Launch Your Career in Communications
A major in Media Studies will provide you with essential skills in oral, visual and written communications. You will gain proficiency in critical thinking and social media, some of the top skills that employers seek in any career field. The program balances practical media skills with a solid academic path.
Webster's Department of Media Communications recognizes its mission to educate students for citizenship in a society where communication and information are major commodities and the basis of the democratic process. We recognize the complex mosaic of changing career possibilities available in the information environment and prepare students for an employment climate in which the ability to adapt is a fundamental requisite to success.
You will be able to gain valuable work experience through internships, portfolio development, community volunteering and on campus media productions, including the chance to take part in the production of the fully student produced 78 Magazine. The network of Webster campuses will offer you the chance to travel and learn media practices across three continents. With this experience you will begin your transition to professional life as a truly global citizen.
Introduction from the Program Head
Transcript
[Zoom recording of Francesco Arese Visconti]
Francesco Arese Visconti: Hello. My name is Francesco Arese Visconti. I am the head of the Media Communications Department at Webster University Geneva. I am here to give you an outline of our department and for this I have prepared a short presentation. So as I said we offer here at Webster University Geneva two Bas, in Media Studies and in Photography, and a master's in Communications Management.
Text on screen: Slide with same content that Arese Visconti is speaking.
Arese Visconti: For the BA in Media Studies — considering the society we are living in and the very high importance of the media in society — we absolutely support our students in studying the design, delivery and effects of media messages; analyze the communication fields across multiple communication platforms. And in this sense, it is very important to have academic and practical viewpoints. This is going to help students to develop professional portfolios — different and diverse professional portfolios — and professional skills. This BA is very valuable if it is combined with minors or double majors with business, and psychology, international relations not to forget the very important impact of images and visuals, so photography is of course very much important in this sense.
Arese Visconti: For students they are completing our BA in Media Studies, there's a great option to continue studying the Webster for their Master in Communications Management. So once they start with the Media Studies BA, they can continue and complete their studies with this master’s.
Text on screen: New slide with same content that Arese Visconti is speaking.
Arese Visconti: In harmony, before we also offer a BA in Photography. We are living in a very high hypervisual society where images are everywhere. And when I say images are motion and still images and it is in this day is the one of the main languages used to communicate. And we communicate globally everywhere with images through social media, but not only. So for us at Webster University Geneva is very important to study communications through visual language, emphasizing the importance of visual semiotics and in this sense unify practice — so practical exercises in classes — with theory, which is quite, quite important. In this sense we can say that our BA is directed towards photojournalism but I will expand the terminology and say that it's more about visual storytelling.
Arese Visconti: For both the BA in Photography and Media Communications, we have activities and projects, collaborations with local Geneva festivals and involve students in research activities with professors and on campus. We have optional and exceptional trips led by the department. It's our famous Tuscany trip which brings the students for 10 days in Tuscany and is usually related to, it is related to photography and video production.
Arese Visconti: This BA in particular, Photography, it's great — we mix with other majors. I can tell you that one of the great advantages to mix photography with psychology and international relations. I really believe that this is a great mixture.
Text on screen: New slide with same content that Arese Visconti is speaking.
Arese Visconti: For any question you might have, you can get in touch with me through social media via email Visconti at webster ch or via Instagram on my channel (@aresevisconti) or via LinkedIn on my profile (linkedin.com/in/francescoa1). Please feel free to do it when you want. Thank you very much for listening.
Bachelor Programs in Media Studies
In this program, students explore the design, delivery and effects of media messages in a range of communication fields and across multiple communication platforms. Media Studies majors approach media from both academic and practical standpoints, and develop diverse professional portfolios and skills integral to a variety of media careers.
Programs available in Geneva (links to external catalog):
Minor in Games and Game Design
Minor in Media Studies
Minor in Photography
The program has a mandatory internship component enabling students to gain experience which is valuable for shaping their career goals and for entering the job market after graduation.
A large number of the internships Webster sees offered in Geneva are communications-related internships — both internal and external communications. Over 50% of Webster bachelor students in Geneva pursue an internship during or immediately after their studies. See Career Services for more info about internship opportunities.
Additionally, entry-level jobs in many types of positions involve communications, so having this academic background and skill set helps graduates to launch their careers.
After leaving Webster, graduates from the Media Studies, Photography and Game Design department have launched careers in the creative arts, positions in the corporate world, or further graduate studies. Examples include:
Jobs with a BA in Media Studies
- Digital Marketer
- Media Buyer
- Media Planner
- Media Researcher
- Public Relations Officer
- Runner, Broadcasting/Film/Video
- Social Media Manager
- Television/Film/Video Producer
- Web Content Manager
- Advertising Account Executive
- Broadcast Journalist
- Editorial Assistant
- Event Manager
- Film Director
- Magazine Journalist
- Marketing Executive
- Writer
Jobs with a BA in Media Studies in combination with a Minor in Photography
- Photo Editor
- Photographer
- Photojournalist
- Videographer
- Art Director
- Advertising Art Director
- Magazine Feature Editor
- Media Planner
- Digital Marketer
- Museum/Gallery Curator
- Stylist
- Visual Merchandiser
- Web Content Manager
- Web Content Designer
- Web Content Producer
Jobs with a BA in Media Studies in combination with a Minor in Games and Game Design
- Game Designer
- QA Engineer/Playtester
- XR Developer
- Game Programmer
- Level Designer
- 3D Artist
- Virtual Production Engineer
- Animator
- Narrative Designer for Games
- Serious Games Designer
- Game Producer
Why Study Media in Geneva?
- We have external collaborations (previous projects gave students exposure to the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights, the Green Cross, CERN and TEDx).
- Geneva is the European headquarters for the United Nations and many multinational companies, as well as home to the CERN. Media and communications are vital to these institutions and storytelling is an important part of this because it influences opinions and the way people see the world (in traditional journalism but especially through social media).
- Studying in Geneva will offer students the chance to learn about the importance of media communication as it pertains to global advocacy at an institutional and international level.
Why Pursue Media Studies at Webster?
- Course options include Digital Media Design and Production, Magazine Production, Journalism, Photojournalism and Editorial Photography.
- Emphasis on storytelling (writing, visuals, traditional and new media channels), which is how media influences in contemporary times.
- A hands-on program, with a perfect blend of production courses and theory courses.
- Gives an understanding of the fast-changing media landscape and its impact on society.
- Taught by profs as well as local working professionals.
- Takes a critical thinking approach (with research methods taught in classes).
- An internship or thesis is built into the program.
- Small classes, with a personalized learning model and outstanding professors (one of our faculty has been granted the Kemper Award: Excellence in Teaching).
“I think my global perspective has been indelibly shaped by Webster, and will always remember my time there.”
Joy Isabelle Corthésy
BA in Media Communications, ’15
Webster's Lasting Impact on Joy's Career
Request More Information
Loading...