The School of Media Studies began as the Center for Understanding Media. Accredited through Antioch College, the program offered courses through the New School for Social Research. The New School formally absorbed Media Studies in 1975, after a four-year partnership. The records consist of curricula vitae, files, reports, syllabi, posters and other printed publicity materials, and student work.

The collection contains event fliers, student resource guides, and other informational material from several offices of The New School university, primarily the Office of Student Services, International Student Services, and Student Health Services, between 1985 and 2017.

Collection contains materials created by academic departments of Parsons School of Design. In addition to documentation of Parsons' main campus in New York City, includes materials originating from overseas facilities and affiliate schools, such as Otis Art Institute (California), Paris Ateliers/Parsons Paris, and Altos de Chavon (Dominican Republic).

Printed publicity materials including but not limited to circulars, mailers, promotional booklets and pamphlets, and postcards generally advertising Parsons School of Design, or a particular course or program of study not connected to a specific department. Also includes a small number of audiovisual recordings in various formats, presumably made for promotional purposes.