BEA’s Student Membership
Join BEA to develop your creative skills, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections with media educators, scholars, and industry professionals. Through workshops, convention programming, mentorship, and networking opportunities, BEA helps you grow your craft and your professional community.
Connect, Create, Compete.
Put Your Talent in the Spotlight.
Make your research and creative work count. BEA membership opens the door to competitions, the Festival of Media Arts, and national recognition that can strengthen your portfolio and help you stand out. Join BEA and start making your mark.
Resources That Work for You.
Key Benefits of Membership
Showcase Your Work
Put your creative and scholarly work in front of the BEA community through the Festival of Media Arts, research competitions, and other student opportunities. Graduate student membership is also welcome for participation in certain Festival and research competitions.
Scholarships to Support Your Education
BEA awards more than $30,000 in scholarships each year to eligible undergraduate and graduate students at member institutions. One application considers students for every scholarship for which they qualify, and recipients also receive complimentary BEA convention registration.
Join up to four of BEA's 19 Interest Divisions
Each offer newsletters, paper competitions and networking for research, curriculum and job opportunities.
BEAi
The intelligent new home for BEA members. From research collaborators to insightful teaching tools, books on storytelling to JoME journal articles, convention participation to meeting minutes, grant opportunities to T&P guidelines. BEAi helps you find what you need instantly.
Make the Most of #BEAvegas
BEA’s annual convention gives students opportunities to build connections, gain real-world experience, and explore career paths through programs like the RAB Student Scholars Program, Student MMJs, and the Career Fair & Graduate School Showcase. Meet industry professionals, develop your skills, and turn your convention experience into connections that can shape your future.
Awards & Research
Showcase your work through BEA’s prestigious awards, research competitions, creative competitions, and grant opportunities designed to elevate your professional impact.
Membership Options
Strengthen Your Skills & Knowledge
Stay connected to the latest in media research, education, and industry practices through BEA publications, convention sessions, workshops, and member resources. Graduate students can especially benefit from opportunities that strengthen their research, teaching, creative, and professional development.
NOTE: All Memberships are based on the calendar year, January 1st through December 31st. Renewal process starts mid-September each year. Dues are not pro rated.
Undergraduate Student
Individual Membership- Student Members must have an active interest in electronic media or other multimedia enterprises related to research and creative endeavors.
Graduate Student
Individual Membership- Student Members must have an active interest in electronic media or other multimedia enterprises related to research and creative endeavors.
FREE Student Membership
Individual Membership- Undergraduate (and possibly graduate) student membership is FREE for students attending BEA Institutional Member Schools. Click here to check eligibility.
Join BEA Today!
Unlock the full potential of your media education career by becoming a member of BEA. Connect with peers, access exclusive resources, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of media. Sign up now and start benefiting from all that BEA has to offer.
FAQ
Who can become a BEA Individual Member and how do I join?
BEA Individual Membership is open to faculty and staff, international faculty, retired (Emeritus) faculty, and media industry professionals who support excellence in media education, research, and creative achievement. Annual membership fees vary based on membership type.
You may sign up for BEA Individual Membership by click here and selecting your desired membership type from the join options. Complete the associated form, submit payment, and you’re ready to go!
Can faculty outside the United States join?
Yes! BEA welcomes international members and provides year-round access to publications, virtual resources, and professional opportunities, regardless of where you teach.
What are the biggest benefits of joining?
BEA Individual Membership gives you opportunities to advance your scholarship and creative work through research grants, paper competitions, awards, and the Festival of Media Arts. Submit your research and creative work for peer review, gain valuable feedback and professional recognition, and compete for funding and awards that can strengthen your academic portfolio and support your professional growth.
BEA’s faculty creative competitions have specifically been positioned as a venue for juried peer review, while its research paper competitions use peer review and its Festival recognizes faculty creative work.
Do I have to attend the annual convention to benefit from membership?
Nope! Members receive valuable benefits year-round, including publications, networking opportunities, research resources, competitions, grants, and member communications.
What publications are included with membership?
Taylor & Francis FREE journal – (only available online). You must click here to register for your personal code and get access to the free journal online only. Contact Taylor and Francis Support directly if you need additional assistance accessing your free journal.
Does BEA offer grants or awards?
Yes. Members can apply for research grants and participate in numerous research and creative competitions, as well as awards recognizing excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service.
Research Awards/Grants and creative competitions:
Leibner Cooper Award
What's the difference between Individual and Institutional Membership?
Individual Membership is designed for faculty, international faculty, retired (Emeritus) faculty, and media industry professionals. It provides personal access to BEA member benefits, including discounted conference registration, publications, awards and grant opportunities, Interest Divisions, networking, and the Member Directory.
Institutional Membership is held by a college or university, not by individual faculty members. While it demonstrates an institution’s support for BEA and provides free student membership for all undergraduate students at the institution, faculty do not automatically receive Individual Member benefits or discounted member registration simply because their institution is a BEA Institutional Member. Faculty who want personal member benefits should purchase an Individual Membership.