Media Arts and Production (BSJ)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Kansas

Program Overview

The Media Arts and Production concentration at the University of Kansas combines creativity, technology, audience insight, and strategic communication to prepare students to create compelling work across video, audio, digital media, advertising, entertainment, sports, and other emerging media environments. Students develop as creative media producers, storytellers, media and audience researchers, strategists, and critical thinkers while learning to connect creative ideas with real business and audience needs.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1 — Media Foundations and Creative Tools:

Students begin the 120-credit BS in Journalism and Mass Communications by building a strong foundation through JMC 101 Media and Society, JMC 300 Visual Storytelling, and JMC 302 Information Exploration. They also begin hands-on technology training through options such as JMC 211 Tech Tools: Audio/Video, JMC 212 Tech Tools: Graphic Design, JMC 213 Tech Tools: Visuals, JMC 214 Tech Tools: Presentation, or JMC 215 Tech Tools: Web Coding.

Year 2 — Writing, Data and Creative Concept Development:

The second year strengthens students’ communication and creative thinking through JMC 304 Media Writing for Audiences or JMC 305 Writing for Media, Honors, JMC 309 Data Storytelling, and JMC 260 Agency: Introduction. Students then move into JMC 340 Creative Concepting and JMC 345 Audience Experience, learning how to develop creative ideas and understand how audiences interact with media.

Year 3 — Advanced Media Production:

Students move into advanced production through JMC 440 Creative Video Producing/Directing or JMC 445 Creative Audio Production and Podcasting, followed by an advanced Media Arts & Production elective. Options such as JMC 410 Media Photography, JMC 570 Content Creation & Website Management, JMC 610 Advanced Visual Media, JMC 612 Visual Design and Production, JMC 615 Social Media and Emerging Technologies, and JMC 625 Digital Media Tools—Advanced Media allow students to tailor their expertise to their creative career interests.

Year 4 — Professional Practice and Capstone:

Senior students complete JMC 408 Media Law and Ethics while continuing JMC and general electives that broaden their professional preparation. The concentration culminates in JMC 645 Media Arts Capstone, giving students a focused opportunity to bring together their creative, strategic, technical, and communication skills before graduation.

Focus Areas:

Creative media production, video production, audio production and podcasting, media photography, visual design, digital media tools, content creation and website management, social media and emerging technologies, audience experience, creative strategy, media and audience research, advertising, public relations, entertainment, sports media.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop critical and creative thinking, ethical storytelling, practical and theoretical communication skills, research and analytical abilities, visual and multimedia production skills, audience understanding, emerging-media technology skills, and the ability to understand how communication organizations and media decisions influence individuals and society.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications has been continuously accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) since 1948. ACEJMC accreditation emphasizes professional competencies including creative presentation, ethical communication, critical thinking, research, multicultural understanding, and effective use of communication technologies, giving the degree strong long-term professional value.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition):

The KU School of Journalism and Mass Communications reports that it was ranked No. 1 Journalism School in Kansas, No. 4 Most Popular Journalism School in the U.S., and No. 13 Best Journalism School for a Bachelor's Degree by College Factual in 2023. The school also reported 105 students enrolled in Media Arts & Production in Fall 2025, showing the concentration has grown into an established area within the J-School.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Media Arts & Production is built around practical creative work rather than classroom theory alone. Students can develop production skills through KU's broadcast studio, professional equipment resources, Adobe software, technology workshops, student media, real-client creative work, and the concentration's Media Arts Capstone, giving them opportunities to build experience and a professional portfolio before graduation.

• The Studio — KU's state-of-the-art broadcast studio gives students experience with professional industry methods and student productions.

• Carole Jackson Moreno Resource Center — Students can check out camera and computer equipment for class and personal projects, with computers providing access to the full Adobe Suite.

• JSchool Tech & JBar — Students can attend hands-on workshops covering Adobe programs and creative computer and website tools, helping them build practical production skills beyond their scheduled classes.

• JMC 211 Tech Tools: Audio/Video — Students learn audio and video production and editing using industry-standard tools including Adobe Audition and Adobe Premiere Pro.

• JMC 440 Creative Video Producing/Directing — Students develop advanced video-production skills from pre-production through post-production and create a creative deliverable for strategic messaging, with Adobe Premiere Pro proficiency required.

• JMC 445 Creative Audio Production and Podcasting — Students practice topic development, storytelling, audience identification, scripting, recording, and audio editing for media programming and strategic messaging.

• The Agency & Steam Whistle Creative — Students work with real clients to develop professional advertising campaigns and gain experience in branding, messaging, marketing solutions, and creative strategy.

• KUJH-TV — Students interested in broadcasting can work both in front of and behind the camera while producing news, sports, and weather programming, gaining experience in production and broadcasting.

• University Daily Kansan — Students can develop experience in digital media, photography, design, advertising, editing, and other media activities through KU's long-running student publication.

• Media Arts Capstone — JMC 645 — Every Media Arts & Production student completes a concentration-specific capstone during or near the final term, providing a culminating professional learning experience.

• Industry Internships — KU's J-School Career Center helps students find paid or credit-bearing internships, while current opportunities can include media relations, communications, and video-production roles.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Media Arts & Production concentration prepares graduates for creative and strategic careers across advertising, public relations, entertainment, sports, digital media, content creation, video, audio, and audience experience. KU specifically identifies opportunities such as creative direction, copywriting, content and website management, video/film production, screenwriting, art direction, media strategy, audience insights, event production, social media content creation, and podcast/audio production.

Typical job roles: Creative Director, Video/Film Producer or Director, Content Producer, Podcast/Audio Producer.

Students can strengthen these career pathways through KU's career services, internships, real-client projects, alumni networks, and professional media experiences:

• J-School Career Center — Students receive support with resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, internship searches, interviews, career fairs, networking, on-campus recruiter interviews, alumni connections, mentoring, and professional online presence.

• 2024 Graduate Outcomes — KU reports that 71.7% of 2024 graduates were employed in news or strategic communications careers, 66.1% had completed at least one internship while in college, and 69.5% earned a starting salary of at least $45,000 per year.

• School-wide Employment Outcomes — For 2025, the J-School reported 73.8% employed full-time, 4.9% employed part-time, and 9.1% entering graduate school among its reported graduate outcomes.

• Salary Outcomes — KU's published salary breakdown for the Class of 2022 shows 16.3% earning $30,000–$39,000, 30.9% earning $40,000–$49,000, and 52.7% earning $50,000 or more.

• Real-Client Creative Work — The Agency and Steam Whistle Creative allow students to work with real clients on branding, messaging, marketing solutions, and professional campaigns, connecting classroom learning with professional expectations.

• Professional Media Network — The University Daily Kansan has a long record of preparing students for major media organizations, with alumni working at outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press, and The Wall Street Journal.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value — Continuous ACEJMC accreditation since 1948 provides an established quality benchmark for professional journalism and mass communication education, with competencies covering ethics, research, creative presentation, communication technologies, and critical thinking.

• Career Flexibility — Because Media Arts & Production combines creative production with audience research, strategy, technology, and business needs, graduates can move beyond traditional media into advertising, marketing, public relations, entertainment, sports, digital content, and strategic communications.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communications, students can continue into KU's Master of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications, Master of Journalism in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications, or Master of Science in Journalism and Law joint degree. Students interested in advanced research can pursue KU's Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications; KU also offers an online master's pathway in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications.