The Mapúa University introduces two (02) pioneering undergraduate programs aimed at enabling creatively inclined students to earn two (02) degrees in just four (04) years. Offered by the School of Media Studies, the double-degree programs Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts and Digital Journalism, and Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts and Broadcast Media aim to address the emerging skills gap resulting from the rapid digitalization in the media and communications industry.
The digital transformation of the media and even marketing industries occurred at a breakneck speed in 2020 due to the pandemic. Media channels, brands, and personalities brought their content online to build a stronger connection with viewers and consumers alike.
This shift created a demand for digital content creators and communicators who have a mastery of journalism and broadcast communication and are technically savvy to conceptualize, design, post, and publish digital content.
“There is a need for technically skilled media practitioners who are knowledgeable about both journalistic writing and the technical execution of news and information, which is the trend in today’s digital publication,” according to Benigno B. Agapito Jr., Dean of Mapúa’s School of Media Studies (SMS).
A quick look at job postings nowadays will reveal that employers look for well-rounded communicators who are equally adept at multimedia, journalism, writing, graphics, video, and broadcast production. Instead of relying on individual specialists, many companies now seek communication specialists who are competent with both digital and traditional communication tools.
“In the media industry nowadays, the management is looking for a graduate who is knowledgeable about both multimedia and broadcasting as well as the theoretical and technical execution of TV and radio programs,” said Dr. Melvin N. Espineda, Program Head of SMS Double-Degree Programs.
With the help of Mapúa’s four-year double-degree programs, a new breed of digital communication specialists can help ensure the quality of content we will consume in the future.
Dean Agapito explained that students who will enroll in the 234-unit Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts and Digital Journalism will master two major fields in digital publication: the multimedia components, which include graphic design, video, and animation; and the journalistic writing, which includes news, feature, cultural, business, entertainment, and socio-political.
Students will have hands-on experiences in concept design, visual development, 2D & 3D animation, video production, graphic journalism, photojournalism, publication design, and electronic web publishing.
Successful graduates have many potential career paths as online, magazine, broadcast, or newspaper journalists, multimedia artists, advertising specialists, animators, advertising or journalism educators, movie and video production crew, game developers, fashion industry experts, and company-based journalists or communication specialists.
At the same time, the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts and Broadcast Media program also develops technically proficient online broadcast communicators.
Dr. Espineda also explained that the program “fuses the creative technical skills of multimedia arts using animation, graphics, and video with the power of broadcast communication using theoretical and actual television and radio production techniques and the advanced transmission of information and concepts using new media platforms.”
He also elaborated that students will establish competencies in multimedia, particularly graphic design, video production, and animation. They will also be proficient in broadcasting, program management, program production, hosting, anchoring, TV documentary, and public affairs production. These combined skills are highly advantageous to graduates to land a job in the digital media industry.
Future graduates of the 258-unit double-degree program will have the potential to become a TV or radio personality, TV production staff, multimedia artists, advertising development specialists, animators, movie and video production crew, broadcast and multimedia educators, and game developers.
Mapúa’s innovative pair of double-degree media studies programs will help create a new generation of globally competitive communication specialists who have the expertise to conquer this new age of digital information.
To apply online, visit https://www.mapua.edu.ph/ApplyNow. More details on the double-degree programs are available here. Enrollment for Academic Year 2022-2023 is currently ongoing.