Program Overview

---

Journalism and Media Studies: Media and Culture

The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies: Media and Culture program offers a modern and interdisciplinary education combining a standard journalism curriculum with courses in media studies, film studies, and marketing/public relations and a focus on media and culture. Graduates receive a globally recognized degree, accredited in the US and EU, and earn it in three years instead of four.

About the Program

The Media and Culture concentration provides students with important practical skills and a foundational conceptual understanding of media history and the current media environment. On the skills-development side, Media and Culture fosters broader programs focused on the development of high-level English language writing and speaking/presentation skills. In addition to these, the Media and Culture concentration focuses on providing students with strong analytic and critical thinking skills in relation to historical and contemporary media environments—media literacy—and research skills.

This concentration is aimed at understanding the complexities of the contemporary media landscape. You will learn advanced media theories to gain a deeper understanding of:

• popular culture
• film theory and history
• history of photography

You will also gain an overall understanding of what it means to realize the potential power of images and language.

Study Journalism and Media Studies in the Heart of Europe

Prague was at the crossroads of a divided Europe during the Cold War, and now instead the city has become an open and welcoming cosmopolitan capital in New Europe for all nationalities with a number of domestic (in English-language or in Czech) and international media organizations based here. AAU’s student body includes students from many countries across Europe and Euroasia, the Americas, the Middle East, etc. with an equally diverse faculty with various areas of substantial expertise.

Beyond the classroom students can create and host internet radio programs on Soundbricks, contribute or produce the bi-annual student magazine Lennon Wall, or join any number of the student clubs concerned with environmental or other social issues. The Career Center also regularly invites media professionals to meet our students helping to ensure numerous internship opportunities in the Czech Republic or abroad.

By taking advantage of these opportunities students can finish the degree in Journalism & Media Studies having gained a solid background combining academic rigor and practical experience, and an appropriate internship in a desired field for the future.

Program Structure

Below, you can find the study plan for the B.A. in Journalism and Media Studies: Media and Culture as well as a list of courses available to choose from.

Study Modules

• General Education Module
  • Composition I
  • Composition II
  • Introduction to Politics (Politics I)
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • One course from the following: Comparative Religions / Introduction to Law / Political Philosophy I / Introduction to Philosophy
  • One course from the following: What is History? / World History I / World History II / European History I / European History II / Introduction to Literature
• Major Module
  • Introduction to Media Studies
  • Introduction to Reporting I
  • Introduction to Media Theory
  • Visual Culture
  • Intro to Psychology
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Media in Democracy
  • Media Ethics
  • One course from the following: Introduction to Film Studies / Introduction to Film Literacy
  • One course from the following: Topics in Media Studies: Media, Sports and Society / Media and the War on Terror
• Concentration Module
  • Choose 1 course from each group listed below:
    • Group A
      • Popular Culture & Media Theory
    • Group B
      • Understanding Media Fandom
      • Alternative and Underground Fandom
    • Group C
      • Language and Power
      • Media Representation and Society
    • Group D
      • Video Story Telling
      • Introduction to Film Studies
      • Introduction to Film Language
      • Documentary Film Seminar
    • Group E
      • Media and the War on Terror
      • Topics in Media Studies: Media, Sport & Society
      • Writing for Social Media – News Lab
    • Group F
      • History of Popular Cinema
      • History of Cinema – The Auteurs
      • Czech Culture in Film and Literature
      • 20th Century Ideas: European Literature, Film and Visual Art
    • Group G
      • Radio in the Age of Spotify
      • Digital Tools for New Media
• Open Elective Module Courses
  • Students can choose 3 elective courses offered by any AAU School.

Having passed all the required and elective courses, students complete their studies by taking the graduation examinations: state exam covering the major module, state exam covering the concentration module, and thesis defense.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the B.A. in Journalism and Media Studies: Journalism can expect to:

• Have theoretical, methodological and conceptual knowledge of the field of journalism and communications, complemented by interdisciplinary knowledge of political, economic, social and humanities disciplines.
• Have the following capabilities and skills:
  • a. seek out, evaluate the reliability of, and work with information,
  • b. work in traditional and new digital media in an online work environment,
  • c. master the fundamentals of economic, cultural and investigative reporting,
  • d. public speaking and moderating,
  • e. intercultural communication.
• Possess the following competencies: work independently and in teams, including international teams, coordinate team activities to achieve set goals, communicate findings, problems and solutions to the domestic and international public in English in both written and verbal form, and persistently pursue their own professional development.

Career Prospects

AAU graduates thrive in multinational environments and are able to communicate professionally in English to international audiences. As a graduate of this degree program, you will be well-equipped to continue your studies or pursue a global career in areas such as:

• Various forms of print and web media
• Cultural Management
• Reporting or Diplomacy
• Humanitarian Government and Nonprofit Organizations
• Education
• Social research
• Publishing

Qualification Awarded

The Bachelor’s degree awarded is concurrently recognized as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in the United States, per AAU’s accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and as a Bakalář (Bc.) in the Czech Republic, per AAU’s accreditation by the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education (NABHE). Graduates may select whether to use the U.S. post-nominal or the Czech pre-nominal title.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

We provide a wide range of scholarships, tuition discounts, and financial aid options to help make quality education more accessible. To learn more please visit our dedicated Financial Aid and Scholarships page.

Additional Information

• Learn more about tuition & payment.
• Learn more about undergraduate admission requirements.
• Explore our FAQ section.
• Should you have any further questions please email us at.

Program Details

• Accreditation: WASC + MSMT
• Degree: Bachelor of Arts
• Duration: 3 years
• Location: Prague, CZ
• Tuition EU: 31,781 USD
• Tuition NON-EU: 36,679 USD
• Intake: Fall / Spring
• Deadline: Rolling Admission

Meet the People

• Karen Grunow-Hårsta, Ph.D.
  • Dean, Senior Lecturer
• Andrew Giarelli, Ph.D.
  • Senior Lecturer
• Theodore A. Turnau, Ph.D., M.Div.
  • Senior Lecturer, Chair of the Department of Arts, Culture, and Literature

Testimonials

• My Prague Experience

I will forever be grateful to AAU for what I’ve become – a TV producer of a London-based channel, a reporter and a presenter. It gave me everything (both skills and emotional support) to inspire me and to kick-start my career in journalism.

Katherine Dedukh Journalism & Media, Ukraine/Estonia

• What I enjoy the most about the program I study at AAU is the practicality of the various subjects, learning how to write, compose, analyze and even edit content are all skills I can use to my advantage in my professional life.

Ify Nsoha Journalism & Media, Nigeria/Czech Republic