Skip to main content
Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
The Media School

Concentration in Media Management, Law and Policy (Bachelor of Arts in Media)

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements MDAC04

Media Management, Law and Policy students will attain a general knowledge and familiarity with the structures of the media "ecosystem," from television to movies, from games to conventional journalism, to broadband and mobile applications and beyond. This "ecosystem" is a complex environment in which people, law, policy, ethics, history, innovation, technology, and organizations function together to create and distribute media content for many different purposes. For this reason, many courses are taught from a "macro" point of view with the intent to help students understand the motivators and pressures which help and limit the success of creative industry of any size, anywhere.

Students must also attain specific knowledge and work methods to enable them to work professionally within the creative industry. While journalism companies and movie studios may share an environment, within their organizations they are very different. These differences are cultural, social, economic, geographical, and ideological. While the attainment of general knowledge helps students appreciate how these businesses are similar, specific knowledge and work methods will help them understand the differences. In a practical sense, specific knowledge—such as how to create project cash-flow statements, or how to clear music rights—may help a student gain a first job with a small production company, that, in combination with a broad understanding, will help them develop a career, no matter what type of company they work for, and no matter how the media "ecosystem" changes over time.

Requirements

The major requires at least 36 credit hours (12 in the Media Core, 15 in the Concentration, and 9 in the Specialization), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Media School Core.
    1. Introduction to Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 101 Media
    2. Managing Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 207 Introduction to Media Industry and Management
    3. Thinking Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 219 Media in the Global Context
    4. Making Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 223 Introduction to Design and Production
      • MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I
  2. Concentration.
    1. Electives. Five (5) courses:
      • MSCH-J 300 Communications Law
      • MSCH-L 317 Media Ethics and Professional Responsibility
      • MSCH-L 322 Telecommunications Policymaking
      • MSCH-M 322 Internet Ecosystems
      • MSCH-M 330 Production Management
      • MSCH-M 421 Economics of Communications Industries
      • MSCH-T 311 History of Electronic Media
      • MSCH-V 334 Current Topics in Media (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
    2. Additional Requirements.
      • At least nine (9) credit hours in the concentration must be at the 300–499 level.
      • Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the concentration.
      • A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the concentration—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
  3. Specialization. One (1) of the following Media Specializations (see requirements below):
    • Creative Industry Management
    • Media Law and Ethics
    • Media Research
  4. GPA and Hours Requirements.
    1. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. Major Upper Division Courses. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    4. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100-499 level with the MSCH prefix--as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements--as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent--except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
  • Any course, consistent with the policies herein, that is part of a concentration, track, and/or specialization being pursued as part of this academic program

The above courses cannot be applied toward the College Breadth requirement in the major.

Exclusions
The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (JOURBAJ)
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts (CINEARTBFA)
  • Bachelor of Science in Game Design (GAMEDSGNBS)
  • Certificate in New Media and Interactive Storytelling (NMISTACRT1)
  • Minor in Black Cinema and Media Studies (BLKCNMDMIN)
  • Minor in Cinema and Media Studies (CNMDASTMIN)
  • Minor in Film Production (FILMPRDMIN)
  • Minor in Game Design (GAMEDSNMIN)
  • Minor in Global Media (GLVMDIAMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Creative Advertising (MDCRADMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Diversity (MDIADIVMIN)
  • Minor in Media Law and Ethics (MDLWETMIN)
  • Minor in Media Persuasion (MDIAPRSMIN)
  • Minor in Media, Sex and Gender (MDGNDRMIN)
  • Minor in Public Relations (PBLCRELMIN)
  • [Discontinued credential name unavailable] (NMISTACRT)
  • [Discontinued credential name unavailable] (SPTMED-TMP)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Specializations