Major in Media Studies

The Major in Media Studies requires 40 units.

Foundation (4 units required)

• MS - 100 Introduction to Media Studies

Core Courses (8 units required)

• MS - 200 Media Institutions
• MS - 205 Media Audience and Research

Production Foundations (8 units required)

• MS - 221 Audio Production
• MS - 222 Video Production
• MS - 223 Journalism 1: Reporting
• MS - 224 Journalism II: Advanced Reporting

Advanced Area Studies (12 units required)

Choose one course from each of the following sections:

• MS - 311 Communication Law and Policy
• MS - 313 Media Theory and Criticism

and

• MS - 322 Media Production III: Advanced Production
• MS - 327 Media Production III: Scriptwriting
• MS - 330 Media Production III: Documentary Production
• MS - 331 Media Production III: Narrative Fiction/Film Production
• MS - 340 Media Production III: Experimental Cinema
• MS - 323 Journalism III: Publication Editing and Design
• MS - 325 Journalism III: Feature Writing
• MS - 328 Journalism III: Photojournalism
• MS - 329 Arts Reporting and Reviewing

and

• MS - 306 The Documentary
• MS - 390 Special Topics in Media Studies (May be taken only ONCE for credit in the major.)

Seminars (8 units required)

Prerequisites: Completion of 200-level requirements

• MS - 400 Politics and the Media
• MS - 405 Gender and the Media
• MS - 407 Alternative Media and Social Change
• MS - 409 International/Global Media
• MS - 410 Popular Music and Communication
• MS - 490 Honors Seminar in Media Studies

Electives

• MS - 204 Media, Stereotyping, and Violence
• MS - 303 Race, Ethnicity, and Media
• MS - 312 The Popular Arts
• MS - 335 Feminist Thought
• MS - 395 Media Workshop
• MS - 396 Media Internship
• MS - 397 Directed Project
• MS - 398 Directed Study

(Note: Courses with a grade lower than C will not be counted towards fulfillment of the Major, nor may they count as prerequisites.)

Learning Goals/Outcomes for the B.A. in Media Studies

Students who complete the B.A. in Media Studies will be able to:

• Understand foundational relationships between media, culture, and society.
• Develop critical skills in assessing media as a consumer and citizen.
• Develop foundational skills in media profession practice in electronic media and journalism.
• Understand the historical and contemporary practices of news media in societal context.
• Understand the historical and contemporary practices of electronic media in societal context.
• Understand the legal and ethical constraints on media practices.
• Understand the social theories of media and power, and the development of media criticism.
• Understand and apply theories and research on media uses and effects.
• Develop research skills in media history, theory, and criticism, and in media analysis.
• Gain advanced knowledge in Media and Society, Electronic Media, or Journalism.
• Gain understanding of professional practices in media organizations through fieldwork.
• Apply advanced research or professional skills to a Senior Thesis or Project.