What Can I Do With a Major In Entertainment and Media Studies?

UGA Specific Information for Entertainment and Media Studies

This program prepares students for careers in creative digital media industries. The major focuses on entertainment and other creative content, providing students with professional courses of study in the theory and production of creative digital media and the impact of that content on society. Graduates find careers in film, television, radio, cable, satellite, online, mobile, and other new media industries. Majors work in writing, content production, programming, distribution, management, sales, and research, primarily in the creative and entertainment industries. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW EMPLOYERS/POSITION TITLES and GRADUATE SCHOOLS/PROGRAMS REPORTED FOR THIS MAJOR

Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Entertainment and Media Studies*

** Includes Self-Employed

Campus Resources

Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations

Knowledge/Skills Needed in this Industry

  • Get experience with reporting, production, and editing by securing an internship with a TV broadcast station, radio station or production company. Obtaining a production assistant internship is common for students beginning their careers in this field. Internships may be paid or unpaid positions.
  • Many crew and casting positions in the entertainment industry are not posted online and are often filled through networking. If you do not see a position that interests you, visit the film commission website for the state in which you want to work, click on the crew/production directory and email or call the production company. Inquire about open positions and be ready to discuss who you are, what you’ve done relative to the job, and what you want to do. Many entry-level film jobs are freelance jobs and will be listed under the title "Production Assistant." When applying for a crew position, you must indicate at the top of your resume and/or in a cover letter which department or job you are applying for.
  • Remember that networking is incredibly important in this industry. Start building your network as early as you can, and remember to consider people like professors, internship supervisors, friends of your family and your peers. LinkedIn is a great place to start building your network. Check out the UGA Career Center's networking page for tips on creating your profile and which features to use.
  • Develop excellent scriptwriting, reporting, editing, and public speaking skills.
  • Enroll in New Media Certificate courses to gain understanding and proficiency in digital media such as coding, new technology, and social media.
  • Volunteer to announce sporting events at UGA or within the community. If you are interested in the sports industry, consider enrolling in the Sports Media Certificate.
  • Get experience with a variety of software programs, including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Photo Mechanic, Apple - Final Cut Pro X, Audacity, and Soundslides. Additionally, Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid, and Fireworks are also very useful in the multimedia industry. LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com) is a great, free resource for this.
  • Gain experience with social media marketing using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Become proficient in social media analytics by using HootSuite.
  • Create a portfolio and/or reel of your work, including writing samples, videos you worked on in any way (pre-production, post-production, sound, etc.), graphics, and ideas. Making an online portfolio is a good way to market your skills for job opportunities by using websites such as Behance, Vimeo, Wix, WordPress, Vimeo, and YouTube. For more information and platforms, check out Portfolio Resources on the Career Center website.

Campus Involvement, Domestic Field Study and Study Abroad Opportunities 

  • Pre-Journalism and Entertainment Media Studies majors interested in getting hands-on experience in video production are strongly encouraged to get involved with Grady Newsource, a four-day-a-week, 30-minute newscast that airs on WNEG-TV. Students rotate weekly through every job in the newsroom: producer, playback, assignments editor, anchors, writers, reporters, videographers, sports, and weather.
  • Join DiGamma Kappa, the official broadcasting society at the University of Georgia. The group meets bi-weekly to provide networking opportunities, activities, and social functions within the broadcast and entertainment industry. The organization also provides an atmosphere for students to learn about jobs and internships from professionals in the industry.
  • Host a radio show on or intern with WUOG 90.5 FM or WUGA 91.7/97.9 FM or other local radio stations.
  • Students interested in working in entertainment media are encouraged to attend Grady L.A., a summer internship/study program in Los Angeles. This program provides the structure of a formal internship program paired with the additional coursework, allowing students to receive academic instruction and professional, industry experience simultaneously. Each week, students will be introduced to guest speakers including studio executives, animators, directors, screenwriters, agents, and other key industry players.
  • Students interested in film are encouraged to get involved with "The Industry," student organization at UGA, and Film Athens.
  • Consider enrolling in the UGA Cannes Film Festival Study Abroad program which offers two academic courses in film studies. This opportunity also allows students to network with producers, directors, and actors who have starred in motion pictures.

LinkedIn Groups to Join 

  • Internships and Interns
  • UGA DiGamma Kappa (DGK)
  • University of Georgia Alumni Association Group (UGA)
  • University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni
  • Tip: Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest.
  • For more information on how to effectively utilize LinkedIn, check out the UGA Career Center's Networking Page.

Additional Internship/Job Search Tips

  • For additional information on internships and job opportunities, look out for emails sent every Tuesday on the Grady Career Services Update listserv. If you are not on that listserv, sign up for the Grady job leads listserv here.
  • Follow @UGAGradyCareers for timely job postings and career advice, run by the Grady College Office of Experiential Learning.
  • If you’re interested in working or interning for a specific company, visit that company’s website. Job and internship opportunities are usually listed under the “Careers” tab.
  • For information about job salary, company reviews, and job openings, visit Glassdoor and Payscale.com.
  • For a general job search, visit websites such as Indeed, Monster, and Simply Hired.

Supplemental Career Research Dashboard

Additional Career Research Resources

Employment Websites

Professional Associations/Resources

Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Entertainment and Media Studies majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer Position Title(s)
Acadia Jr. SEO Analyst
ATA Management Assistant to Talent Manager
Bethlehem Christian Academy Videographer
BPI Photography Studio Photographer, Graphic Designer, and Marketing Coordinator
CDW HEX, LLC Set Decoration Production Assistant
Company 3 Dailies Operator
Cox Communications Project Management Specialist
Doordash Doordasher
FreedomBooks Financial LLC Social Media Coordinator
Global Social Media Marketing Youtube Director
Guap Studios Studio Assistant
HBOMax Unit Production Assistant
Hot Snakes Media Associate Producer
ISCO Line Producer
Learfield IMG College Producer
McCann New York Junior Producer
NBCUniversal Account Services Representative
Not Specified Videographer and Editor
Onia Graphic Designer
Passion City Church Film Resident
Peloton Music Contractor
Piedmont Park Conservancy Public Relations Intern
Scoutmaster Creative Video Editor
Tagger Digital Content Strategist
Techwood Digital SEO Technical Analyst
Texas Roadhouse Training Coordinator
The Gersh Agency Talent Floater
The XD Agency Production Coordinator
ViacomCBS Digital Campaign Specialist
Wondros Marketing Media Coordinator
Zeno Group Purpose and Impact Intern
* denotes no responses received.
*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2021 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Entertainment and Media Studies majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Graduate School Program(s)
Georgetown University Public Relations and Corporate Communications, MA
Georgia Institute of Technology Coding Bootcamp, Web Development Certificate
University of Georgia Law, JD
University of Georgia Emerging Media, MA
University of Iowa Media, History and Culture, MA
University of Tennessee English, MA
University of Texas at Austin Radio-Television-Film, Media Studies Concentration, MA
* denotes no responses received.

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