Comprehensive Course Structure
The Media Studies program at Alard University Pune is structured over eight semesters, ensuring a progressive and comprehensive understanding of media theory, practice, and innovation. The curriculum balances foundational knowledge with specialized expertise, preparing students for diverse career paths in the modern media landscape.
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MS101 | Introduction to Media Studies | 3-0-0-3 | None |
| 1 | MS102 | Media History & Evolution | 3-0-0-3 | None |
| 1 | MS103 | Digital Literacy & Media Tools | 2-0-2-2 | None |
| 1 | MS104 | Cultural Studies in Media | 3-0-0-3 | None |
| 1 | MS105 | Communication Theory | 3-0-0-3 | None |
| 2 | MS201 | Media Ethics & Responsibility | 3-0-0-3 | MS101, MS104 |
| 2 | MS202 | Digital Content Creation | 2-0-2-2 | MS103 |
| 2 | MS203 | Media Law & Regulation | 3-0-0-3 | MS101, MS201 |
| 2 | MS204 | Media Economics | 3-0-0-3 | MS105 |
| 2 | MS205 | Research Methods in Media | 2-0-2-2 | MS101, MS105 |
| 3 | MS301 | Advanced Digital Storytelling | 3-0-0-3 | MS202 |
| 3 | MS302 | Media Analytics & Data Science | 3-0-0-3 | MS204, MS205 |
| 3 | MS303 | Public Relations & Corporate Communication | 3-0-0-3 | MS201 |
| 3 | MS304 | Media Production Lab | 2-0-2-2 | MS202 |
| 3 | MS305 | Cultural Representation in Media | 3-0-0-3 | MS104 |
| 4 | MS401 | Media Innovation & Emerging Trends | 3-0-0-3 | MS302 |
| 4 | MS402 | Social Media Strategy & Management | 3-0-0-3 | MS303 |
| 4 | MS403 | Media Entrepreneurship | 3-0-0-3 | MS301, MS302 |
| 4 | MS404 | Interactive Media Design | 2-0-2-2 | MS202 |
| 4 | MS405 | Capstone Project Preparation | 2-0-2-2 | MS301, MS302, MS303 |
| 5 | MS501 | Advanced Journalism & Documentation | 3-0-0-3 | MS201 |
| 5 | MS502 | Digital Marketing & Campaigns | 3-0-0-3 | MS402 |
| 5 | MS503 | Media Law & Ethics in Practice | 3-0-0-3 | MS203 |
| 5 | MS504 | Research Internship | 0-0-0-6 | MS205 |
| 5 | MS505 | Industry Collaboration Project | 2-0-2-2 | MS403 |
| 6 | MS601 | Capstone Project - Phase I | 0-0-0-8 | MS504 |
| 6 | MS602 | Media Strategy & Planning | 3-0-0-3 | MS402, MS502 |
| 6 | MS603 | Media Ethics in Digital Age | 3-0-0-3 | MS201, MS503 |
| 6 | MS604 | Global Media Systems | 3-0-0-3 | MS102 |
| 6 | MS605 | Capstone Project - Phase II | 0-0-0-8 | MS601 |
| 7 | MS701 | Media Innovation Lab | 2-0-2-2 | MS401, MS504 |
| 7 | MS702 | Internship - Advanced Level | 0-0-0-6 | MS504 |
| 7 | MS703 | Media Policy & Governance | 3-0-0-3 | MS203, MS303 |
| 7 | MS704 | Entrepreneurship in Media Sector | 3-0-0-3 | MS403 |
| 7 | MS705 | Media Ethics & Social Responsibility | 3-0-0-3 | MS201, MS301 |
| 8 | MS801 | Final Capstone Project | 0-0-0-12 | MS605 |
| 8 | MS802 | Research Thesis | 0-0-0-6 | MS504 |
| 8 | MS803 | Professional Portfolio Development | 2-0-2-2 | MS702 |
| 8 | MS804 | Final Presentation & Evaluation | 0-0-0-4 | MS801 |
| 8 | MS805 | Graduation Ceremony | 0-0-0-2 | MS801, MS802 |
Advanced Departmental Elective Courses
The following advanced departmental elective courses are offered during the program to provide students with specialized knowledge and practical experience:
- Media Analytics & Data Science: This course introduces students to statistical modeling, data visualization, and machine learning techniques applied in media environments. Students learn how to analyze user behavior, optimize content performance, and predict future trends using big data analytics tools.
- Digital Storytelling Techniques: This course explores various narrative formats and storytelling methods used in digital media, including interactive narratives, transmedia storytelling, and immersive experiences that engage audiences across multiple platforms.
- Media Law & Regulatory Compliance: Students examine legal frameworks governing media operations, including intellectual property rights, defamation laws, broadcasting regulations, and international compliance standards. The course includes case studies from local and global contexts.
- Cultural Representation in Media: This elective focuses on how cultural identities are portrayed and shaped through media channels. It explores themes such as race, gender, class, religion, and sexuality in contemporary media production and consumption.
- Social Media Strategy & Management: Designed for students interested in digital marketing, this course covers social media platform architecture, content strategy, audience segmentation, engagement metrics, and campaign optimization techniques.
- Interactive Media Design: Students learn to design and develop interactive experiences using tools like Unity, HTML5, JavaScript, and responsive web design principles. The course emphasizes user experience (UX) research, prototyping, and iterative design processes.
- Media Entrepreneurship & Innovation: This course teaches students how to identify business opportunities in media markets, develop innovative product concepts, create pitch decks, and navigate startup ecosystems with a focus on digital media ventures.
- Public Relations & Corporate Communication: Focused on strategic communication in corporate environments, this course covers brand management, stakeholder relations, crisis communication, media relations, and internal communications strategies.
- Content Strategy & Branding: Students learn how to align content creation with brand values and business objectives. The course includes branding strategy development, content lifecycle management, audience targeting, and performance measurement techniques.
- Digital Marketing Campaigns: This course explores the planning, execution, and evaluation of digital marketing campaigns across various channels including email, social media, search engines, and display advertising platforms.
- Media Ethics & Social Responsibility: Students analyze ethical dilemmas in media production and distribution, examining issues like misinformation, privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and responsible journalism practices.
- Media Economics & Industry Analysis: This course examines the economic structures of media industries, including advertising models, subscription services, content licensing, and global distribution strategies. Students engage with industry reports and financial analyses.
- Documentary Production: Through hands-on projects, students learn documentary filmmaking techniques, including scriptwriting, interviews, sound design, editing, and storytelling structures specific to the documentary genre.
- Media Innovation Lab: This lab-based course allows students to experiment with emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), blockchain, and AI in media creation. Projects involve prototyping, testing, and iterating new media formats.
- Digital Content Creation Workshop: A practical workshop that provides students with intensive training in video editing, animation, podcasting, and multimedia storytelling using industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
Our department emphasizes project-based learning as a core pedagogical approach. This methodology encourages students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios through collaborative projects that simulate professional environments. The process involves several stages: ideation, research, design, implementation, and evaluation.
Mini-projects are integrated throughout the curriculum starting from the second semester. These projects typically span 2-3 months and require students to work in teams under faculty supervision. They are designed to reinforce concepts taught in core courses and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.
The final-year capstone project is a significant component of the program, lasting approximately six months. Students select their own topic or collaborate with industry partners on relevant challenges. The project requires extensive research, planning, resource allocation, and presentation skills. Faculty mentors guide students through each stage, ensuring that they meet academic standards while gaining valuable experience in project management.
Students can choose projects based on their interests, career goals, or industry needs. Selection criteria include alignment with departmental expertise, feasibility, innovation potential, and relevance to current media trends. Faculty members often recommend projects that align with ongoing research initiatives or industry collaborations.
Evaluation for these projects is conducted through peer review, faculty assessment, and external validation from industry experts. The final deliverables include a detailed report, presentation slides, and a live demonstration of the project outcomes. This process ensures that students not only produce high-quality work but also develop essential communication and teamwork skills.