Overview

Media is 24/7, 365, and always changing. The Department of Media Studies and Production is dedicated to educating and preparing media professionals for today and the future. Our Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Production is at the intersection of study and production with a unique approach that blends theory and practice so that students consider the meaning and purpose of media in society even as they obtain and grow skills to create media. We go well beyond the traditional Radio/TV/Film degrees and offer a program that combines a scholar's understanding of media analysis, business, and production, with the practical and technical skills in oral and written communication, people and project management, media performance, and video/sound production and design for radio, television, online, and other outlets. With worldwide communities and the city of Philadelphia (America's 4th largest media market) as their living laboratories, students draw on their creativity, entrepreneurship, intellectual curiosity, and analytical abilities to navigate and build media careers in our global society.

Media Studies and Production students learn to think purposefully and critically about media, and examine the media's role in history, culture and society from many perspectives.

Working with top scholars and practitioners (both inside and outside of the classroom), and using the latest equipment and tools, Media Studies and Production students learn how to produce, evaluate, and manage media content for traditional, contemporary, and emerging media in various genres, including information (news and documentary), music, comedy, sports, drama, and commercial and noncommercial persuasion campaigns. They explore institutions that create, distribute, and investigate media products (e.g., production studios, television and radio networks, and audience measurement companies) and learn how to develop, operate, and lead successful media businesses. Upon graduation, our students will have the skills to:

• Develop and produce content for a variety of formats, technologies, and platforms.
• Create effective media messages for the audiences and purposes they serve.
• Comprehend and apply theories regarding the cultural, social, and personal uses and effects of media and technologies.
• Understand the legal and regulatory structures of media industries.
• Lead, manage, collaborate, team-build, and innovate.
• Convey information using effective, professional written and spoken communication.
• Act ethically as media-consuming and media-producing citizens in the diverse global society.
• Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to academic and professional media contexts.
• Think critically.
• Adapt and shift priorities and action in real time.
• Manage time effectively and meet deadlines.
• Live with grit, determination, and direction.

While students take courses from all areas, MSP majors must select one of the following concentrations:

• Media Production
• Media Business
• Media Analysis

An optional concentration in International Communication is also available for this major.

Media Business Concentration

The Media Business professional concentration introduces students to the business decisions, challenges, creative approaches, and ethical responsibilities involved in management, marketing, and entrepreneurship in the contemporary media landscape. In this comprehensive course of study, students learn to navigate business decisions, to understand market dynamics, to embrace creative approaches, and to resolve ethical challenges. This concentration prepares students for careers such as network executives, founders/owners of production companies, recording studio managers, talent agents, program content developers, executive producers, media marketing reps, social media managers/influencers, various positions with global media networks, platforms, and more.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: CO-MSP-BA

Accelerated Program

BA in Media Studies and Production / MA in Media Studies and Production

Contact Information

Matthew Lombard, PhD, Chair
lombard@temple.edu

Jack Klotz, Vice Chair
jklotz@temple.edu

Rebecca Gollihur, Department Director
gollihur@temple.edu

Department Office
Annenberg Hall, Room 205
215-204-5401
msp@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Production.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Arts may be conferred upon a student majoring in Media Studies and Production (MSP) by the recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 overall and in the major.

Students must meet:

1. University requirements
   • All students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
   • All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive (WI) courses in the major at Temple University. Whenever possible, it is recommended that students select WI courses that also directly satisfy a specific MSP requirement to ease the path to program completion.
2. Lew Klein College of Media and Communication requirements, including KLN 1001 and KLN 1002.
3. Minimum of 45 credits in Media Studies & Production / maximum of 64 credits in Media Studies & Production.
4. Each course that fulfills a requirement for the major must be passed with a C- or better.
5. All prerequisites must be met unless exempted in writing.
6. No more than 20 transfer credits may be applied to the Media Studies & Production major.
7. No more than 12 credits total for internship, practicum, and independent study courses.

Media Studies and Production: Media Business Concentration Requirements

¹

Foundation courses must be completed within the first 45 credits at Temple University. Students transferring into Temple must complete at least one Media Studies & Production foundation course at Temple, unless exempted in writing by the chair of the department.

²

Taken during final 30 credits.

³

It is recommended that these are chosen in consultation with a Media Studies & Production Faculty Advisor.

Note: Courses offered in various categories can only be counted once.

About the Professional Development Requirements

The academic experience for all Media Studies and Production majors culminates with the Professional Development requirements, which include MSP 4039 Senior Seminar (3 credits) and one of the Experiential Learning Options (3-4 credits). Together, these courses provide students with hands-on and practical training in the field while allowing them the opportunity to explore their potential professional futures.

Experiential Learning Option: Internship

MSP 4785 Internship (3 or 4 credits): Internship opportunities exist locally (at virtually every media-oriented organization in the greater Philadelphia region), nationally (in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other U.S. media markets), and internationally (in London, Dublin, Paris, Barcelona, Hong Kong, and Tokyo through the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication's Global Opportunities Program and Temple's Education Abroad Office). Students who wish to enroll in a second internship as an elective can take MSP 4786 for 1 to 3 credit hours. NOTE: To be eligible for an internship, students must obtain an appropriate internship placement for the term of registration (assistance is ​available), have Junior or Senior standing, a minimum GPA of 3.00, have completed all three MSP foundation courses with a minimum grade of C-, and official approval by the MSP Internship Coordinator via submission of the Internship Verification Form, and once determined eligible, the Site Verification Form.

Experiential Learning Option: Standard and Special Topics Practica

As noted in the major requirements list, there are six (6) standard practica courses, (MSP 4487, MSP 4596, MSP 4597, MSP 4687, MSP 4787, and MSP 4887). Four to five (4-5) of those options are offered each term and most of them have specific course prerequisites that must be completed prior to practica registration, so students are advised to plan accordingly.

When possible, at least one Special Topics practicum is also offered each year, and these focus on media-related topics different from the standard six. Consult the MSP Department for any upcoming ​Special Topics availability as well as the process for counting them toward the Professional Development Option within the official degree audit.

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Production with a Concentration in Media Business

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

All students are required to take at least two writing-intensive (WI) courses in their major. Therefore, this academic plan includes a [WI] notation next to any course that has a writing-intensive attribute. All three MSP concentrations and three of the four focus areas include WI options. Whenever possible, it is recommended that students select their two WI courses from those that also directly satisfy one of their specific MSP requirements, since that will provide a more efficient use of credits and ease the path to program completion.

²

Internship Requirements: a.) Junior or Senior standing (minimum 60 credits completed), b.) a minimum 3.0 GPA, c.) completion of ALL MSP Foundations courses (MSP 1021, MSP 1655, and MSP 1701), and d.) no outstanding grades of Incomplete for any course. For details of the application process and information about the Internship course, review the MSP Internship Overview document, available from the "Forms and Links" section of the Klein tab on the TUPortal.

³

Practicum requirements vary from course to course. Check specific course prerequisites so you may plan accordingly.

Optional Concentration

The optional International Communication Concentration (ICC) provides a theoretical and practical education in international and intercultural communication and media. This program allows students to develop sought-after competencies in cultural sensitivity and intercultural communication skills by encouraging students to reflect on their own cultural lenses. Students participating in the ICC program will be exposed to multiple international perspectives through internationally- and interculturally-oriented courses offered on Temple's domestic campuses and may be supplemented with study abroad coursework.

This concentration is restricted to Klein students only.

Requirements

To earn the International Communication Concentration transcript notation, a student must successfully complete a total of 18-20 credits of International / Intercultural studies courses, a maximum 9 credits of which may come from courses transferred into Temple, across 3 areas. Each course that fulfills a requirement for the concentration must be passed with a C- or better.

Contact Information

Jack Klotz, MSP Faculty Advisor
Annenberg Hall, Room 115
215-204-5823
jklotz@temple.edu

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated programs are available to students in the Media Studies and Production BA:

• Media Studies and Production MA
• Journalism MJ