Communication Studies The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Search

Undergraduate Major in Communication Studies

Media, Culture and Technology

Educational Goals

Studying media, culture and technology combines theory and practice to help students understand contemporary society and the creation of media texts and artifacts.  Whether or not communication studies majors pursue careers in the media industries, we all spend innumerable hours consuming sounds and images of all kinds.  The tools to understand these industries are valuable for both civic and professional life in the twenty-first century.  Though your experience in higher education may be brief, your learning and criticism of media will be a lifelong process.  We want to train students with an imagination that not only mimics the current practices of the industry, but helps them understand media with a critical and informed eye and ear.

Through this specialization, you will understand the place of the electronic media on society and become competent in the arts of audio, video and multi-media production practices.  You will also develop an understanding of the larger political, economic, historical, legal, technological, and culture context of the contemporary media landscape.

A list of courses that you can take to satisfy requirements for the Communication Studies major is listed on the back-side of each cluster along with a list of other relevant courses that you might consider taking while completing your degree requirements.  These courses are often helpful for exploring possible minors or certificates.

Media, Culture and Technology Courses (pdf)

Potential Careers

  • Account Executive
  • Market Researcher
  • Activist
  • Media Buyer
  • Actor
  • Media Critic
  • Advertising Sales Coordinator
  • News Anchor
  • Announcer
  • News Director
  • Broadcasting Station Manager
  • News Writer
  • Business Manager
  • Producer
  • Casting Director
  • Production Engineer
  • Comedy Writer
  • Professor
  • Community Relations Director
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Director of Broadcasting
  • Researcher
  • Disk Jockey
  • Talk Show Host
  • Film Editor
  • Technical Director
  • Film/Tape Librarian
  • Traffic/Continuity Specialist
  • For-profit or Non-profit Media Relations
  • Union Organizer
  • High School Teacher
  • Web-designer
  • Journalist

Note:    This list serves as a representation of potential careers and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of possible options; some career options may require additional training, education or an advanced degree.