Preparing You to Succeed in Your Media-Related Career
Learn to critically analyze the ways in which the media reflects, represents and influences the world. As a media department student, you'll explore media from a communicative, technological, social-cultural and creative-aesthetic perspective. You'll graduate as an effective, ethical and thoughtful civic communicator, storyteller or designer, strategic in your thinking and skilled in creating and using a wide variety of media and digital media platforms.
In concert with the University's mission, you'll nurture your individual talents, harness your innate creativity, inspire passion for innovation, foster analytical and critical thinking, and encourage ethical and professional leadership. Your education will reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the field and the growing synergies between journalism and media innovations while remaining grounded in Catholic values and democratic ideals.
Student Media
You can publish content on a variety of student media channels, including The Duquesne Duke (student newspaper), WDSR (student radio), DSTV (student TV), :Lexicon (literary arts journal), The D.U.Quark (scientific research journal), L'Esprit du Duc (yearbook) and Off the Bluff (Duquesne media-produced magazine).
Digital Experience & Prototyping Lab
Led by Dr.%20William%20Gibbs, our user experience lab gives any media student the opportunity to have hands-on experience with creating and designing forms of interactive media. The lab includes 3D printers, augmented reality and so much more.
Mentored. Published. Heard.
It feels like I spent 18 years looking for a community to love that embraced me back. Locker rooms, classrooms and dormitories where I expected those moments never delivered. I came to realize that the [Duquesne Duke] newsroom was that place. It was a world where I knew that what I contributed was important.
Duquesne gave me the skills and confidence to pursue every opportunity. My classes, especially in television and sports media, helped me land an internship that led to my first job — and now I’m reporting from the Olympics.
Starting at The Duke gave me the foundation I needed as a journalist. I’ve always wanted to write about video games, especially to represent the disability community in spaces where our voices are often missing.
From the Bluff to the Emmys
Duquesne alumni earn top recognition in the media industry, including the prestigious
Mid-Atlantic Emmy. Sydney Bauer, A’18, won her third and fourth Emmys in 2024 for
her work as a video producer at PensTV. Her path to the Emmys began at Duquesne, where
she majored in digital media arts and produced an award-winning video in a multi-platform
editing class.
“Through my involvement with clubs like Duquesne Student Television and Duquesne Athletics,
I was able to build my portfolio and gain real, hands-on experience, while also connecting
with professionals who guided me along the way,” she said.
She credits much of her professional growth to the mentorship she received on campus:
“My time at Duquesne was amazing. I built strong relationships with several professors
and mentors that provided me with opportunities to grow in my profession,” Sydney
said. “Being recognized with two Mid-Atlantic Emmys surrounded by my peers, as well
as many other talented journalists and storytellers, was an honor.”
Sydney joins fellow alumni Josh Taylor, A’08, and Reilly Zimmerman, A’20, who have also received regional Emmy awards in recent years.
A Start in Student Activities
Undergraduate Program Tracks
You will use what is learned in the classroom to create robust multimedia experiences in a variety of disciplines and industries.
Explore Multimedia
Explore Interactive Design
Explore Sports Media
Accelerated Undergraduate Program
After your acceptance into the accelerated path, beginning junior year, you can take up to 12 credits of graduate-level courses that will apply to their undergraduate degrees. Once you formally move from undergraduate to graduate status, 12 credits of graduate work will apply toward the 42-credit requirement for the M.F.A. This would leave 30 credits, including a project/thesis course, to successfully complete your M.F.A. degree.
Further Study of the Art of Media Dr. Mike Dillon Associate Professor, Media Teaching Assistant Professor, Media Professor, Journalism Graduate Director & Associate Professor, Media Department Chair & Instructor, Media Associate Professor, Media Adjunct Faculty, Media & Director, Center for Emerging and Innovative MediaGraduate Program Tracks
As a creative and strategic media M.F.A. student, you will learn the art of telling good stories through video, sound, text
and graphic design. You will be taught which mediums work best for certain stories
and will learn how to frame your messaging to capture the attention of the widest
possible audience.
Our certification in media arts & technology is for professionals who want to expand their knowledge and/or skillset of current
media, technology and design applications. We offer three tracks for both the MFA
and the certificate.
Explore Creative & Strategic MediaMeet Our Faculty
Dr. Mike Dillon
Dr. William Gibbs
Robert Healy
Margaret Patterson
Dr. Zeynep Tanes-Ehle
James Vota
Dr. Pamela Walck
Don Maue