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Master of Arts in Media Studies
Critical and creative inquiry for common struggles
Master of Arts in Media Studies
Critical and creative inquiry for common struggles
Master of Arts in Media Studies
Critical and creative inquiry for common struggles
You might think the world is hard to change. We aim to change your mind.
The one-year Master of Arts in Media Studies program at Western provides rigorous, interdisciplinary training that empowers graduates with knowledge to understand their world, and the tools to transform it. We examine media, culture, and technology informed by a commitment to social justice and social change. Using a dynamic blend of creative, qualitative, and quantitative methodologies, we investigate the forces shaping contemporary media and culture.
(Banner image taken in Afghanistan by Saumava Mitra, PhD'17, while researching photojournalism in post-conflict societies, 2014)
A sample of questions we're currently asking include:
- Does government use of algorithms help or hinder work to ensure equitable treatment of all citizens?
- What happens if people increasingly rely on AI systems for their social needs rather than real humans?
- How have politics and media production become so intertwined at the highest levels of power?
- What can artists, researchers, activists and cultural institutions tell us about our dreams?
- Does the way that journalists report on crime have unexamined consequences for society?
- Can the careful documentation of atrocities like genocide help the victims heal?
Our faculty and students are asking these questions and many others. Where might your interests fit into our research portfolio?
Complete your master's degree in one year
Get the most out of your year
The MA in Media Studies program is structured to maximize student learning in a shorter time period than a traditional two-year master's degree - but you'll still attend classes, do original research, and open a pathway into doctoral studies*.
We believe in fostering a dynamic graduate education that links student experience to pressing contemporary issues, that encourages working closely with faculty and peers, and that provides students with a research-creation option alongside a more standard research paper produced through the Independent Research Project (IRP) requirement.
Study what matters to you
Jouzian Wahhab, MA Media Studies student
Bridging storytelling and scholarship
Questions? Contact us
For administrative questions related to admissions or applications, contact FIMS Graduate Student Services. For questions related to curriculum, research, or the program experience, contact Media Studies Graduate Program Chair Alison Hearn.
Program Information
Ready to apply?
Enroll in Media Studies at Western and change your perspective on the world.