Media Studies
When exploring possible academic majors, begin by investigating the specific programs at Purchase College. Discover more about the BA in media studies, and find out about program requirements, courses, and the program faculty.
Want to find out more about a major? Talk to the chair of the school and the program faculty members to have your questions answered and to get the inside track on being a media studies major at Purchase College.
Career Possibilities
The following is a list of some career possibilities that students in this major might find rewarding. Remember that your major does not necessarily determine your career. Graduates use their academic majors in a variety of professional fields. The options below can be used as a starting point to explore potential career paths; however, you may also want to investigate more using recommended resources to gain a more comprehensive list of careers. Keep in mind that additional education, training, and experiential education beyond your major may be needed to pursue these possibilities.
ACQUIRED SKILLS
- Ability to analyze, interpret, and appropriately convey physical and social events and behaviors to others
- Strong reading skills
- Writes/speaks clearly
- Gather/evaluates information and data
- Ability to create entertaining and persuasive messages
- Ability to relate to people of diverse backgrounds
- Strong decision-making skills
- Create powerful images with sight, sound, motion, and words
- Attention to detail
- Understand institutional and cultural values
CAREER TITLES
- A&R Rep
- Actor
- Advertising Worker
- Art Director
- Assistant Director
- Broadcast Technician
- Community Relations
- Guest Coordinator
- Critic
- Disk Jockey
- Editorial Assistant
- Editorial Writer
- Educator
- Event Planner
- Filmmaker
- Fine Arts Manager
- Journalist
- Key Grip
- Lawyer
- Marketing Director
- Media Buyer
- Media Specialist
- Multimedia Creator
- Multimedia Technician
- Music Director
- Photographer
- Photojournalist
- Producer
- Production Assistant
- Public Relations
- Publicist
- Publisher
- Radio/TV Announcer
- Researcher
- Stage Technician
- Screenwriter
- Technical Writer
- TV/Film Production
- Unit Production Manager
- Writer
TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HIRE
- Advertising Agencies
- Public Relations Firms
- TV, Radio & Cable Broadcast Companies
- News Agencies
- Magazines/Newspapers
- Publishing Houses
- Government Agencies
- Film Studios
- Museums
- Music Companies
- Production Co’s
- Education
- Not-for Profit
CAREER INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION LINKS
www.namac.org - National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture
www.centerforcommunication.org - Center for Communications
www.aaanet.org - American Anthropological Association (AAA)
aesonline.org - American Ethnological Society
ethnographymatters.net - Ethnography Matters
www.nywici.org - NY Women in Communication
www.bls.gov/ooh - Occupational Outlook Handbook
JOB SEARCH LINKS
www.purchase.edu/careerdevelopment - Purchase JobScore
www.mediabistro.com - Job & industry information
www.creativehotlist.com- Creative marketplace
www.namac.org/job-bank - NAMAC job bank
www.idealist.org- Nonprofit site, internships and jobs
www.chronicle.com - The Chronicle of Higher Education, information and jobs
www.bookjobs.com - Jobs/internships in publishing
www.adweek.com - Advertising and marketing jobs
www.media-match.com/usa/media/jobsboard.php - Media industry job list
Additional Resources Available at the CDC