Media Studies (M.A.) and Communication Arts and Sciences (B.A./B.S.) 

The Department of Communication Arts and Sciences and the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications offers academically qualified students the opportunity to complete either a B.A. or B.S. degree in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS) and an M.A. in Media Studies (MEDIA) in approximately five years of study. The Department of Communication Arts and Sciences offers both humanities and social science-based approaches to human communication, including interpersonal communication, small-group communication, public address and rhetoric, political communication, organizational communication and health communication. The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications emphasizes mediated phenomenon, with an M.A. program that pulls from the graduate faculty of four undergraduate departments: advertising/public relations, film production/media studies; journalism; and telecommunications/media industries. Particular combinations of CAS/MEDIA can flow well together in a combined IUG from the two programs, such as advertising and health communication; media effects and interpersonal communication; and qualitative media studies and rhetoric. Both the undergraduate CAS and the graduate Media Studies programs allow significant flexibility for IUG students to create an individual combination that works best for their interests. Graduates of this IUG may leverage their credentials for industry positions in marketing, political consulting, data analysis and other industry and non-profit careers, and for applying to Ph.D. programs in communication and to J.D. programs at law schools.