BS and BA in Communication in Digital Media Production

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Florida State University

Program Overview

The BA or BS in Communication and Digital Media Studies with a major in Digital Media Production (DMP) at Florida State University prepares students to become visual storytellers and media makers through hands-on training in video production, sound, lighting, editing, motion graphics, animation and emerging technologies. It is especially suited to students interested in documentary and public affairs or sports media who want to combine creative storytelling with professional production skills for film, television, sports broadcasting, streaming and online media.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students begin the major's production foundation with RTV 3531: Single-Camera Video Production, RTV 3571: Digital Media Production Workshop, and RTV 3101: Writing for the Electronic Media. These courses introduce camera operation, production workflows, writing and post-production while students also complete MMC 3505: Documentary History, Theory and Practice and other foundation requirements.

Year 2: Students progress into advanced production and specialization. Depending on their emphasis, students can take courses such as RTV 4332: Documentary Video Production, RTV 4291: Advocacy Video Theory & Practice, RTV 4582: Advanced Lighting and Cinematography, RTV 4682: Advanced Feature Reporting, RTV 3610: Computer Graphics Animation, or RTV 3611: 3D Video Animation.

Focus Areas:

Digital video production, documentary and public affairs, sports media, cinematography, video editing, sound recording, lighting, motion graphics, 3D animation, visual storytelling, immersive media, VR and 360-degree video.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop skills in professional camera operation, sound recording, lighting, writing for electronic media, video editing, post-production, visual storytelling, media planning, motion graphics, animation and emerging digital production technologies.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program is a limited-access/specialized-admission major designed around professional media-production skills. FSU's official program information does not identify a separate program-specific accreditation for Digital Media Production.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition):

FSU's School of Communication provides students with access to professional production environments including Seminole Productions, WFSU and CCI Digital Media Services, giving students opportunities to work with professional equipment and production teams. Seminole Productions also produces FSU athletic broadcasts, providing exposure to large-scale sports media production.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

DMP is built around hands-on production rather than purely classroom-based study. Students work with professional cameras, sound and lighting equipment, editing systems, animation tools and emerging technologies, while small production classes encourage students to collaborate as real production teams; FSU also connects students with working broadcast environments through WFSU and Seminole Productions:

• Production Center — Provides a fully equipped television studio, video-editing suites, field-production cameras and recorders, digital video effects, computer animation, non-linear editing and engineering support.

• Adobe Creative Software — Students learn contemporary post-production tools including Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition and Photoshop, along with 3D animation software.

• VR and 360 Video Production — Students have opportunities to explore immersive technologies including virtual reality and 360-degree video production, expanding their skills beyond traditional video.

• Small Production Teams — Production courses are generally capped at 20–25 students, and students frequently collaborate in small teams to produce complete media projects.

• Seminole Productions — Students can train and receive mentorship while working alongside professionals on live sports broadcasts, venue presentations and special events, including productions distributed through ESPN.

• WFSU-TV — The School of Communication maintains a close relationship with FSU's public television station, giving students opportunities to experience production within an active television-station environment.

• CCI Digital Media Services — FSU's professional video-production unit provides students with experiential opportunities while producing video services for the university community and, when applicable, state agencies.

• Nine Edit Suites & Equipment Checkout — The Media Production facility includes a teaching lab, nine edit suites and an equipment checkout room, giving students access to dedicated production resources.

• Internships — Students can obtain academic credit for approved communication-related internships, while the School of Communication has relationships with employers that regularly recruit students for internships and employment.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates can enter a wide range of digital media and production careers because the program combines technical production skills with storytelling, editing, cinematography and multimedia experience. FSU's Career Center identifies occupations such as digital media producer, art director, audio/video equipment technician, media manager and journalist among potential career directions for Digital Media Production graduates.

Typical career options: Digital Media Producer, Video Producer, Multimedia Producer, Video Editor

• FSU Career Center — Students can access career resources and occupation information specifically tailored to Digital Media Production, including career exploration tools and salary information.

• Salary Information — FSU's Digital Media Production career profile lists sample occupation salary ranges of approximately $19,140–$48,530 at the introductory level, $40,860–$82,990 at mid-career, and $76,540–$200,580 for experienced professionals. These are occupation-level ranges rather than guaranteed salaries for FSU graduates.

• Industry Connections — The School of Communication has relationships with employers that routinely recruit students for internships and employment, while a dedicated CCI career liaison can assist students with internship searches.

• Professional Production Experience — Opportunities with Seminole Productions, WFSU and CCI Digital Media Services allow students to gain experience in professional-style production environments before graduation.

• Live Sports Broadcasting — Seminole Productions gives students exposure to live athletic broadcasts and large-scale sports production, creating valuable experience for careers in sports media and broadcasting.

• Graduation Preparation — Students graduate with experience in camera operation, sound, lighting, editing, motion graphics, animation and visual storytelling, alongside collaborative production experience.

• Long-Term Professional Value — Training in Adobe post-production software, 3D animation and emerging VR/360 technologies gives graduates a technical foundation that can adapt as digital media platforms continue to evolve.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into graduate study in communication, digital media, documentary production, film, public interest media or related fields. FSU also offers a combined Bachelor's-to-Master's pathway, allowing academically strong students to work toward bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace.