Pepperdine University Establishes Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Culture

Pepperdine University has launched its new Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Culture, which aims to cultivate students into competitive professionals in the ever-changing media industry. The institute will support and enhance current programs while anticipating and envisioning new media initiatives.

Traditional disciplines such as film studies, media production, telecommunications, theatre, advertising, Internet marketing, communications, entertainment law, and creativity and innovation will continue to be offered, as well as exciting new initiatives related to social media, gaming, and multiple forms of entertainment-based learning mediums entering the marketplace.

“We are excited to bring our students and the greater community an institute that will give them an advantage in a competitive industry marketplace while remaining uniquely Pepperdine,” said president Andrew K. Benton. “The institute will give students access to groundbreaking initiatives and valuable insight from experienced industry professionals that will guide them to successful, meaningful, and entrepreneurial careers.”

The institute will bring the creative, legal, and business aspects of media entertainment education at Pepperdine to a new level by consolidating and aligning the achievement and successes of the Center for Entertainment, Media, and Culture with those of Seaver College, the School of Law, and the Graziadio School of Business and Management.

Led by executive director John Mooney, associate professor of information systems and technology management at the Graziadio School of Business and Management, the institute seeks to elevate the wide range of media studies courses at the undergraduate and graduate level that have been offered at Pepperdine University for many years.

“More than 600 Pepperdine students currently major in some form of media at the University. Over 250 students serve as interns for leading media companies each year, with more than 75 percent offered jobs by their internship sponsors, an exceptional placement rate,” said Mooney. “The new institute will offer additional courses of study that are practical, immersive, and experiential, giving graduates real-life experience and an advantage in the ever-changing media job market.”

Learn more: pepperdine.edu/emc