Media studies represents the liberal arts of the 21st century. As a student in the program, you explore traditional disciplines, develop a strong commitment to research and critical analysis, and create and develop media, perhaps transcending traditional formats. It is through the unity of practical and theoretical work that scholars can contribute to the notion of media literacy and our understanding of the modern world. The New School’s 39-credit master’s degree program integrates the study of media theory and management with production practices.
In the program, you discover that rooting your production work in research and theory benefits the work, you explore the possibilities of using media as research tools, and you learn how practical media-making experience informs your scholarship. You learn how to work across media formats, theories, and methodologies, seeking the right "tools for the task," whether that task is academic, creative, or professional.
The curriculum is very flexible. There are three required courses, which orient you to the field and prepare you for the work ahead, and three required credits in media methods. This flexibility allows you to take coursework that relates to your particular interests. For the rest of your course of study, you identify the issues and practices in media that you want to explore. You meet with an advisor to plan a curriculum that builds upon your academic and professional background and addresses your academic, creative, and professional goals, and individualized study options allow you to investigate a specific topic or area of interest independently with the supervision of a faculty advisor.
You can choose to study full-time (9 or more credits per semester) or part-time (6 credits or fewer per semester). A wide range of on-site and online courses provide many options to fit your personal schedule. Courses are offered at a variety of times, but most meet in the late afternoon and evening, making it easy for you to have a job or internship. You can choose a course of study that culminates with a thesis, or you can complete the degree under a non-thesis option. If you live outside of New York, you can earn the master's degree entirely online.