Department of Media Arts

Main Departmental Office
Radio, TV, Film and Performing Arts Building, Room 262

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #310589
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2537
Fax: 940-369-7838

E-mail: MediaArts@unt.edu
Web site: www.mediaarts.unt.edu

Harry Benshoff, Chair

Tania Khalaf, Associate Chair

Radio, television, film and digital media platforms play a significant role in society by providing both entertainment and information in a constantly changing world. The Department of Media Arts prepares students with a wide range of knowledge and skills for careers in traditional media (broadcasting, film production, editing, on-air talent, audience research, media management) and newer media (writing and producing for social media and digital media platforms, including video games).

Media Arts students engage in a curriculum that combines a liberal arts education with hands-on experience utilizing similar tools used by industry professionals. The Media Arts department equips students with the foundational principals, critical thinking, skills and opportunities they need to succeed in today’s ever-changing media world. Courses afford students unique opportunities to learn from expert faculty members who are committed to readying students for future careers in the media industry or academia.

Located within the thriving Dallas–Fort Worth media market (currently ranked 5th in the U.S.) the department frequently hosts professionals who serve as guest speakers and adjunct professors. The location within the DFW market offers numerous internship and part-time employment opportunities while students are pursuing their degrees.

The department offers two degrees:

a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Media Arts (MRTS)
a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Converged Broadcast Media (CBCM)

The MRTS undergraduate major provides comprehensive hands-on experiences in media production along with courses devoted to writing, industry practices, broadcast and film history, digital media, film styles, genres and critical/cultural studies. The CBCM undergraduate major provides extensive background in media convergence, web-based production of news and information, as well as courses devoted to covering sports, entertainment and politics, as well as interviewing and on-air performance.

With more than 1300 undergraduate students, Media Arts is one of the largest and most active programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Students have the opportunity to work for our local television, station, ntTV, or our radio station, KNTU. Students can also join a variety of film clubs, student-run organizations focused on peer mentorship, production opportunities and critical analysis.

The department’s diverse faculty includes top research scholars and media practitioners with many years of experience. Faculty frequently publish monographs, anthologies, textbooks, and articles in top-tier journals and present research at top-ranked national and international conferences. Our creative faculty have produced multiple award-winning narrative films and documentaries that are screened in local, national, and international festivals. Students also gain expert knowledge from faculty who have years of professional experience working in the media industry.

Admission to the major

Only MRTS and CBCM majors can take MRTS courses. Entering students interested in majoring in MRTS or CBCM must fulfill initial requirements and be advised by the advising office. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to either major. Admission to both majors is highly competitive and may be limited by the number of applicants and available resources. For further information on Admissions and requirements see Media Arts, BA and Converged Broadcast Media, BA .

Suggested minors for students majoring in Media Arts or Converged Broadcast Media

Students majoring in Media Arts or Converged Broadcast Media may choose a minor field of study. Suggested minors coordinated with student career goals are art/photography (for careers in film), business (marketing and management), theatre (production/performance), foreign language, and social sciences (general).

KNTU-FM

KNTU-FM 88.1 HD1 & HD2.

The University’s radio station serves North Texas and Southern Oklahoma and is listed in Nielsen Audio Ratings for Dallas-Fort Worth, the 5th largest radio market in the nation. KNTU operates two radio stations 24 / 7 / 365 – 88.1 indie (alternative rock on FM 88.1 HD1 and 881indie.com) and KNTU The One (jazz on FM 88.1 HD2 and kntu.com). The station also operates the North Texas Streaming Network, an internet video streaming project of high school sports. All UNT students are eligible to work at any of KNTU’s platforms to participate in creating content for radio, internet, and social media. There are a few paid, part time middle manager jobs; other students work to gain practicum/internship credit toward their degrees, and some are volunteers who gain invaluable training toward beginning a media career. More information is available at www.kntu.com.

North Texas Television

ntTV (North Texas Television) is a nationally recognized, award-winning student-run television operation. ntTV offers all UNT students the dynamic opportunity to produce, write, direct and broadcast their work across the DFW area. Content areas include news, sports, entertainment and marketing, as well as long-form live productions.

Organizations

The department participates actively as an institutional member of the Broadcast Education Association; the University Film and Video Association; the Texas Association of Broadcast Educators; the Society for Cinema and Media Studies; and the Radio, Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) student chapter.

Scholarships

Each year, the Department of Media Arts distributes scholarships to help undergraduate students pay the cost of their education. These funds – from private individual donors, corporations, and foundations – are for direct student support and do not have to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded to students based on qualifications specified by each award which include things like field of study, career interests, and academic merit. Applications are submitted via the Media Arts website and are reviewed by a committee of Media Arts faculty with awards announced at the end of each academic year. Scholarships are typically for amounts up to $1,500 and the money is applied towards tuition in the Fall semester. The number and dollar amount of awards available each year depends on the total dollar amount of funding available.

The Alan and Beverly Albarran Scholarship is an award established by Dr. Alan Albarran, former professor and department chair in the Department of Media Arts, and his wife Beverly, to provide scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of Media Arts who are pursuing an industry studies emphasis in their degree.

The Bill Mercer Endowment for Broadcast Media is a scholarship established by UNT alumnus Bill Mercer (M.A., 1966), the original “Voice of the Mean Green” and a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, to support Media Arts students studying broadcast media or journalism.

The Bud Buschardt Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship in memory of Bud Buschardt who served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Media Arts for 46 years. Starting in 1963, he produced and hosted television and radio shows on WFAA and KVIL; and in 2010, he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. This scholarship is intended to honor Buschardt by providing an opportunity for Converged Broadcast Media (CBCM) students to pursue their passions and to create their own successful paths to the future. Applicants must be entering or currently in their junior year (completed at least 60 hours of coursework) at the time of application. If there are no eligible Converged Broadcast Media applicants, Media Arts majors will be eligible for consideration. This scholarship may not be awarded to a previous recipient.

The Cindy Coyle Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship in memory of Cindy Coyle, who spent her career working in marketing and promotions for DFW radio stations, to provide support for students with an expressed career interest in radio.

The Country Radio Broadcasters Scholarship is a scholarship for undergraduate students interested in a career in radio or a related field. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and have completed a minimum of 60 hours of coursework toward their degree at the time of application.

Department of Media Arts Executive Board Scholarship is a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students in the department of Media Arts. Students must be enrolled for at least 12 hours (undergraduate) or at least 9 hours (graduate) of study in both the Spring and Fall semesters. Students must have completed at least 60 hours of coursework towards a degree at the time of application and have a minimum UNT GPA of 3.0.

The Edwin L. Glick Scholarship is a scholarship established by former UNT professor and Media Arts Department Chair Dr. Edwin Glick to encourage students to pursue careers in broadcasting, cable, and other related media industries that might develop in the future. Students must have completed at least 12 hours in Media Arts coursework at UNT and be enrolled as a full-time Media Arts student in the semester for which the scholarship was awarded. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate interest in a career in broadcasting/cable such as production, sales, management, operations, or broadcast journalism, through appropriate courses, internships, extracurricular activities (e.g. KNTU or ntTV) or other industry-related employment. It is not the intent of this scholarship to support film production or video production except for news documentary.

The First Broadcasting Scholarship is a scholarship for students who have a demonstrated interest in radio broadcasting as a career through participation with either KNTU or through off-campus internships. Students must have completed at least 60 hours of coursework and have a GPA of at least 2.5.

The Kathleen Woodby Scholarship was established by UNT alumna Kathleen Woodby for undergraduate students in the Department of Media Arts.

The Kurt D. Ugland Scholarship is a scholarship in memory of Kurt D. Ugland, a Department of Media Arts alumnus and former executive producer of the City of Plano’s Television Network (PTN), to support undergraduate or graduate students in television production in the Department of Media Arts who demonstrate exceptional creativity.

The Mark Rybczyk Scholarship was established by Mark Rybczyk, a UNT alumnus who is a radio personality known as Mark “Hawkeye” Louis on the DFW radio station 96.3 KSCS, for undergraduate students i studying radio, television and film. Rybczyk is a member of the Country Radio Hall of Fame, the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, and winner of the Billboard Air personality of the Year and the Academy of Country Music DJ of the Year.

The Melanie Goodwin RTVF Scholarship provides support for Media Arts students in memory of former UNT student Melanie Goodwin.

Paramount Pictures Undergraduate Scholarship is an academic scholarship award to recognize excellence and promise in the undergraduate study and production of radio, television and/or film media at UNT.

Walter Deed Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship in honor of Walter P. Deed, chief video engineer in the Department of Media Arts from 2000-2007, to provide support for undergraduate students studying television engineering and who maintain a GPA of 3.0.

Westcott Foundation Scholarship is a fund to support undergraduate students in the Department of Media Arts who have demonstrated merit, motivation and talent with the means to complete their education at the University of North Texas.

Requirements

Applicants must meet minimum entrance and academic performance standards of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Media Arts.
Applicants must be enrolled for at least 12 hours of undergraduate study in both the spring and fall semesters.
Applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduate majors in the Department of Media Arts.
Additional requirements specific to each award are available in the Scholarship section of the Department of Media Arts website.

Application

Applications are accepted via links in the Scholarship section of the Department of Media Arts website (mediaarts.unt.edu/scholarships) in the Spring semester after the call for applications is posted. Please refer to that website for the most up-to-date information, application instructions, and eligibility requirements.

Programs

Majors

Undergraduate Academic Certificates

Courses

Media Arts

Quicklinks

Catalog