Media Analytics A.B.
Program Director: Associate Professor Bockino
The media analytics major prepares students to become versatile, data-driven decision-makers across the media landscape. Whether it’s choosing what film to produce, which influencer to hire, or what website to advertise on, majors learn how to ask the right questions; prepare, process, and analyze relevant data; and communicate insights and recommend actions to appropriate audiences.
Media analytics majors are industry experts, equipped with the analytical and communication skills needed to work in a variety of positions, from roles within the world’s biggest digital media companies and news platforms to local brands, agencies, and organizations.
The Media Analytics A.B. degree requires 52 total semester hours in MEA, COM, CDE, CTA, DCM, JOU or STC, plus 2 hours IDS 1150.
See School of Communications for additional program requirements and course descriptions.
Major Requirements:
Required courses: 41-42 sh
| IDS1150 | Public Speaking | 2 sh |
| COM1000 | Communications in a Global Age | 4 sh |
| COM2000 | Inclusive Communications | 2 sh |
| COM2200 | Creating Multimedia Content | 4 sh |
| MEA2600 | Media Analytics I | 4 sh |
| MEA2800 | Data-Driven Strategies for Digital Media | 4 sh |
| MEA3100 | Media Analytics II | 4 sh |
| MEA3800 | Advanced Media Analytics | 4 sh |
| COM3985 | Communications Internship | 1 or 2 sh |
| COM4000 | Media Law and Ethics | 4 sh |
| MEA4100 | Communicating Media Insights | 4 sh |
| MEA4970 | Media Analytics Capstone: From Data to Decision | 4 sh |
Required Minor, Double Major or Semester Abroad:
To promote academic depth, all students must complete a minor, a double major outside the School of Communications, or a semester abroad (totaling at least 12 credit hours) in an Elon-approved program. Study USA programs do not qualify as a semester abroad.
Electives: 12-13 sh
Select additional courses to total at least 52 semester hours of courses from COM, CDE, CTA, DCM, JOU, MEA, or STC, not including
IDS 1150.
Total Credit Hours: 54
Program Outcomes
1. Truth, accuracy and fairness: Students will be able to articulate the value of truth, accuracy, and fairness, and their relationship to advancing diversity; describe the importance of access to information to ensure these values; and apply these values in the discipline and professions.
2. Freedom of expression: Students will be able to identify and state the importance of the five freedoms in the First Amendment; distinguish expression that is and is not protected; recognize differences in global contexts and apply legal principles to media issues.
3. Ethical ways of reasoning: Students will be able to describe the philosophical underpinnings of ethical decision-making; recognize the symbiosis between law and ethics; and apply ethical principles to professional issues.
4. History and roles of media, communication professions and sport in society: Students will be able to identify significant diverse individuals and describe important milestones in the multicultural history of communications and sport; and analyze the role and impact of media on U.S. society.
5. Domestic and global diversity: Students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of diverse peoples and cultures, particularly those who have been historically disenfranchised in the United States of America; demonstrate culturally proficient communication with diverse domestic audiences; describe ways to communicate appropriately with global audiences; to work on and advocate for diverse and inclusive teams; and understand the consequences of the digital divide.
6. Write and speak clearly and effectively: Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in grammar, spelling, mechanics and organization; and write and speak with accuracy, clarity, cultural proficiency and style for different audiences across media platforms.
7. Employ the tools of today’s technology: Students will be able to describe how technologies shape the way people interact with the world; master communication tools and technologies; and produce print, audio, video, online and mobile content.
8. Use theory in producing meaningful content: Students will be able to identify and demonstrate communication theories, concepts and aesthetic principles that guide the creation of visual content and the presentation of images and information.
9. Engage in research and analysis: Students will be able to describe qualitative and quantitative research methods; evaluate primary and secondary sources; and write and present a scholarly paper appropriate for disciplinary professions.
10. Apply numerical concepts: Students will be able to perform basic numerical computations; interpret statistical data and analyze audiences; and demonstrate the ability to apply these concepts in appropriate communications professions.
11. Demonstrate creative and critical thinking: Students will be able to explain the creative elements in the work they do; understand the financial aspects of content creation; and draw rational conclusions as they analyze social and communications phenomena.