<p>My son is interested in their graduate program in Media Studies. See the link below. Do any of you know anything about this school?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.newcollege.edu/media_studies/%5B/url%5D">http://www.newcollege.edu/media_studies/</a></p>
<p>What are your son's politics like? (New College has a definite political flavor -- it would be a good place for "Media Studies" for someone who wants to emulate Michael Moore; no chance whatsoever of ever being hired by Fox News).</p>
<p>You're dead on. My son's politics are are consistent with those of the College. He has a peace and conflict minor along with his film major. He would like to grow up to produce commercials for Amnesty International. </p>
<p>American University has something similar but probably more mainstream.
<a href="http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/about/%5B/url%5D">http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/about/</a></p>
<p>My sister teaches there. While I don't know anything about that particular program (or any program outside the course she teaches), I do know it's always open admissions and not exclusive (it and the college where my brother teaches both are on lists of "schools that admit 100% of applicants"). However, that doesn't mean the program is no good, it just means what your son actually <em>does</em> in the program will matter more than the name of the school.</p>
<p>I contacted someone who teaches film at UWM, and has her MFA from SF State. She recognized the names of teachers as community activists. She was impressed by the program and said she wished that they had somethhing like that when she was doing her graduate work. She did point out that it's an MA not an MFA program so that would limit is ability to do college level teaching. I don't think that will be an issue. I did note from their website that they are accredited.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments.</p>
<p>TSDad, your son will make good connections within the activist/left movement - New College is very well known in those quarters, and many courses are taught by famous (or notorious) activists. </p>
<p>Since connections are important to get work, and since New College is quite inexpensive as compared to other programs (given the fact that your son is never going to get rich making promotional spots for Amnesty International) that's probably an additional factor in favor of the program.</p>
<p>I don't know much about the media program, but I know many lawyers from the New College law school, including my former law partner -- it definitely is a good place for law students who plan to do public interest work or set up their own practices, as the courses are taught by practicing lawyers and - again - the connections are made with people who are well known in the community. </p>
<p>I honestly have no idea about the quality of instruction - my guess is that it probably is more hands-on in terms of projects. New College is obviously not the place to go if you are after a prestige degree. But then, filmmaking/media is one of those creative fields where you don't really need a degree anyway -- the value of the program may be in its acting as a conduit that will get your son meeting and working with the people he needs to know for his career goals. </p>
<p>In any case, it's a legit program.</p>