Media Studies Course Descriptions

MS - 100. Introduction to Media Studies (4)

Critical introduction to contemporary issues and debates in media and society. Offered every semester.

MS - 102. Introduction to Film Studies (4)

This class is designed to introduce students to the world of films from a semiotic, historical and critical perspective. The main objective of the course is to provide students with the formal and rhetorical devices to understand film language in its own terms. Offered every semester.

MS - 195. Freshman Seminar (4)

An interesting introduction to a topic in Media Studies.

MS - 200. Media Institutions (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 100. Exploration of political, economic and cultural context of current media institutions including the press, film, TV, and digital media industries in San Francisco, the US and around the world. Focuses on issues of commercialism, the public interest and creativity. Offered every semester.

MS - 204. Media, Stereotyping, and Violence (4)

Quantitative and qualitative approaches to media content and audiences, with special emphasis on violence and stereotyping.

MS - 205. Media Audience and Research (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 100. Theory and practice of media and communication research methodologies including content/text analysis, ethnographic methods, interview, and survey methods. Offered every semester.

MS - 221. Audio Production (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 100. Theories and techniques including program structures, elements and formats; planning, budgeting and scheduling; sound and acoustics; studios and control rooms; specific equipment, their design and operation, including consoles/mixers/control surfaces, and microphones; analog and digital audio. Includes significant lab work utilizing Pro Tools digital audio workstations. Offered every semester. Limited enrollment.

MS - 222. Video Production (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 100 or MS - 102 and MS - 221. Introduction to the techniques, aesthetics and practices of video production. Offered every semester. Limited enrollment.

MS - 223. Journalism 1: Reporting (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 100. An introduction to basic news reporting. Skills emphasized include lead writing, story structure, note-taking and interviewing. Students will be assigned a variety of story types, including the coverage of speeches, press conferences and meetings as well as writing profiles and police and accident stories. Students will be introduced to AP style. Offered every semester. Limited enrollment.

MS - 224. Journalism II: Advanced Reporting (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 100, MS - 223. Advanced news reporting. Research, interviewing, analysis, writing and editing advanced journalism stories. Offered every semester. Limited enrollment.

MS - 250. Africa Films Africa (2)

The diversity of the African continent as seen through the eyes of its filmmakers. Weekly viewings and discussions will be informed by critical literature on African film and its place in the West and the developing world. Cross Listed With: FREN - 250

MS - 303. Race, Ethnicity, and Media (4)

Prerequisite: Junior status. . A survey of the relationship between diverse racial/ethnic groups and the media within the context of the United States. It explores representation and diversity in popular media, racial equity in media industries, and ethnic minorities as audiences and as independent producers.

MS - 306. The Documentary (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 102 or upper division standing. History and analysis of documentary film and video.

MS - 311. Communication Law and Policy (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 200. Social and legal dilemmas over communication resources, rights and responsibilities. Analysis of law and policy as responses to social conflicts surrounding communication practices. Some topics covered include the First Amendment, media ownership, intellectual property, advertising, obscenity and hate speech. Offered every Spring.

MS - 312. The Popular Arts (4)

An introduction to the study of popular culture that is interdisciplinary in its approach. Popular culture is understood here to mean those areas of cultural production and consumption made and consumed by mass publics. The overview of issues offered in this class is not intended to be comprehensive; rather its goal is to establish a new framework for thinking about culture and the arts generally, and in relation to popular culture in particular. Particular emphasis is placed on an overview of aesthetic theory in relation to the history and philosophy of art, which is then applied systematically to case studies in contemporary media culture. Offered every semester.

MS - 313. Media Theory and Criticism (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 200, MS - 205. Social and cultural theory of media and communications applied to analysis of media events and texts. Application of research methods and strategies to analyse media content. Offered every Fall.

MS - 315. Telenovelas/Soap Operas (4)

A survey of the soap opera and melodrama genre focusing on its Latino version: telenovelas. The course looks at the production, distribution, and content of soaps, and their audiences around the world. It explores questions of class, gender, race and ethnicity, and the use of soaps for education and social change. Cross Listed With: LAS - 315

MS - 317. Latin American Cinema (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 102 or upper division standing. This course introduces students to films made by Latin American filmmakers about Latin America. It offers the chance to explore how the national cinemas of the Americas portray their societies' experiences. Topics covered include: relations between cinema and the state, questions of ideology, national identity, class, race and ethnicity, gender, concerns about historical representations and political memory, and the use of film as a tool for social change and human rights education. Cross Listed With: LAS - 317

MS - 318. Indian Cinema (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 102 or upper division standing. Examines the institutions, texts, and audiences of the National ("Bollywood") and regional cinemas of India in the postcolonial context

MS - 319. LGBT Cinema (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 102 or upper division standing. This course explores and analyzes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender cinema from the 1920s to the present. We will consider how LGBT cinematic traditions have been shaped by key historical factors, such as the Motion Picture Code in 1930, the rise of fascism in Europe, the HUAC hearings of the 1950s, the women's movement, the gay liberation movement, and the AIDS crisis.

MS - 322. Media Production III: Advanced Production (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 102 or MS - 222. Design, planning and production of an extended video program in an applied setting. May be repeated for credit. Offered every semester. Limited enrollment.

MS - 323. Journalism III: Publication Editing and Design (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 224. Basic editing and design techniques for print and web publications. Emphasis on editing for grammar, spelling, usage and Associated Press style, plus an introduction to the principles of page layout. Offered every semester. Limited enrollment.

MS - 325. Journalism III: Feature Writing (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 224. Students produce typical feature/magazine stories, such as the process story, the trend story, the travel story and both the short and long profile, with a concentration on the techniques of narrative and characterization used in so-called literary journalism. Offered every Spring. Limited enrollment.

MS - 327. Media Production III: Scriptwriting (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 102 or MS - 222. This course trains students to write a full-feature script. By viewing films and reading scripts of already produced films, students will become familiar with the narrative and dramatic structures of diverse film scripts. The course involves a considerable amount of film viewing, as well as workshops in writing, collective critiques of classmates' works and weekly writing assignments. Offered every Spring.

MS - 328. Journalism III: Photojournalism (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 224. Introduction to the philosophies, techniques and methods of photojournalism for newspaper, magazine and Internet. From basic photography to hands-on digital imaging. Includes social context and ethics of photojournalism. Offered once a year.

MS - 329. Arts Reporting and Reviewing (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 100 or MS - 224. This course is divided into two sections, reporting and reviewing. Because solid reporting is the foundation for credible reviewing, we will spend the first half of the semester on reporting. We will focus on five genres: music, movies, theater, food and one to be determined. In addition to covering and reviewing events, we will meet with a series of arts writers and discuss various aspects of arts reporting and criticism for popular audiences. Class provides a chance for students to strengthen their reporting skills and fine tune their writing voices. Offered every Spring. Limited enrollment.

MS - 330. Media Production III: Documentary Production (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 102 or MS - 222. This course delves into strategies and techniques involved in making documentary films. Students will produce several short documentaries that demonstrate their understanding of the non-fiction genre.

MS - 331. Media Production III: Narrative Fiction/Film Production (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 102 or MS - 222. Aiming at the production of narrative shorts as final projects, in this course students will become familiar with the different stages involved in completing a film project: from the writing of the film, through the actual shooting and production components, to the visual and sound editing of the project. Students will work in 16mm and 8mm film formats, but have also the option to shoot their projects in video formats. Offered every Fall. Limited enrollment.

MS - 335. Feminist Thought (4)

Prerequisite: Junior standing. An introduction to a variety of feminist theories and approaches with emphasis on the arts, philosophy, politics, and media. Offered every Spring Cross Listed With: ENGL - 335PHIL - 335

MS - 340. Media Production III: Experimental Cinema (4)

Prerequisites: MS - 102 or MS - 222. Students will learn an abundance of experimental filmmaking strategies by exploring the rich history of low budget, do-it-yourself, avant-garde filmmaking. Each student will create several films that incorporate the learned techniques.

MS - 350. Human Rights and Film (4)

This course introduces students to the study of human rights issues through film screening, readings, and writing assignments, and by collaborating in the organization of the Human Rights Film Festival at USF. The course is designed around a selection of both U.S. and foreign documentary and narrative films addressing civil, political, economic, cultural, social, women's and LGBT rights. Cross Listed With: LAS - 350

MS - 380. Latin@s in the U.S. Media (4)

This course examines the multiple experiences of Latin@ communities in the United States, focusing on media representations within historical, cultural, political, and economic contexts. Students study film, television, the news, advertising, and the music industry. Topics analyzed include stereotypical representations of this group and the development of Latin@ media. Cross Listed With: LAS - 380

MS - 390. Special Topics in Media Studies (4)

Prerequisite: Completion of 200-level requirements. Topics vary by semester.

MS - 395. Media Workshop (1-4)

Prerequisite: MS - 200. Faculty-supervised on-campus media production workshop including opportunities with KUSF, The Foghorn, USFtv, and other USF media outlets. Offered every semester.

MS - 396. Media Internship (4)

Prerequisite: Non-majors: Junior status. Faculty supervised off-campus media practice in a professional setting.

MS - 397. Directed Project (1-4)

Prerequisite: Completion of 200-level requirements. Faculty supervised production project. Requires written permission of instructor, chair, and dean.

MS - 398. Directed Study (1-4)

Prerequisite: Completion of 200-level requirements. Faculty-supervised research project. Requires written permission of instructor, chair, and dean.

MS - 400. Politics and the Media (4)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. An in-depth investigation of the relationship between politics and the news media in the U.S., emphasizing the role of news in democracy and in public policy formation. Cross-listed with Politics department.

MS - 405. Gender and the Media (4)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. Examination of feminist theories and analytical practices for understanding images of gender in media and of cultural formation of gender and sexuality through representation.

MS - 407. Alternative Media and Social Change (4)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. Investigation into the content, practices and politics of alternative and community-based media and social change communications practices in US and internationally. Students will conduct field work in San Francisco.

MS - 409. International/Global Media (4)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. Analysis of structures and content of international media and role of culture in globalization.

MS - 410. Popular Music and Communication (4)

Prerequisite: Senior standing. Aesthetics, economics and history of Anglo-American popular music and relationship of pop music to mass media, including radio, film and television. Students will produce a 30-page paper over the course of the semester that comprehensively investigates the history, economics, aesthetics and conditions of consumption of one album/CD/mixtape of their own choosing.

MS - 420. American Journalism Ethics (4)

Prerequisite: MS - 224. This course is the capstone in the Journalism minor, and students should review its prerequisites before signing up for it. In it students will explore the historical development of the First Amendment in the United States and then consider the dilemmas that arise in contemporary journalism when reporters attempt to reconcile the idea that freedom of the press should be absolute with the limitations, both legal and ethical, that many would place on news gathering and newswriting. The course will not propose easy answers to these difficult questions. The emphasis will be on promoting ethical awareness and developing a process for tackling such questions. Offered every Fall.

MS - 490. Honors Seminar in Media Studies (4)

This is a capstone course for selected senior Media Studies students in which they will research a significant Media Studies problem and produce an Undergraduate Honors Thesis in Media Studies.