BA Media Arts and Design at University of Chicago

Programme overview

Media and design practices shape how we see the world, how we communicate, and how we understand ourselves. Screens, platforms, interfaces, and algorithms structure contemporary culture, influencing politics, social life, and everyday decision-making. Developing critical awareness of the theory, history, and practice of media, is essential to navigating contemporary life.

Faculty: The College | Department: Media Arts and Design | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Autumn | Location: Chicago, IL, United States

What you will study

The Media Arts and Design major is an in-depth program requiring 12 courses in total. This includes: the required Foundations course, two Media Theory courses, two Media History courses, three Media Practice and Design courses, and four electives.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to the College, not to the major (university-level requirement): first-year applicants apply through the Common Application or Apply Coalition with the UChicago supplement essays and submit the secondary school report and transcript, two teacher evaluations and a mid-year report; testing follows the University's No Harm Testing Policy. Majors are declared after enrolment and must satisfy the College general education Core plus the major requirements listed in the catalogue.

USD 75,960 a year (2026-27). College tuition for the 2026-27 academic year (cost of attendance table); excludes student services fee, U-Pass fee, class fee, housing, food and books. Source

First-year admission is offered for entrance in the Autumn Quarter only (except prospective students-at-large).

First-year application plans (as published for the 2025-26 cycle): Early Decision I and Early Action deadline 3 November 2025; Early Decision II and Regular Decision deadline 5 January 2026. Applications are accepted through the Common Application and Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir. An application fee or automatic fee waiver is required, SAT/ACT scores are covered by the No Harm Testing Policy.

Apply through the official page: https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/application/

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