Discover how Abagael R., a recent Diana King Film, Television & Media Studies graduate transformed her engineering background into launching a career in media preservation after digitizing historical archives for real-world access.
What is a Master’s in Media Studies Degree?
A media studies graduate degree explores how film, television, and other media shape culture, history and communication. Students take coursework to build knowledge in this area of study, while also gaining professional skills in critical thinking, analysis, communication and research applicable to careers in media, education, academia and beyond.
For Abby, the program became something deeply personal.
Her path into the program was not traditional. She earned her undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering, then made a decision that surprised even her.
“I did the hard thing with computer engineering.” Harder still – but rewarding – was identifying and personalizing her intended career path, blending the skills she learned through one degree and applying it to a master’s degree in another. It was challenging, she said, but also fun.
That decision led her to a program that would ultimately help her define her future.
The Diana King MA in Film, Television, and Media Studies encourages students to reflect and identify their career interests, to personalize their area of study. Through faculty mentorship, research assistantships, internships and independent research projects, students not only hone their professional skills but also find their career paths.
“I’ve always had one hand in STEM and one hand in humanities,” Abby explains. “It was really cool to use the skills I learned as an engineer and apply that to humanities work through this program.”
What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Media Studies?
A media studies master’s degree can lead to careers in:
- Film and media criticism
- Media research
- Teaching and academia
- Digital humanities
- Archives and libraries
- Arts organizations and curation
For Abby, the answer to ‘what can I do with a master’s in media studies?’ became clear through experience.
“I took a class called Television in the Archive and I just loved it,” she says. “I loved everything we were talking about and everything we were doing.”
That moment helped her gain clarity and realize a specific goal: to become a digital archivist.
“I remember thinking, ‘This is what I want to do,’” Abby reflects.
I remember thinking, ‘This is what I want to do.’
Abby R., Media Studies Graduate
Now, she is preparing for a career as a digital archivist with a focus on media preservation, combining technical and creative skills in a way that feels both practical and meaningful. Her career direction leverages skills and experience gained through both her MA in Film, Television & Media Studies, as well as her undergraduate degree in electrical and computing engineering.
What Does a Master’s in Media Studies Program Teach You?
Students build a mix of analytical, technical, and communication skills that apply directly to real-world careers.
For Abby, one of the biggest areas of growth was communication.
“It’s kind of a cliché that engineers can’t write,” she says. “Through this program, I began to organize my thoughts more cohesively, write stronger papers and communicate more clearly.”
She adds, “I’ve also been able to conduct research more effectively.” This professional skill is a necessity in every profession that relies on analyzing data and details.
Her role as a teaching assistant for Introduction to Media Aesthetics within the Radio, TV & Film department pushed her growth even further.
“Before this, I was kind of a nervous public speaker,” she says. “Now I’m able to deliver lectures and lead discussions.”
Those experiences helped her develop confidence, independence and professional skills that extend beyond the classroom.
What Does a Day in the Life of a Media Preservation Student Look Like?
Abby’s day-to-day work reflected the hands-on nature of the program.
During her internship, she worked with real archival materials.
“I digitized transcripts and made them accessible,” she says. Doing so grants access to the materials for researchers and laypeople alike, no matter their location.
Her work also included organizing and managing media collections.
“A lot of it was taking inventory, scanning physical copies and moving files into accessible systems,” she says.
Some people might find that repetitive. Abby does not.
“People ask if it’s boring and I don’t feel that way at all,” she says. “It’s very fulfilling. I like making things accessible for people.”
That sense of purpose is what drives her.
How Does Experiential Learning Shape Your Career Path?
Abby’s career direction did not come from a single class. It came from layered experiences across multiple disciplines.
The Warsaw Ghetto Teaching & Learning Project
One early, influential moment was during an undergraduate engineering clinic project that partnered with the Rowan Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights.
“We were digitizing historical materials for a VR experience about the Warsaw Ghetto,” she says. “I just loved working on that project so much.”
The Center’s executive director, Dr. Jennifer Rich, leads The Warsaw Ghetto Teaching and Learning Project. She explains the project as a tool that uses primary-source documents and photographs to recreate spaces in the ghetto. This allows users to explore re-created spaces, examine primary sources (including photographs) and explore a variety of topics and themes. The project also analyzes and explores the ethics of this type of learning.
Looking back, Abby sees the experience differently now.
“I think that was where I started taking a turn away from what everyone else was doing,” she says, referring to leaning into the humanities versus her exclusively STEM-focused engineering peers.
That experience connected directly to her current work and future goals.
Introduction to Media Aesthetics
Abby’s experiential learning as a teaching assistant in Introduction to Media Aesthetics also contributed to shaping her future career and growing her professional skillsets.
A friend who held the job previously suggested that Abby email the professor. That friend gave her the boost of confidence to do so, the kind that only a true friend could provide. Abby’s role involved leading discussion sections, preparing teaching materials, grading work and helping undergraduate students achieve their goals in the class. Abby and her colleagues fostered peer connections by working together closely as a team to cultivate successful teaching practices under the close supervision of the professor coordinating the teaching assistant program.
“It was an awesome experience,” Abby says. “I’ve been able to get support and guidance from the professor,” she continues, expanding her network that much further. “A lot of the professors are so much more available than they would be at other, larger schools because they’re not teaching classes of 300 people in a giant lecture hall.
“The support from individual professors throughout my master’s degree (and my undergrad, too) has just been really, really great,” Abby says.
It was an awesome experience. I’ve been able to get support and guidance from the professor. A lot of the professors are so much more available than they would be at other, larger schools because they’re not teaching classes of 300 people in a giant lecture hall.
Abby R., media Studies Graduate
The support from individual professors throughout my master’s degree (and my undergrad, too) has just been really, really great.
Media Studies Conference
She also gained professional exposure by attending conferences.
“I went to a media studies conference and was able to speak with archivists and librarians,” she says. “I could tell them what I’m doing and ask for advice.” Her conference travel was partially funded by a department professional development grant.
Applying Experiential Learning to Her Next Career Step
She is now planning to pursue a second graduate degree in library science to continue building her expertise. “A lot of special collections librarians or archivists have a master’s degree in something else, in addition to their library science degree. My plan is to use this degree to focus on film preservation,” she says – a direct career outcome, first explored through her on campus experiential learning.
What is the Learning Environment Like in a Master’s in Media Studies Program
The learning environment played a major role in Abby’s growth. Abby enjoys in-person learning and small class sizes, and the Diana King MA in Film, Television, and Media Studies has both.
“The master’s program is tight-knit. I was able to talk to my advisor and share: ‘These are my interests. This is what I find fun in what I’m doing at school,’” Abby says.
That access led to opportunities she might not have found elsewhere.
“My advisor pointed me toward digital humanities and all these really cool programs,” she says. The program’s faculty and staff served as champions for Abby’s developing academic interests and career goals, helping her to align her personal interests with professional goals and opportunities.
Those connections are already shaping her next steps.
Finding Your Path Through Experience
Abby’s story is not about choosing one path. It is about building one.
“I’ve been able to have so many unique experiences,” she says. “I don’t think I would have gotten that somewhere else.”
She has learned to trust her interests, even when they do not fit into a single category.
“My weird educational path is actually perfect for what I want to do,” she says.
And now, she knows exactly where she is headed.
“I just really like the idea of making things more accessible for people,” she says.
“One of my personal hobbies is I try to watch 100 movies every year that are new to me. Last year I watched 150. I just love it – it’s my favorite thing to do. I love going to the movie theatre with my friends. I have now found a passion for a career with something that I found passion for as a hobby. It is ideal for me,” Abby continues.
About Rowan’s M.A. in Film, Television, Media Studies
Television has shaped culture for generations. Rowan University’s Diana King Master of Arts (M.A.) in Television Studies prepares students to study history, theory, and criticism of media, while gaining professional skills in critical thinking, research, and analysis. Undergraduate students already at Rowan may enroll early through an accelerated dual BA/MA program or 4+1 program. Once admitted to the MA program, students are eligible for financial assistance in the form of scholarship, travel grant, and teaching assistant opportunities.
Key skills learned
- Research and analysis
- Media interpretation
- Digital archiving techniques
- Writing and communication
- Critical thinking
Common career paths
- Digital archivist
- Media preservationist
- Researcher
- Librarian
- Academic professional
Real-world applications
Managing media collections
Preserving historical media
Creating accessible digital archives
Supporting research and education
About Rowan
A top 100 national public research institution, Rowan University offers bachelor’s through doctoral and professional programs in person and online to nearly 25,000 students. The fastest-growing public research institution in the Northeast and among the country’s top 10 fastest-growing, Rowan offers a thriving multidisciplinary environment with a strong emphasis on practical research in health care, engineering, science and business, while ensuring excellence in undergraduate education. Nationally recognized for innovation, high-quality, affordable education and public-private partnerships, Rowan is one of two universities in the U.S. to offer M.D., D.O. and D.V.M. degree programs.