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Welcome to the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Sonoma State University

Are you considering a career in media? Our department offers media-focused courses, experienced professors and a hands-on learning experience. Our classes cross over a diverse range of topics and skillsets which allow students to be knowledgeable in many aspects of the media industry.

Announcement

Group Photo KSUN Spring 24
Sonoma State's KSUN is Where Students Find Their Voice

Check out this article from SSU's Strategic Communications about our very own KSUN!

Warren Court
COMS Student receives Honorable Mention

COMS Student, Jenna Beament, receives Honorable Mention for her Warren Court Essay submission titled "School-to-Prison Pipeline".  CELS Website

Local students win scholarship to new Cinematic Arts program at SSU

Congratulations Sam and Jacob! Read more about this in our News and Events section.

Gina Headshot
Faculty Spotlight

Here is a great new spotlight for you to check out. Dr. Gina Baleria co-authors article for the Journal of Media Literacy Education.

 

New Cinematic Arts & Tech BA in Fall 2023

If you would like more info on the new Cinematic Arts and Technology degree program, please email Talena Sanders at sandersta@sonoma.edu.

Faculty, Alumni and Student Spotlights

Please check out our News and Events page to see spotlights on our amazing faculty, alumni and current Coms students.

Internship Stories

Check out our new feature under "Internships" highlighting personal stories from COMS students and faculty on the value of internships. 

What is Media Studies?

We provide our students with a robust curriculum that allows them to develop media skills in a variety of areas, including video production, writing for the media, public relations, broadcasting and digital media. Students have the opportunity to focus on specific skills or developing skills across the media spectrum.

media lab over tricaster

 

Media Studies also explores the history and impact of media on society as well as research theory and methods of media analysis. Our core curriculum is designed to make students smarter, more savvy media consumers as well as more thoughtful and ethical media practitioners.

Careers, Fields & Industries

Where Do SSU COMS Alumni Work?

There are many career paths that a person with a Communication and Media Studies Major can choose. Below are some of the career paths that graduates from Sonoma State University with a major in Communication and Media Studies have followed. Use this as an ideas list, but certainly not all of the careers you might consider:

  • Print Journalism 
  • Public Relations 
  • Radio Broadcasting
  • Video Production 
  • Feature Films 
  • Web Design
  • Television News 
  • Social Media 
  • Web Content Management

Spotlight

Student's Spooky Thriller Scores Big at Film Competition

A Coms student has made an impressive showing at an international short film competition.

Dottie Aschwanden's film, "Veiled", won both the filmmakers and audience award for "Best Cinematography" at the 2021 Fright Sprint Competition. The annual Halloween-themed competition featured entries from both amateur and professional filmmakers. Aschwanden's supernatural thriller also picked up the audience award for second best film of the competition, and the judge's award for third best film. Aschwanden's team was the youngest in the competition. Congratulations, Dottie!