The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the historically Black educational institution in Princess Anne, is offering a new major in digital media studies. Students may enroll in the new major beginning this fall.
The department of English and modern languages currently offers courses in production and programming of audio and video as well as interviewing and broadcast performance that until now has qualified as a minor in digital media studies.
A curriculum expansion will create a new major that produces graduates who will be viable candidates for entry-level media positions across a broad cross-section of the communications industry such as a production assistant in a broadcast newsroom, an account assistant in a public relations firm, a videographer in a commercial production house, or a social media coordinator.
In addition to fulfilling a 14-class, 42-credit “core curriculum,” digital media studies majors will be required to take two foreign language courses and earn 18 digital-media elective credits, which could include off-campus internships.
Heidi M. Anderson, president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, stated that having a digital media studies program “will position UMES well to expand the knowledge and training of professionals who serve an ever-changing industry and supports our goal to offer academic programs that prepare graduates who can address challenges on the Eastern Shore, the state, the nation, and the world.”
