Overview
Jeremy Sarachan, Chair
Our students develop a passion for creative work within the various media professions. While some students pursue careers as filmmakers and television producers, others study social media, advertising, or media analytics. Still others pursue journalism and non-fiction storytelling through documentary production, photography, and writing for online news and sports publications.
We offer small classes and personalized attention in a liberal arts setting. St. John Fisher University's proximity to downtown Rochester allows students to participate in multiple internships and class partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits.
Students may focus in one or more of these areas:
Narrative Film, Television, and Video – Students take courses in television production, filmmaking, cinematography and editing, and screenwriting to prepare themselves for careers as storytellers for production companies and television stations, or for further study in film and television.
Journalism and Documentary – Students enrolled in journalism and documentary filmmaking learn to tell non-fiction stories and develop their skills as writers, directors, researchers, and editors.
Advertising – Students learn to create advertisements to prepare for careers as strategists and designers/writers/directors through courses in design, video production, media buying, and media analytics.
Communication and Media Studies – Students examine such areas as visual communication, media economics, health communication, media and politics, and film and television analysis to prepare for a variety of professions or to pursue graduate work in communication, law, or business.
Note: Students interested in pursuing a career in public relations should complete the B.S. in public relations, also offered by the department.
Students can work on the campus television station (Cardinal Television) or online newspaper (Cardinal Courier—app available on the iOS and Android stores) as well as the student-run public relations and advertising firm (The PRIMA Group). The department also supports a chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America).