Media, Technology and Democracy Minor
The Media, Technology and Democracy minor at the nationally renowned Philip Merrill College of Journalism will deepen your understanding of how media and technology influence society — and prepare you to navigate and shape the information landscape in any field.
Students in the program will explore the history of journalism, analyze the impact of emerging media technologies, sharpen their digital literacy skills, and examine how the news media shapes public understanding of politics, culture and society.
The minor is an ideal pairing for students pursuing careers in government, public policy, public health, business, communication or information of any kind.
Students will expand their fluency in such topics as:
- Social justice
- Social media
- Artificial intelligence
- Investigative journalism
- Censorship and disinformation
- The value of a free press
This minor is a great fit for students who want to:
- Navigate today’s complex media environment
- Make informed decisions using information and data
- Communicate more effectively across platforms
- Identify and counter mis- and disinformation
Have questions? Want to learn more about the minor, schedule an advising appointment or explore becoming a journalism major?
Contact us at jouradvising@umd.edu or 301-405-2399.
The Media, Technology and Democracy minor is a total of 15 credits, including one required course (JOUR200, Journalism History, Roles and Structures), and four approved journalism electives, one of which would come from the 100 to 200 level. A grade of C- or better is required in all minor courses. Note: Additional courses beyond those listed below may be added later by the college to satisfy the 12 credits of electives.
Required Course (3 credits):
- JOUR200 Journalism History, Roles and Structures
One Lower-level Elective from the Following Options (3 credits):
- JOUR150 Introduction to Mass Communication
- JOUR175 Media Literacy
- JOUR281 Media Law and Ethics in the Digital Age
- JOUR282 Beyond Facebook: How Social Media are Transforming Society, Culture, Business and Politics
- JOUR283 Probing War: Investigative Narratives and American Conflicts
- JOUR284 Scandal: Exposing Corruption, Justice, and Vice in America
- JOUR289I Information 3.0: Exploring Technological Tools
Three Upper-level Electives from the Following Options (9 credits):
- JOUR447 Sports, Protest and the Media
- JOUR452 Women in the Media
- JOUR453 Media Coverage of Diversity
- JOUR455 Media Entrepreneurship
- JOUR456 Literature in Journalism
- JOUR458A Special Topics in Journalism — Machine Editors: Search Engines, Social Media, and the News
- JOUR458B Special Topics in Journalism: Sports Media Today
- JOUR458J Special Topics in Journalism: Covering Social Justice
- JOUR458K Special Topics in Journalism: The Changing Role, Responsibilities and Norms of Journalism
- JOUR458V Special Topics in Journalism —The Power of the Writing Voice: Covering Celebrities, Art Exhibits, Concerts, and Theater
- JOUR459I Special Topics in Journalism: History of Investigative Journalism
- JOUR459P Special Topics in Journalism — Censorship and Disinformation in the 21st Century: The New Global War for Political Power
- JOUR459Z Special Topics in Journalism: Race, Journalism, and Democracy in the United States
Frequently Asked Questions
UMD does not allow for more than six credits (or two courses) of overlap between a minor and a major, so this minor was designed for students who are interested in media, democracy and technology but do not have space to complete the journalism major instead.
Almost all classes required for this minor can transfer over to the journalism major, so if you are interested in switching programs, please contact us at jouradvising@umd.edu or 301-405-2399.
While the five classes required for this minor could technically be completed in one semester, two to four semesters are recommended.
Yes, if your study abroad program offers classes that fit within the minor’s curriculum.
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