/applying-overview(link is external) and mediastudies.ugis.berkeley.edu/prerequisites/(link is external). Media Studies has four prerequisite courses. One is Media Studies 10 or W10: Introduction to Media Studies. It is open to sophomores after two semesters at Berkeley and first-semester transfer students. Beginning fall 2020, students are required to take this course at Berkeley.

It’s interdisciplinary, touches on many interconnected subjects, and explains media’s large impact on society.
Media Studies Graduate, 2019

Four-Year Student Timeline

What Can I Do With My Major?

As Media Studies draws from many traditions, graduates have gone into a variety of fields such as media, marketing, law, journalism, business operations, and education.

Jobs and Employers

  • Asst. Account Exec., Ogilvy

  • Brand Design Strategist, Gensler

  • Copy Editor/Web Producer, Politico

  • Executive Asst., Google

  • Digital Marketing Strategist, LQ Digital

  • Marketing, Facebook

  • Media Director, Digitas UK

  • Media Supervisor, MediaCom

  • News NOW Reporter, USA TODAY

  • Product Marketing, Dell

  • Production Coordinator, DreamWorks

  • Social Media Manager, Crunchyroll

  • Talent Acquisition, Microsoft 

  • User Analyst, Zynga

Graduate Programs

  • Advertising, MA

  • Communications Data Science, MS

  • Journalism, MA

  • Law, JD

  • Media, Technology, & Society, PhD

  • Public Relations, MA

  • Screen Cultures, PhD 

  • Sport Management, MA

  • Strategic Marketing, MA

Examples gathered from the First Destination Survey(link is external) of recent Berkeley graduates and Media Studies Program(link is external).

Learn More

Connect With Us

Cal Day

Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House(link is external) in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.

Golden Bear Orientation

Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation(link is external) program for all new students.

Events

Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit mediastudies.ugis.berkeley.edu(link is external) for news and updates.

Advising

Students can reach out to the Media Studies Student Academic Advisors below:

Laura Demir(link is external)

Chelsea Prieto(link is external)

Advising Drop-In Hours

Visit mediastudies.ugis.berkeley.edu/people/(link is external) for advising drop-in days and times.

How to Use this Map

Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.