The knowledge gained in the Media Arts major of film and television history, production practices, the media industry, technical and creative processes, and critical analysis provide a strong foundation to guide original projects in documentary or narrative film. Alternatively, graduates may pursue work in the film or television industry in promotion, planning, preservation, analysis, or distribution.
Media Arts, like many majors, teaches content and skills that can be applied to a wide variety of career fields. The career fields most closely related to this major are competitive. Many individuals who graduate with bachelor’s degrees in this major establish paying careers in other fields. Following are career possibilities that most closely relate to this major.
Potential Career Areas:
- Producing
- Directing
- Writing/criticism
- Editing
- Archiving
- Publicity
Sample Employers:
- Television stations
- Production companies
- Film libraries/archives
- Film distribution companies
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Websites
Sample Job Titles and National Salary Ranges:
| Job Title | Salary Range |
|
Documentary Filmmaker
|
$0 - $50,000
|
|
Film and Video Editor
|
$26,000 - $50,900
|
|
Cinematographer
|
$36,000 - $48,500
|
|
Television Scriptwriter
|
$17,000 - $44,100
|
|
Storyboard Artist
|
$20,000 - $58,840
|
|
Television Director
|
$32,100 - $62,400
|
|
Multimedia Collections Specialist
|
$23,600 - $42,700
|
|
Lighting Technician
|
$21,500 - $41,000
|
|
Film Historian
|
$26,400 - $53,500
|
|
Film Archivist/Preservationist
|
$28,000 - $35,000
|
|
Film Critic
|
$20,000 - $43,292
|
|
Arts Council Director
|
$24,000 - $65,000
|
|
Film Publicist
|
$26.68 - $32.64/hr
|
|
Film Studio Media Planner
|
$18,000 - $60,000
|
Sources of Information: United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010); DISCOVER (2011); Facts on File: Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center (2011).