This discipline focuses on media industries, technologies, and communication systems in cultural and historical contexts, their audience processes and effects, and social implications of the media. This major provides students with tools for understanding the media and their roles in social life theoretically, historically, and critically. The degree allows students to choose a broadly based communication and media studies major or a more specialized study of telecommunication and information systems. Students can choose Communication courses that address media industries, law and policy, technology and society, media audiences, processes, and effects, and the theory, history, and criticism of media, culture, and communication.

The BA and BS are both available. The BA is a more flexible, liberal arts media-oriented degree whereas the BS is more directed and requires a quantitative background. A degree in Telecommunication Media Studies may be useful in a broad variety of careers, from media and telecommunication industries, through communication-related positions in business, government, or non-profit organizations, to higher education. The curriculum is designed to educate citizens for a productive future in a changing world. Students become industry leaders, government regulators, spokespeople, politicians, writers, artists, activists, and informed citizens.