Media Studies

Why Major in Media Studies?

Media scholar and professor Stanley J. Baran says, "The media so saturate our everyday lives that we are often unconscious of their presence, not to mention their influence. Media inform us, entertain us, delight us, annoy us. Media help define us; they shape our realities."

Media Studies is one of the most culturally significant and dynamic fields of study today. Those with degrees in Media Studies have a broad variety of career choices, including television and radio production, journalism, advertising, public relations, promotion, event planning, and media management.

We live in a culture that surrounds us with media. At North Park University, we emphasize media literacy so that you will be well prepared to interact intelligently and effectively with media throughout your life. You will gain a firm grounding in media ethics, theory, regulation, law, and history so that you understand the broad social context in which the media function.

The Media Studies program prepares students:

• To understand and respond to the broad social context of media production
• To become media producers of documentary, journalistic and fictional work—through digital audio and video production, through screenwriting and journalistic writing, and through filmmaking (in Los Angeles)
• To gain crucial professional experience through an internship.

Chicago is a major media market, which provides students with opportunities to meet international and local media professionals, including expert film makers, journalists, and broadcasters. Our classes are small, especially our production classes, allowing for intense work with instructors to develop individual strengths and skills for media professions.

On campus, students have opportunities to put their skills into practice by working for the Media Services Department, the Theatre Program, the university newspaper, The North Park Press, North Park’s yearbook and The Cupola.

We encourage internships for all students and arranged to match the interests of each student. Recent students have interned at ABC news, Chicago Public Television, Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, The Chicago Tribune, as well as advertising and casting agencies.

Film studies opportunities are offered through a one-semester program at the Los Angeles Film Center. Many other study abroad opportunities are available at North Park, as well.

As a Christian university, professors engage students with such questions as, "What role do the media have in Christian ministries?" and "How do you put your faith to work in your chosen media profession?"