M.S. in Media Leadership and Business

Curriculum

This program enhances media leadership methods with business skills.

Creativity meets business

Media don’t just inform; they drive innovation, shape culture, and transform industries. At the intersection of creativity and commerce lies the Master of Science in Media Leadership & Business, a collaborative degree from The Media School and the Kelley School of Business, launching fall 2027.

This interdisciplinary program prepares future media leaders to navigate today’s fast-evolving landscape with strategic vision and business acumen. You’ll explore how to lead teams, manage content, and steer media organizations through change by gaining hands-on experience and real-world insights that empower you to lead where media and business meet. You’ll build a strong foundation in digital marketing, content strategy, organizational leadership, and audience analytics— skills that prepare you to launch ventures and drive growth across media, entertainment, advertising, and beyond.

Courses

You will have options to choose from a variety of courses in media and business. Here are some of the courses to look forward to:

Foundations & Current Issues in Media Leadership

Learn how media industries centered around storytelling — including = film and television-based entertainment, journalism, fashion media, advertising, public relations, gaming, and sports media — can play a significant role in shaping culture and the marketplace.

Developing and Implementing Strategy

Explore how companies handle ever-changing environments, intense competition, and changing customer demands and apply strategic analysis frameworks in current case studies and the latest corporate news.

Research Methods in Audience Analysis

Learn the essential tools that media professionals use to understand how to craft successful strategic messages.

Faculty

The Media School’s faculty is made up of industry veterans and scholars of corporate communication, stakeholder communication and social media effectiveness, and the Kelley School of Business boasts of faculty members who are prolific producers of business research and possess a keen business acumen to offer a fresh approach and sharp perspective on contemporary issues.

As a part of the curriculum, you will have access to faculty members from both the schools.

Careers

With a degree in media leadership and business, the possibilities are endless. A few roles that you can expect to land once you graduate include brand manager, chief executive officer, media analyst/consultant, and social media manager.