Communication & Media Studies

School of Arts & Humanities

Notice

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonoma State University has transitioned to remote instruction for Fall 2020. Employees are working remotely in almost all departments. Email is the best way to communicate with our faculty and staff. You will find information on both the "Advising" tab and "Faculty & Staff" tab of this COMS webpage for office hours, Zoom links and emails. In addition, please see the SSU COVID-19 site for more information.

Home

Announcements

COMS "News and Events": Be sure to check out our "News and Events" section to see new articles and information regarding the COMS Department.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPRING AND SUMMER 2020 GRADUATES!

Please see the video below in your honor:

Communication & Media Studies

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.

What is Media Studies?

Media Studies 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.

Tricaster Studio

We also 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.

Change of Major

Do you want to become a COMS Major?

COMS is an impacted major. Check the “announcements” box on this website for the latest dates and information about our application process. Please request to be notified when applications are available each semester. COMS Change of Major - Request to be Notified

Classroom Picture with Amy G

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

Message from Department Chair

This fall, Sonoma State University embarks on its most unusual start to an academic year in its nearly 60-year history.

The good news is instructors across this campus, including those in Communication and Media Studies, are rising to the challenge of delivering a robust curriculum online. In fact, a majority of our Coms faculty voluntarily took a course this summer to improve our understanding and use of the many tools available to make online learning engaging and impactful.

We are more committed than ever to serving and supporting our students as they work toward earning a degree.

We’re also busy planning for life after the pandemic. I’m happy to report that work on our new Media Innovation Lab has been completed (see the update in “News and Events”). This state of the art facility will provide our students with even more opportunities to develop the necessary skillsets to find employment in a wide range of media careers.

We wish for the continued safety and good health of our students and their families, and encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions or needs!

Ed Beebout, Professor

News & Events

Coms Student Named to State-wide Athletic Diversity Commitee

August 21, 2020

New Media Innovation Lab Awaits COMS Students When They Return To Campus

July 30, 2020

Recent COMS Grad Wins National Award For His Film

July 30, 2020

Spotlight

Citrus Dawn

Congratulations to recent graduate Ryan Harvey. The film he directed for Campus MovieFest in 2019, entitled "Citrus Dawn," has won the BEST COMEDY award at the TERMINUS NATIONAL FESTIVAL. Well done, Ryan!