The film-video program, originating in the College of Arts and Architecture, and the media studies program, previously a communications studies major housed in the College of Liberal Arts, were both introduced at Penn State in the 1960s.

The telecommunications major was born in the College of Liberal Arts, dating back to the mid-1970s.

[14][15] The college is the largest accredited mass communications program in the United States.

[20][15] The media center is located in the Willard Building,[14] and brings many of the college's facilities under one roof.

The 63,000 square-foot (5,853 sq m) media center contains classrooms, offices, television studios, and spaces for film and video creation, and houses student-media operations.