Media and Technology Studies
Welcome to Media and Technology Studies!
Media and Technology Studies (MTS) is a unit in the Faculty of Arts, comprising undergraduate and graduate programs and an undergraduate certificate. MTS boasts unique strengths in digital humanities, media and communication studies, digital society and culture, science, technology, and society and game studies. Our students are leading media, communication, technology and digitalization experts of the future. They are champions of our fast expanding online world, and carry the skills, knowledge and critical insights needed to navigate and provide leadership in today's algorithmic society. Our programs uniquely equip learners to shape landscapes of information exchange and digital culture in the years to come.
Programs
Media Studies Undergraduate Degree Program
Media Studies (MST) is the study of how to navigate, analyze, critically evaluate and contribute ethically to today's global media landscape. This multidisciplinary major examines the content, history and effects of media on our social, political and cultural systems.
Science, Technology + Society Undergraduate Degree Program
The Science, Technology and Society (STS) program is the place where science and technology are examined with the tools of philosophy, history, sociology, anthropology and cultural studies. It equips students to understand where science and technology come from, how science and technology have changed over time, and how these areas are embedded in and affect society.
Computer Game Development Undergraduate Certificate
The certificate in Computer Game Development is a joint certificate between the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science and is open to any undergraduate student at the University of Alberta. The certificate is intended to complement discipline-specific studies with courses that give opportunities to work in multidisciplinary teams, build complete small and medium-scale games and interact with industry.
Digital Humanities Master of Arts Program
The Digital Humanities program integrates computational methods and theories with research and teaching in the Arts and Humanities. It addresses the demand for Arts graduates to be able to work either in the realm of research and teaching or in the emerging job markets of information management and content delivery over the internet.
Communications + Technology Master of Arts Program
The MA in Communications and Technology (MACT) program offers a theoretical, historical and practical examination of communications in the era of the Internet, social media and the mobile device. The degree is designed for both emerging and established professionals involved with media and communications in their organizational roles.
Social Media Certificate - Continuing Education
Earn a Social Media Certificate in less than a year with a comprehensive online program through Continuing Education. Dive into the essentials of building a cohesive online presence, understanding current media trends, using analytics effectively, and mastering campaign strategies and community management to optimize conversion rates. Additionally, this certificate may qualify for an elective course exemption in the Master of Arts in Communications and Technology (MACT) program.
Media + Technology Studies at a Glance
We live in a media-saturated world and that complex relationship between politics, economics, culture and the media is an important part of our lives. Developing a background in media studies gives students an opportunity to enter a variety of fields where technology and media are involved in one way or another. Watch the video for a brief introduction to our programs and facilities!
fall term 2025 & winter Term 2026
MST 100 - introduction to media studies
What do TikTok, printing presses, protest posters, and Beyoncé have in common?
MST 100 explores how media—from ancient scripts to viral memes—shape how we see the world and each other. You’ll trace media history from Gutenberg to Zuckerberg, analyze everything from radio dramas to AI, and tackle big questions about power, culture, and technology. No background needed—just curiosity. With hands-on assignments, guest speakers, and engaging class discussions, this course offers tools to help you decode today’s media landscape and think critically about your place in it. Open to all students!
Fall Term 2025
F 2:00 - 4:50 p.M.
STS 397 - Proseminar in Science, Technology and Society
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that includes historical, philosophical, sociological and anthropological studies of science and technology. How do STS scholars pay attention to social issues, emerging relations, and future implications of contemporary technologies, scientific practices, and medical systems? What does real STS research look like? This course introduces students to a range of contemporary research in Science, Technology and Society Studies through a series of guest lectures by STS and STS-adjacent researchers from across departments at the University of Alberta. From mine-sniffing rats to photographing outer space to video games that self-destruct, students will encounter a wide array of STS research topics, questions, methods, and aims.
Students will read guest lecturers' recent published research, and will reflect on this material through weekly written responses and class discussions with speakers, peers, and the instructor. Students will explore one of the research areas encountered in class in more depth through the development of a final essay and annotated bibliography.
This class is strongly recommended for (but not limited to) STS majors and minors, especially those thinking ahead to developing an STS Capstone project, or wondering about interdisciplinary career/research paths related to STS. It is also suitable for students exploring ways to develop, participate in and critically evaluate qualitative exploration of how science, technology or medicine reflects and shapes society.
Prerequisite: STS 200 (can be taken concurrently) or permission of the instructor.
Instructor: Yelena Gluzman
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