MA in Emerging Media Studies

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An Emerging Media Master’s That Prepares You for the Future

Analyze emerging media—learn how to conduct media research using social science methods, including focus groups, experiments, surveys, and content analysis. Understand the psychology of users, the social impact, and the regulatory structure of emerging media like VR, AR, and more, rather than the traditional media of a master’s in media studies.

Gain experience as a consultant—help clients solve new business and societal challenges through a semester-long research project in this emerging media master’s.

Showcase your research and build your network—your program culminates in a conference where you’ll present your research and exchange views with peers and leaders in the field.

Build an impressive portfolio—you’ll develop cutting-edge ideas and a résumé of research projects, presentations, and consulting solutions to real media challenges.

Join Emerging Media Studies Alumni Across Industries

You’ll join a global alumni network that is shaking up the media landscape around the world. MA in Emerging Media Studies graduates are highly sought for a range of careers in the tech industry and data sciences as well as creative media, marketing, and public relations firms. Others continue graduate training in PhD programs.

Example Alumni Employers

• Amazon
• Apple
• China Merchants Bank
• Fidelity
• Hubspot
• IBM
• Linkgraph SEO services
• ODK Media
• Sky Solutions AI
• Target
• Universities in the US and abroad
• And more

You’re Prepared for Diverse Roles in Emerging Media

MA in Emerging Media Studies alumni hold roles as market research analysts, product and marketing managers, PR specialists, digital marketing specialists, marketing communication specialists, content marketing managers, web developers, UX/UI/human-centered design experts, research assistants, multimedia artists/animators, editors, and other media and communication roles.

 You’re Skilled in Key Areas for Emerging Media

Alumni are highly skilled in research, UX/UI/human-centered design, marketing, social media, PR, analytics, leadership and management, public speaking, writing and editing, teaching, and more.

I knew that I was entering a workforce where I would be surrounded by rapidly changing technology and media. As I knew I wanted to go into an industry that required me to be as knowledgeable as possible about those changes, I was looking for guidance as to how to learn as much as I could before I was able to be in a position to become a subject matter expert in my career.

Samantha Middleton, Alumna and Director of Project Management at Digitas Health

What You’ll Learn in This Emerging Media Master’s

The Boston University Master of Arts in Emerging Media Studies is the nation’s first emerging media master’s. It examines emerging technologies and the critical role they play in daily contemporary life. You’ll take courses in human behavior, social media analysis, media in sociology and psychology, big data, and more. 

This program is highly customizable. You’ll build your area of expertise with electives across the University.

Explore our courses and curriculum.

One of the many classes that I found impactful was . . . [the] EM757 course. In this class, I was introduced to user experience (UX) for the first time. This course was very informative, covering UX research methodologies and design principles. We even had the opportunity to work with clients in this class to build a portfolio. This experience in EM757 ultimately led me to the decision of pursuing a career in UX research.

Brittany Andersen, Alumna and Senior User Experience Researcher at Google

Gain Real Experience

Get ready for an influential career by rolling up your sleeves for hands-on research and collaboration.

Solve a Client Challenge with Research

In this emerging media master’s, you’ll participate in an extensive group research project blending practical skills with social science insights. 

As part of a team, you’ll address a client problem through research, analytics, and critical thinking. For example, projects might help a local nonprofit seeking to build community awareness or a media start-up trying to identify prospective users. Faculty will guide you in the research design, data collection, and analysis processes. Then you’ll present your findings and solutions in a final report.

Present Your Research to Industry Leaders at the Emerging Media Conference

Present your research and exchange ideas on important contemporary issues with peers and leaders in the field at COM’s annual #ScreentimeBU conference. This is a built-in part of the emerging media master’s to showcase your work with the general public and industry leaders. You’ll develop your public communication skills and get valuable feedback from industry experts.

Pursue Rich Research Opportunities in Top Labs

Communication Research Center

This emerging media master’s gives you diverse research opportunities at the Communication Research Center, COM’s primary research hub. Research groups include:

• Information Integrity
• Biometrics
• International Communication

Zimmerman Family Social Activation Center

You’ll also have access to the state-of-the-art technology offered at the Zimmerman Family Social Activation Center, putting in-depth social media analytics at your fingertips.

Faculty Leading Research and Insights in Emerging Media

Receive mentorship from leaders examining communication phenomena—social media, streaming content, augmented reality/virtual reality, media in sociology and psychology, big data, AI, and more. In a typical master’s in media studies, you dedicate only a portion of time to these technologies, but in BU’s emerging media master’s, you become a true expert.

You’ll learn to conduct and analyze social science research in all types of emerging media from the best. BU COM is the first graduate institution to offer this type of emerging media master’s. Experienced faculty will teach you how to apply these research skills to the pressing problems that industry, government, and other fields are facing.

Benefit from Boston