B.A. in Social Sciences

MEDIA STUDIES CONCENTRATION


Television, film, the Internet, broadband, and streaming video have become parts of our everyday lives. The question is how can we prepare ourselves to understand the impact of these technologies on our careers and personal choices? How do such media change the way we earn our living? The way we read? The way we see? The way we think? The concentration in Media Studies addresses these questions by simultaneously building your confidence to use the media and providing you with a framework for understanding their impact on your life. By incorporating film, video, digital production, multimedia, and Internet technologies, this program provides you with the opportunity to turn your understanding and appreciation of the new media into an excellent foundation for career advancement.

We recommend that students complete the McGhee Core Curriculum before the following requirements.

For Humanities Majors:

Prerequisites and Recommended Courses

Students must complete Critical Thinking, History and Theory of the Media, Introduction to Literature, and Reading Visual Images before taking concentration courses.

Methods and Theory (8 Credits)

Students must take Semiotics of Literature and Media and either Humanities Research Seminar or a Media Genres course.

Concentration Courses: Humanities (16 Credits)

Students select four of the following courses.

Semiotics of Literature and Media / Y23.6001 4
Media Genres I: The Story of Stories / Y23.6002 4
Media Genres II: Exploding Genres / Y23.6003 4
Mind, Body, Media / Y23.6004 4
Mass Media and American Popular Culture / Y23.6005 4
History of Film / Y23.6006 4
Global Television / Y23.6009 4
Media and Religion / Y23.6010 4
Documentary Cinema / Y23.6030 4

Major Requirements (20 Credits)

In addition to further humanities courses, 12 credits from the social sciences group are recommended.

Special Topics in Media Studies (Humanities) / Y23.6090 4

For Social Science Majors:

Prerequisites and Recommended Courses

Students must complete Critical Thinking, History and Theory of the Media, and Reading Visual Images before taking concentration courses.

Methods and Theory (8 Credits)

Students must complete either Mass Media and Society or Semiotics of Literature and Media, and Social Science Research Methods.

Concentration Courses: Social Sciences (16 Credits)

Students select four of the following courses.

Political Economy of Digital Media / Y19.0312 4
Minorities and The Media / Y26.6004 4
Global Perspectives in Media / Y26.6005 4
Cultural Identities in the Media / Y26.6006 4
Children's Media and Culture / Y26.6010 4
Third World Cinema / Y26.6020 4
Mass Media and the Public Sphere / Y26.6040 4
Theory of Media and Cultural Studies / Y26.6042 4
Media and Community / Y26.6047 4
History of Communication Innovations / Y26.6074 4
Mass Media and Politics / Y26.6666 4

Major Requirements (20 Credits)

In addition to further social sciences courses, 12 credits from the humanities group are recommended.

Special Topics in Media Studies (Social Sciences) / Y26.6090 4

For All Majors:

Free Electives (26 - 28 Credits)

Students select 26 - 28 credits from McGhee course offerings in consultation with their advisors.

Graduation Project (4 Credits)

Students select one option in consultation with their advisors.

Senior Project Seminar (Social Sciences) / Y26.7991 4
Senior Project Internship (Social Sciences) / Y26.7992 4