Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico
College of Communication and Education

Media Arts BA

${image.alt}
  • Program Type

    Undergraduate Major

  • Delivery Type

    On Campus

Request Information About This Program

Look behind the scenes at what your future can hold with a degree in Media Arts. Prepare for exciting and diverse career opportunities in television, film, and new media, both behind the scenes and in the limelight.

Our program is about having the freedom to explore your passions and express yourself through a combination of storytelling and media design. You'll learn how to create engaging stories and games, critically examine media, work with virtual and augmented reality, make digital animations, write for TV and movies, and design sound effects. Unleash your creativity to make a difference in the world.

Student looking through a VR set

Breaking the Academic Mold

We cover everything from media aesthetics to web design, screenwriting, video editing, and production. You will graduate with a solid understanding of media arts theory and the technical skills employers seek.

Major Options

Choose your path and learn specialized skills with one of our options within the major.

  • Students and staff recording a play one is sitting at a desk and another is holding a clapperboard.

    Production

    Learn about all digital media, including photo, video, audio, and the media of the future. Work with high-definition video pre- and post-production equipment, learn web design, and create collaborative digital media projects.

  • Students capturing footage for the MADT Video Program

    Criticism

    Explore the history, theory, and political, social and cultural impact of media. Develop a background in communication design theory, visual design practices, digital photography, and writing skills. Learn to think critically about media in all forms.

Dream Up the Future You Want

Your degree in media arts gives you the freedom to chart your own career path in virtually any industry, including healthcare, education, and government. You can become an audio editor, scriptwriter, media salesperson, journalist, or a trusted scholar, whether as a critic, historian, or documentarian.

Some of our alumni work at the following places:

  • Netflix
  • Disney
  • ESPN
  • Media production in Sacramento, Oakland, San Franciso, and Los Angeles
Portrait Jimmy Lillard
“
[Chico State] was the first time I got to be in an actual studio and was told ‘here’s how to use stuff, do whatever you want.
Jimmy Lillard (Media Arts, ’04)
Read more about Jimmy’s story

Unlock Your Creativity

Don't just learn about your future—experience it firsthand. Host your own radio show, create 360-degree digital tours, or produce promotional videos for companies. Pursue your passion and creativity while gaining real-world work experience.

  • Student wears a Microsoft HoloLens

    Media, Entertainment and Technology Experience (METX)

    METX is a collaboration between computer animation and game development, journalism, and media arts, design, and technology. Students work in teams to create immersive content for clients, like Lundberg Family Farms and Sierra Nevada Brewery.

  • Student running a radio broadcast

    KCSC Radio

    Join our student-run radio station, which has been around since 1951. This is where music fanatics come together to play fresh tunes that branch away from the mainstream. You can host your own show and help host electrifying events.

  • Student filming with a video camera

    Internship Opportunities

    Gain valuable experience through our internship program. Our students have worked for many companies, including MTV, Comcast Sportsnet, and CBS. There are also many opportunities with local network affiliate television stations and radio stations.

Get Engaged and Involved

  • American Institute for Graphic Arts (AIGA)

    This is where design professionals come together to share ideas, information, and insights. Where we can engage in discussions and contribute to the advancement of education and ethical practice. Our group is affiliated with the San Francisco Chapter of AIGA.

  • Digital Filmmakers Guild

    We're a group of students who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of traditional video production coursework. Our guild is made up of students from all different majors who are eager to express themselves through electronic media.

Students capture video for a documentary

Where Ideas Ignite

We offer editing workstations, a live radio station, and a motion capture lab. Learn how to make games like Pokémon Go or produce your own short film using equipment that mirrors what you see in the industry.

Discover Stories and More

Chico State Today
/

Related Programs