Harness the power of nonfiction filmmaking to tell the stories that matter most to you. Through our media & film program, you’ll learn how to craft compelling narratives via visual and written media—including documentary films that explore social justice themes—while sharpening your media literacy skills.
Under the guidance of award-winning faculty and staff, you’ll develop your unique, artistic voice through filmmaking, exploring timely topics that ignite your creativity and expand your perspective. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their work in film festivals throughout the Northeast, as well as build their resume with exclusive internships and on-campus employment at Suffolk’s Studio 73 and the department’s media lab.
Our graduates go on to work as directors, producers, editors, and cinematographers at major television networks and media companies or start their own businesses within the entertainment industry.
As a media & film major, you will:
You won’t just study your major—you’ll experience it through hands-on learning opportunities.
In Production I, students are introduced to the techniques and theories of audiovisual storytelling, with an emphasis on documentary production. Video: “Self Portrait” by Grace Dreher.
In Production II, students create a traditional documentary with fictionalized elements, exploring the difference between facts, truth, lies, and fraud. Video: “Kayla” by Kathryn Louise Stapleton, Madison Coolidge, & Nicholas Collins.
In Production III, students work together to research, propose, shoot, and edit original short documentaries that engage with social justice issues. Video: “Complete Streets” by Plan C Productions.
In Making the Short Film, the whole class works together as a crew to create a short narrative film shot in HD video. Video: “Government Cheese” by Kely Maloney, Cam Stefek, Pete Sethanant, Alyssa Moses, & Sean McCarthy.
In this major, students can choose to earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Media & Film. Focusing primarily on documentary, you’ll learn to become a creative visual storyteller and develop hands-on video production skills, including audio production, lighting, and editing. You’ll also gain an understanding of the media’s political, social, and cultural role in societies, as well as film and communication theory, and draw from this rich knowledge base when shaping your own original works of nonfiction.
View the Media & Film Major Curriculum
Gain a foundation in the theories and techniques of visual storytelling while improving your visual literacy skills by minoring in media & film. Along with a required course on visual aesthetics, you'll take four electives that delve further into this multifaceted field.
View the Media & Film Minor Curriculum
Media & film students complement their skills with courses, minors, and double majors in areas such as:
“Professor Jeremy Levine has been one of the most influential people in my life. He has taught and mentored me to become a better filmmaker. Jeremy helped me make my first short film, which won the best student short at Salem Film Fest. Without him, I wouldn't have gotten this far. My goal is to make movies, and my experience at Suffolk will help me get closer to my dreams.”
At Suffolk, you won’t just develop your voice through filmmaking—you’ll also learn to amplify your message and connect with your audience and peers by showing your work.
You’ll be encouraged to submit your work for critical review and consideration with support from award-winning faculty and staff whose films—which explore pressing topics like public health and housing inequity—have appeared in the world’s most elite showcases, such as the Sundance Film Festival.
Our students, faculty, and alumni regularly participate in (and receive awards during) prestigious film festivals, including:
You’ll also see your productions on the big screen in Suffolk’s Modern Theatre during our annual year-end screening event.
While you’ll learn critical skills in the classroom and shoot your work around the city (and around the world!), you’ll find a true creative community in our dedicated campus spaces.
The 4th Floor of the Samia Academic Center is devoted to our department. This modern space includes a teaching media lab, media production classroom, faculty offices, a finishing studio, a voiceover recording studio, and an open editing lab where students can work on class projects together. The department also includes a staffed equipment-vending room, and a study/gathering space where students are encouraged to connect and collaborate.
Suffolk’s on-campus television studio, Studio 73, combines the most advanced HD technology with an unbeatable location – just steps away from the State House and Boston Common. Students can work on both sides of the camera to gain a 360-degree view of the production experience, including the studio’s innovative partnership with New England Cable News, Suffolk in the City, which allows students an unparalleled opportunity to report on-air in one of the country’s largest media markets. Time in the professionally-run studio is integrated into several of our classes, and you can also reserve it for projects.
Participating in research activities, student groups, and professional organizations will help you level up your work while you refine your interests and build your network.
Dig deeper into the art and science of communication by working with faculty as a teaching, research, or production assistant. Our undergraduate students have co-authored papers, contributed to faculty books, and participated in film projects alongside faculty and alumni such as the award-winning documentary film Roxbury.
Become a more well-rounded storyteller and build strong connections by participating in:
You can also join professional organizations such as the Mass Production Coalition, which holds events such as a student media summit and pitch competition, and present your research at regional conferences like the Western Communication Association and Eastern Communication Association.
Boston is one of the largest communication markets in the United States, making it the perfect place to launch your career in media and film. Our students pursue internships with news organizations, nonprofit organizations, and businesses both large and small, including recent placements with:
Our exclusive partnership with the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival creates three internships each year for our students. We bring students to the NFF to network, partner with their staff to bring acclaimed filmmakers to Suffolk’s Modern Theatre, and encourage our students to submit their work to the festival.
The Career Center will help you explore career options, plan your path, and land your dream internship or job. You’ll find practical help, like how to write an effective résumé or LinkedIn profile, along with valuable connections to leading employers and successful alumni, including networking events like our Women in the Media panel. A specific Career Community for Journalism, Media & Communication provides events and information tailored just for our students.
Here's a sampling of recent graduates’ current job titles and employers.
Associate Professor & Department Chair of Communication, Journalism & Media
Email [email protected]
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