Media, Culture, and Communication, Oh My!

I started in the College of Arts and Science, or CAS, where I planned to major in Politics. Politics changed to International Relations, which changed to Public Policy, which then changed back to Politics. I was confused, and I still wasnʼt set on my major. It was around this time that I was introduced to the Media, Culture, and Communication major, or MCC, at Steinhardt. After some research, I took a leap of faith and internally transferred into the program.

While still pursuing a Politics major through CAS, I was able to add a second major that focused on communications. It was in this combined program that I found a place where I could accomplish all of my goals and study exactly what I wanted.

Media, Culture, and Communication (MCC) is a major located in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Students in this major have the opportunity to study media and technology across global, social, and cultural contexts.

MCC students take a variety of different core classes that allow them to explore the history of media, the different types of media, and the areas of study within the MCC program. After completing the core classes, students have a ton of courses to choose from within a wide range of topics.

• Global Communication and Media
• Visual Culture and Sound Studies
• Technology and Society
• Media Industries and Politics
• Interaction and Experience

More information on the areas of study can be found here.

Students can pick and choose from these areas of study to make the MCC program fit their own interests and plans. In my experience, Iʼve focused mostly on the media industries and politics concentration. It’s been very helpful for studying political communications and has aligned nicely with my Politics major. I even got to take a class called Political Communication, which was an in-depth analysis of the different political theories and campaign techniques—and a dream come true.

However, my experience may differ from other studentsʼ in the program. MCC students are incredibly creative when it comes to their studies, and the program’s flexibility allows this. Many of us combine the areas of study in different ways to fit our own interests. With some help from your academic adviser, you can combine the different MCC concentrations to make your own plan of study.

You’ll also have the chance to take classes at other NYU schools as required by the MCC program. This allows you to explore other topics that might add to your studies within the program.

For an MCC student, the possibilities are truly endless. From internships and jobs to research and clubs, this program offers its students so much. This past summer, I had my first internship while studying at NYU. I was a communications intern for the Museum of the City of New York.

While in this position, I had the unique opportunity to help contribute to the museum’s different exhibitions. Those included exhibitions in response to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the political activism that we’ve seen throughout 2020. As a political communications student, helping with these exhibitions was a great experience—one I wouldn’t have had without MCC.

In MCC, you also have the chance to meet people from all over the world. Through the program, you’ll have the opportunity to make lasting friendships with your fellow students. In fact, some of my closest friends are the people I’ve met through MCC.