
About This Program
The Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Production provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the dynamic film, TV, and digital storytelling industries. With hands-on experiences and expert faculty, you'll develop a strong foundation in all phases of media-making production and gain the skills to succeed in a variety of industry roles. Read more...
Contact Information
- Emily Metzgar | mdj@kent.edu |
330-672-2572 - Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Audio and video technicians
- 3.3% about as fast as the average
- 92,300 number of jobs
- $54,830 potential earnings
Broadcast technicians
- -2.8% decline
- 24,800 number of jobs
- $53,920 potential earnings
Camera operators, television, video, and film
- 1.2% slower than the average
- 36,400 number of jobs
- $68,810 potential earnings
Film and video editors
- 4.0% about as fast as the average
- 43,500 number of jobs
- $70,980 potential earnings
Producers and directors
- 4.9% about as fast as the average
- 167,000 number of jobs
- $83,480 potential earnings
Special effects artists and animators
- 1.6% slower than the average
- 57,100 number of jobs
- $99,800 potential earnings
Accreditation
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.
Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.
Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C- grade is required in all courses) 1 | ||
| MDJ 10009 | ELEMENTS OF FILM, TV AND ANIMATION | 3 |
| MDJ 13001 | PRODUCTION SAFETY AND SET PROTOCOL | 2 |
| MDJ 20001 | MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (KSS) | 3 |
| MDJ 20011 | PRODUCTION FUNDAMENTALS | 3 |
| MDJ 23004 | STORY FOR PICTURE | 3 |
| MDJ 23130 | DIRECTING FOR PICTURE | 3 |
| MDJ 30036 | DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING | 3 |
| MDJ 33007 | PRODUCING FOR PICTURE | 3 |
| MDJ 33033 | SOUND FOR PICTURE | 3 |
| MDJ 33043 | DIGITAL CINEMATOGRAPHY | 3 |
| MDJ 34140 | PRODUCTION I | 3 |
| MDJ 40006 | LAW OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM | 3 |
| MDJ 40010 | ETHICS AND ISSUES IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM (WIC) 2 | 3 |
| MDJ 40027 | RACE, GENDER, CLASS AND DIS/ABILITY IN MEDIA INDUSTRIES | 3 |
| MDJ 40092 | INTERNSHIP (ELR) | 1 |
| MDJ 49099 | PRODUCTION II (ELR) | 3 |
| Advanced Skills Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
| STUDIO TELEVISION | ||
| MULTIMEDIA ENGINEERING | ||
| AUDIO STORYTELLING AND PODCASTING I | ||
| SCRIPTWRITING FOR VIDEO AND FILM | ||
| SELECTED TOPICS IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM | ||
| ADVANCED CINEMATOGRAPHY | ||
| SELECTED TOPICS IN DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION | ||
| ADVANCED VIDEO EDITING | ||
| POST-PRODUCTION SOUND | ||
| SUAS AERIAL CINEMATOGRAPHY | ||
| AUDIO STORYTELLING AND PODCASTING II | ||
| MOTION GRAPHICS FOR VIDEO EDITING | ||
| Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| College of Communication and Information Core Electives, choose from the following: | 9 | |
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION | ||
| BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES FOR ITALIAN LIFESTYLE (ELR) | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION | ||
| ITALIAN POP CULTURE (ELR) | ||
| ITALIAN CINEMA (ELR) | ||
| DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING (ELR) | ||
| MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (ELR) | ||
| INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (ELR) | ||
| INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (ELR) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) | ||
| INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| CREATIVE CODING | ||
| HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION | ||
| INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN | ||
| VISUAL DESIGN THINKING | ||
| American Civic Literacy Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 3 | 6-9 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 3 | 0-3 | |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 | |
| Kent Core Additional | 6 | |
| General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 4 | 26 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | |
- 1
Students transferring credit from another institution may apply a maximum of 12 credit hours of transfer coursework toward their major requirements per the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications guidelines.
- 2
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement. If course is not being used to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement, a minimum grade of C- must be earned.
- 3
If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.
- 4
A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program.
Progression Requirements
- No grade lower than a C- in a MDJ course will be counted toward graduation or as a prerequisite for a subsequent class.
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| 2.000 | 2.000 |
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
| Semester One | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| MDJ 10009 | ELEMENTS OF FILM, TV AND ANIMATION | 3 | |
| MDJ 13001 | PRODUCTION SAFETY AND SET PROTOCOL | 2 | |
| MDJ 20001 | MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (KSS) | 3 | |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | ||
| Semester Two | |||
| ! | MDJ 20011 | PRODUCTION FUNDAMENTALS | 3 |
| ! | MDJ 23004 | STORY FOR PICTURE | 3 |
| College of Communication and Information Core Elective | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | ||
| Semester Three | |||
| MDJ 23130 | DIRECTING FOR PICTURE | 3 | |
| MDJ 30036 | DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING or SOUND FOR PICTURE or DIGITAL CINEMATOGRAPHY | 3 | |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 1 | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | ||
| Semester Four | |||
| MDJ 30036 | DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING or SOUND FOR PICTURE or DIGITAL CINEMATOGRAPHY | 3 | |
| MDJ 34140 | PRODUCTION I | 3 | |
| College of Communication and Information Core Elective | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Electives | 1 | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | ||
| Semester Five | |||
| MDJ 30036 | DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING or SOUND FOR PICTURE or DIGITAL CINEMATOGRAPHY | 3 | |
| Advanced Skills Elective | 3 | ||
| American Civic Literacy Requirement | 3 | ||
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | ||
| Semester Six | |||
| MDJ 33007 | PRODUCING FOR PICTURE | 3 | |
| MDJ 40006 | LAW OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM | 3 | |
| MDJ 40027 | RACE, GENDER, CLASS AND DIS/ABILITY IN MEDIA INDUSTRIES | 3 | |
| College of Communication and Information Core Elective | 3 | ||
| General Electives | 3 | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | ||
| Third Summer Term | |||
| MDJ 40092 | INTERNSHIP (ELR) | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 1 | ||
| Semester Seven | |||
| MDJ 40010 | ETHICS AND ISSUES IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM (WIC) | 3 | |
| Advanced Skills Elective | 3 | ||
| General Electives | 9 | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | ||
| Semester Eight | |||
| MDJ 49099 | PRODUCTION II (ELR) | 3 | |
| General Electives | 9 | ||
| Credit Hours | 12 | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | ||
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
| Requirement | Credits/Courses |
|---|---|
| Flashes 101 (UC 10001) | 1 credit hour |
Course is not required for students with 30+ transfer credits (excluding College Credit Plus) or age 21+ at time of admission. | |
| American Civic Literacy | 3 credit hours |
| Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) | varies |
Students must successfully complete one course or approved experience. | |
| Kent Core (see table below) | 36-37 credit hours |
| Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) | 1 course |
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course. | |
| Upper-Division Requirement | 39 credit hours |
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate. | |
| Total Credit Hour Requirement | 120 credit hours |
Kent Core Requirements
| Requirement | Credits/Courses |
|---|---|
| Kent Core Composition (KCMP) | 6 |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) | 3 |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) | 9 |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) | 6 |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 |
| Kent Core Additional (KADL) | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-37 |
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Collaborate as a member of an interdisciplinary, creative team.
- Demonstrate proficiency in writing and a combination of the following skills needed to craft a story in multiple genres: cinematography, sound, editing and producing.
- Apply the theories and practices of multimedia storytelling and production.
- Research, plan and create original multimedia storytelling projects.
- Explain both the history of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry and of our responsibility to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry.
- Describe professional protocols, as well as legal and ethical principles and practices.
Transfer Students to the School of Media and Journalism
Students transferring credit from another institution may apply a maximum of 12 credit hours of transfer coursework toward their major requirements per the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) accreditation guidelines.
Full Description
The Bachelor of Science degree in Digital Media Production educates students to create exciting fiction and non-fiction content for delivery in today’s most in-demand formats. Whether they want to produce the next award-winning narrative film or documentary, live television sports or event coverage, streaming television series, reality show or podcast, students learn from seasoned professionals using industry standard technology to tell their stories on screens big or small.
Many opportunities exist to collaborate with students from theatre and dance, game design, science, music, art, fashion and technology during the production of live TV, short films, audio series, documentaries and animated works.
Students also have the chance to work with Kent State’s TeleProductions operations, the nationally recognized Student Media outlets at the School, and even NPR affiliate WKSU.
With the added professional experience students earn from the required internship, they graduate ready to play a leading role in the entertainment industry of tomorrow.
Students may apply early to the following master's degree programs and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.
- Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies
- Master of Arts degree in Visual Communication Design
- Master of Library Information Science degree in Library and Information Science
- Master of Science degree in Emerging Media and Technology
- Master of Science degree in Health Informatics
- Master of Science degree in Knowledge Management
- Master of Science degree in User Experience
