College of Communication and InformationSchool of Media and Journalism
www.kent.edu/mdj
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
Program Delivery
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Audio and video technicians
- 12.3% much faster than the average
- 91,800 number of jobs
- $47,920 potential earnings
Broadcast technicians
- 3.1% about as fast as the average
- 32,700 number of jobs
- $43,570 potential earnings
Camera operators, television, video, and film
- 14.0% much faster than the average
- 29,700 number of jobs
- $57,200 potential earnings
Film and video editors
- 21.6% much faster than the average
- 38,300 number of jobs
- $67,250 potential earnings
Producers and directors
- 10.0% much faster than the average
- 159,500 number of jobs
- $76,400 potential earnings
Special effects artists and animators
- 4.1% about as fast as the average
- 67,500 number of jobs
- $77,700 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 who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
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 English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid | Semester One |
| MDJ 10009 | ELEMENTS OF FILM, TV AND ANIMATION | 3 |
| MDJ 13001 | PRODUCTION SAFETY AND SET PROTOCOL | 2 |
| MDJ 20001 | MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (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 |
| Kent Core 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 (DIVD) | 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.
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.
- Demonstrate an understanding of both the history of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry and of our responsibility to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry.
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional protocols, as well as legal and ethical principles and practices.
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.