School Overviews
Media production is a broad ranging field, including film, television, animation, radio, and digital media. Top programs train students to create content in these media and are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels across the country. These schools offer three of the best media production degree programs for both graduates and undergraduates. Each of these schools has been highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report. Students in a media production track may have the opportunity to focus their studies on a concentration, and a practicum or project, such as the direction or production of a student film, may also be required.
The University of Texas at Austin
The graduate fine arts programs offered at University of Texas in Austin were ranked tied for 27th by U.S. News & World Report in 2016. The school offers at least two degree programs in broadcasting through the school's Department of Radio-Television-Film.
The three-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film and Media Production degree program is for students who plan to pursue professional filmmaking. The program emphasizes both documentary and fiction types of films and includes coursework in production design, audio for picture, writing for media, and new media technology. By graduation, students will have directed at least four films.
Undergraduates in the Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film degree program study media production and screenwriting skills. Classes include history of radio, television and film, communication and culture, documentary production, and digital media.
Emerson College in Boston
Emerson College, ranked 8th among the best regional universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report in 2017, is located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, and is the only liberal arts school in the U.S. dedicated to communication and the arts. The college offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs related to media production and students in the programs can participate in internships and a student-run video organization, as well as study opportunities in Los Angeles, Prague, or the Netherlands.
The Bachelor of Arts in Media Production program is designed for students who are planning careers in media criticism, publishing, and research. Classes include writing for various media, field production, and studio production. Students choose a concentration from 13 areas, including film, animation, interactive media, radio, documentary film, experimental media, studio television, audio design, screenwriting, cinematography, direction, production, and post-production.
The school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Production program for those interested in an in-depth study of the artistic side of media production. Students in the BFA program are required to complete a production project before graduation.
An MFA in Media Production program is for those who wish to work in media production or teach at the university level. The program explores narrative fiction, documentary, and experimental production, with classes in digital media and culture, computer animation, directing fiction narrative, and interactive production. Students can emphasize an area of study in animation, experimental media, documentary, interactive art, installation, sound design, or fiction narrative.
Chapman University in Orange, CA
In 2017, U.S. News and World Report ranked Chapman University sixth among Regional Universities in the West. It was also ranked second on the list of Most Innovative Regional Schools in the West in 2016. Through the Sodaro-Pankey Undergraduate School of Media Arts at Chapman University, students can earn a bachelor's degree in creative producing, digital arts, film production, film studies, broadcast journalism and documentary, television writing and production, public relations and advertising, screen acting, or screenwriting. Minor options are also available in this field. At the graduate level, Chapman University's Conservatory of Motion Pictures provides master's degrees in film studies, documentary filmmaking, production design, film production, film and television producing, and screenwriting. For students who are equally interested in law or business, there are joint degrees available.
Top Media Production Programs
Here are some more schools with excellent media production programs:
| College/University Name | Distinction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia College Chicago | Bachelor of Arts specializations include production and directing, internet and mobile media, post-production and effects, and writing and producing | Chicago, IL |
| Florida State University | Options include a digital media production bachelor's degree or a graduate certificate; the bachelor's degree allows emphasis on either sports media or documentaries and public affairs | Tallahassee, FL |
| George Mason University | The Bachelor of Arts in Communication can be pursued with a concentration in media production and criticism | Fairfax, VA |
| Stanford University | The Master of Fine Arts focuses on documentary production under the umbrella of film and media studies; just eight students are admitted each year to the two-year program | Stanford, CA |
| Syracuse University | In addition to film, computer art and animation and art video degrees offered by the art department, a television/radio/film degree is available through the Newhouse School of Public Communications | Syracuse, NY |
Students who are interested in media production can find top programs at many universities. These programs usually focus on a specific area within the field and include writing, design, and production coursework.
