BA Media Studies at University of Virginia

Programme overview

The Media Studies major is offered by the Department of Media Studies. Students complete ten courses, or twelve in the Distinguished Majors Program, and must earn at least a C+ in every course counted toward the major.

Faculty: College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: Department of Media Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

Required courses are Introduction to Media Studies, History of Media, Topics in Global Media, Topics in Media Research and a Capstone, plus five electives: one Practice of Media course, one Diversity and Inclusion course and three open electives at the 3000 level or above. Distinguished Majors take MDST 4000, 4970 and 4980 in place of MDST 3510 and 4510.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students are strongly encouraged to complete MDST 2000 (Introduction to Media Studies) before applying to the major. A minimum of C+ is required in each course counted toward the major.

First-year entry for Fall 2027 via Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision; transfer applicants can apply for Spring or Fall entry.

First-year deadlines: Early Decision and Early Action November 1 (decisions by December 15 and February 15 respectively); Regular Decision January 5 (decision by April 1). Applications are submitted through the Common Application. Standardized testing is test optional for Fall 2027 first-year applicants.

Transfer deadlines: Spring Transfer October 1 (notification by December 1); Fall Transfer March 1 (notification by May 1). Transfer applications are test optional.

Application fees (2026-27): undergraduate $75; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences $85; Architecture $80; Batten graduate $75; Darden non-PhD $250, Darden PhD $100; Data Science $85; Education and Human Development $65; Law $85; McIntire graduate $85; Medicine $80; Nursing $88; SCPS $70; Graduate Engineering no fee.

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