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Digital Media Production - B.S.

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.

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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 podcast, write a hit streaming series, or influence millions with social media content, students learn from seasoned professionals using industry standard technology to tell their stories on screens big or small. Students can choose one of three pathways:

  • Writing and directing
  • Production and post-production
  • Business and promotion 

Though each pathway is specialized to prepare students for their area of interest, opportunities for collaboration within the major and throughout Kent State University are limitless. Digital media production majors regularly work with students from theatre and dance, game design, science, music, art and fashion, as they produce live events, short films, documentaries and animated works. 

Hands-On Experience

 

Student Media

Digital media production students work as producers, camera operators and more for the student-run television station TV2, part of Student Media. The station airs a daily evening broadcast, a midday webcast and nine sports, news and entertainment shows.

They can also get involved in Black Squirrel Radio, a student-run radio station committed to providing innovative media content. With 56 different student-hosted shows airing from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. everyday, the station provides professional industry experience while continuing to be a platform for experimental programming. 

In addition, Flash Film Commission helps raise visibility for student- and alumni-produced films. 

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TeleProductions

Kent State's in-house production unit trains students on industry-standard video equipment to work on live production and telecasts of university events and Mid-American Conference games for ESPN+. Students also explore marketing and promotional videos, Esports broadcasts, custom engineering projects and more. 

TeleProductions' fully equipped facilities include a digital production truck, a television production studio and several post-production editing suites — all exposing students to the equipment they will work on at internships and jobs post-graduation.

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Female Filmmakers Initiative

Female Filmmakers Initiative is a student organization that aspires to break down barriers for women in filmmaking.

Students are content producers and content is focused on women's interest and issues. In an industry that is dominated by men, the Female Filmmakers Initiative at Kent State University strives to provide a content platform that serves as a place for women's perspective in film. With the help of an award-winning filmmaker and Kent State professor, Dana White, FFI was established in 2019 and has formed a strong community of passionate female artists. 

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IdeaBase: Student-Powered Agency

IdeaBase is a Kent State student-powered design agency located in Franklin Hall. IdeaBase bridges the gap between classroom and career by bringing together top-performing Kent State students to tackle real-world client problems. The team represents a variety of backgrounds, including visual communication design, public relations, advertising, digital media production, computer information systems, emerging media and technology, marketing and communication studies students.

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Program Information

Program Description

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.

Admissions

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. 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.

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 Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Collaborate as a member of an interdisciplinary, creative team.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in writing and a combination of the following skills needed to craft a story in multiple genres: cinematography, sound, editing and producing.
  3. Apply the theories and practices of multimedia storytelling and production.
  4. Research, plan and create original multimedia storytelling projects.
  5. 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.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of professional protocols, as well as legal and ethical principles and practices.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C- grade is required in all courses)
MDJ 10009ELEMENTS OF FILM, TV AND ANIMATION 3
MDJ 13001PRODUCTION SAFETY AND SET PROTOCOL 2
MDJ 20001MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) 3
MDJ 20011PRODUCTION FUNDAMENTALS 3
MDJ 23004STORY FOR PICTURE 3
MDJ 23130DIRECTING FOR PICTURE 3
MDJ 23140PRODUCTION I 3
MDJ 30036DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING 3
MDJ 33033SOUND FOR PICTURE 3
MDJ 33043DIGITAL CINEMATOGRAPHY 3
MDJ 40006LAW OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM 3
MDJ 40010ETHICS AND ISSUES IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM (WIC) 13
MDJ 40027RACE, GENDER, CLASS AND DIS/ABILITY IN MEDIA INDUSTRIES 3
MDJ 40092INTERNSHIP (ELR) 1
MDJ 45007PRODUCING FOR PICTURE 3
MDJ 49099PRODUCTION II (ELR) 3
Advanced Skills Electives, choose from the following:6
MDJ 33042
STUDIO TELEVISION
MDJ 34036
MULTIMEDIA ENGINEERING
MDJ 36020
AUDIO STORYTELLING AND PODCASTING I
MDJ 40037
SCRIPTWRITING FOR VIDEO AND FILM
MDJ 40295
SELECTED TOPICS IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM
MDJ 43395
SELECTED TOPICS IN DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION
MDJ 44050
POST-PRODUCTION SOUND
MDJ 44055
SUAS AERIAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
MDJ 45001
ADVANCED LIGHTING FOR DIGITAL FILM AND TELEVISION
MDJ 45020
AVID EDITOR CERTIFICATION
MDJ 46030
AUDIO STORYTELLING AND PODCASTING II
MDJ 46057
MOTION GRAPHICS FOR VIDEO EDITING
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
College of Communication and Information Core Electives, choose from the following:9
CCI 10095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
CCI 40089
BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES FOR ITALIAN LIFESTYLE (ELR)
CCI 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
CCI 40189
ITALIAN POP CULTURE
CCI 40289
ITALIAN CINEMA (ELR)
CCI 40389
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING (ELR)
CCI 40489
MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (ELR)
CCI 45089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (ELR)
CCI 46089
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (ELR)
COMM 15000
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL)
COMM 35852
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG)
EMAT 25310
CREATIVE CODING
EMAT 33310
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
LIS 30010
INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND
UXD 20001
INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
VCD 13000
VISUAL DESIGN THINKING
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 226
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

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.

2

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
Roadmaps

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 OneCredits
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 Hours15
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 Hours15
Semester Three
MDJ 23130 DIRECTING FOR PICTURE 3
MDJ 30036
or MDJ 33033
or MDJ 33043
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 Hours16
Semester Four
MDJ 23140 PRODUCTION I 3
MDJ 30036
or MDJ 33033
or MDJ 33043
DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING
or SOUND FOR PICTURE
or DIGITAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 1
 Credit Hours16
Semester Five
MDJ 30036
or MDJ 33033
or MDJ 33043
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 Hours15
Semester Six
MDJ 40006 LAW OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM 3
MDJ 40027 RACE, GENDER, CLASS AND DIS/ABILITY IN MEDIA INDUSTRIES 3
MDJ 45007 PRODUCING FOR PICTURE 3
College of Communication and Information Core Elective 3
General Electives 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Summer Term
MDJ 40092 INTERNSHIP (ELR) 1
 Credit Hours1
Semester Seven
MDJ 40010 ETHICS AND ISSUES IN MEDIA AND JOURNALISM (WIC) 3
Advanced Skills Elective 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
MDJ 49099 PRODUCTION II (ELR) 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours12
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation

Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)

Career Outlook

Careers in digital media production are expected to grow faster than the national average through 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Kent State gave me experiences that have developed my leadership and filmmaking skills. I feel like I graduated not only with a degree, but also with four years of experience and a portfolio of work that is more diverse than others my age.” 

Tyler Pina, '14, Award-Winning Director

 

 

10%
Audio and Visual Technicians
12%
Film and Video Editors, Camera Operators
8%
Producers and Directors

Alumni Outcomes

YOU'LL FIND OUR ALUMNI WORKING AS:

  • Entertainment stage technician at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Newscast directors and producers all over the country
  • Director of photography/videographer for professional sports teams
  • Office production assistant in New York City
  • Technical operations at CNN
  • Production managers/assistants for various feature films
  • Emmy Award-winning directors and filmmakers
  • Peabody Award-winning documentarian
  • Videographer/multimedia for corporations and nonprofits

Tyler Pina, '14 | Award-winning film director

Less than 10 years ago, Tyler Pina was working on films at Kent State. Today, he’s an award-winning director in Los Angeles.

Tyler founded his production company, Neon Flamingo Films in 2017, while he was still working full time producing science and technology-related content for The Verge in San Francisco. At The Verge, he worked on several high-profile projects with NASA, Aston Martin and Volkswagen.

A turning point came when he was able to reunite with several fellow Kent State graduates in San Francisco to direct and produce the short film “88 Cents.” The film tells the stories of inmates’ lives, post-incarceration, highlighting the difficulty of reintegrating into society after leaving the prison system. In creating the film, Tyler hoped to draw attention to an often-overlooked issue.

“I think there is power in filmmaking; we can offer audiences a glimpse into the lives of people that many might not understand. As we learn about these people, we can begin to empathize with them, change our opinions of them and treat them differently.”

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Tom Jennings, '85 | Award-winning documentarian

Tom Jennings, ’85, discovered journalism at Kent State.  But his experience as a reporter in the infamous O.J. Simpson trial sparked a career shift into documentary filmmaking and international acclaim.

Jennings reflected on his career while attending the 59th Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco earlier this summer, where his latest documentary “APOLLO : Missions To The Moon” screened. The film premiered July 7 on the National Geographic Channel.

“I would have never met the Prince of Monaco, or even gone there and certainly never had a film shown there, without what I had learned at Kent State,” Jennings said.

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