SC&I Expands Journalism and Media Studies Major with Two New Optional Specializations
The Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information (SC&I) will add two new optional specializations in summer 2026: Digital and Social Media and Social Justice and Media.
Optional specializations are open to declared JMS majors, and courses in a JMS specialization also count toward the major. Each specialization requires a total of five courses (15 credits): two required courses and three electives. Students may declare more than one specialization, and no course substitutions are permitted unless approved by the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. Not all courses will be offered every semester.
“We are excited to offer students new opportunities to develop focused expertise while strengthening their preparation for careers in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape,” said Lauren Feldman, chair and professor of Journalism and Media Studies.
Digital and Social Media Specialization
The Digital and Social Media specialization enables students to critically examine and create content for digital and social media platforms. Students will learn to use digital and social media effectively as professional tools while analyzing their impact on culture, politics, journalism, media, the creative industries, and society more broadly.
To qualify for the specialization, students must be declared JMS majors and complete all requirements. Courses that count toward the specialization may also count toward the 33-credit major.
Required Courses (6 credits):
Elective Courses (select 3 courses / 9 credits):
- 04:189:210 Disinformation Detox
- 04:189:220 Data in Context
- 04:567:202 Creating Content
- 04:567:211 Exploring New Media
- 04:567:302 Digital Media Production
- 04:567:331 Digital Media Lab
- 04:567:333 Media and Popular Culture
- 04:567:438 Digital Media Industries in the Digital Age
- 04:567:439 Artificial Intelligence and Media
- 04:567:488 Independent Study in Media Studies
- 04:567:489 Independent Study in Journalism
Social Justice and Media Specialization
The Social Justice and Media specialization provides students with a critical foundation for understanding how the media intersect with systems of power, inequity, and resistance. Students will engage with issues of diversity, social justice, and culture in global contexts. The specialization is designed for students interested in understanding and challenging the ways media industries reflect and shape social injustices.
To qualify for the specialization, students must be declared JMS majors and complete all requirements. Courses that count toward the specialization may also count toward the 33-credit major.
Required Courses (6 credits):
Elective Courses (select 3 courses / 9 credits):
- 04:567:274 Consumer Media Culture
- 04:567:333 Media and Popular Culture
- 04:567:365 Race, Islamophobia, and the Media
- 04:567:384 Media and the Struggles for Democracy in Central America
- 04:567:385 Irish Media, Politics, and Cultural Survival
- 04:567:405 Writing About Social Issues
- 04:567:415 Media and Climate Change
- 04:567:457 Journalism and the Civil Rights Movement
- 04:567:465 Documentary Filmmaking and Storytelling
- 04:567:475 International Media
- 04:567:488 Independent Study in Media Studies
- 04:567:489 Independent Study in Journalism
These two new specializations join the existing optional specializations in Global Media, Media Production, and Sports Journalism. All JMS optional specializations follow the same structure: five courses (15 credits), including two required courses and three electives.
For details on eligibility, how to declare, and advising, visit the JMS Optional Specializations page on the SC&I website.
