2024-2025 Catalog 
    
    Dec 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Media Studies Major


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Program Learning Outcomes


Students will:

  • 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

Major Requirements (48 units)


200-Level


300-Level


Note:


Students must obtain a grade of “C” or higher in every class in the major and may not count prerequisite courses in which a grade of “C-” or lower is obtained.

Degree Planner


First-Year


Fall Units
Core - E: MS 100 - Intro to Media Studies    4
Core: Rhetoric and Composition 4
Core - A1: Public Speaking or Freshman Seminar 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
MS 101 - Multi-Media Storytelling   4
Core: Rhetoric & Composition 4
Core 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16

Sophomore Year


Fall Units
MS 201 - Civic Media  or MS 202 - Media History  or MS 203 - Cultural Industries     4
MS 221 - Audio Production  or MS 222 - Video Production  or MS 223 - Journalism I: Reporting   4
Language - Course 1 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
MS 201 - Civic Media  or MS 202 - Media History  or MS 203 - Cultural Industries   4
MS 221 - Audio Production  or MS 222 - Video Production  or MS 223 - Journalism I: Reporting   4
Language - Course 2 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16

Junior Year


Fall Units
MS 313 - Media Theory & Criticism    4
MS 300-Level Elective 4
Language - Course 3 4
Core (regular Core course or Core course that also fulfills a minor) 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
MS 314 - Media Research  4
MS 300-Level Elective 4
Core (regular Core course or Core course that also fulfills a minor) 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16

Senior Year


Fall Units
MS 300-Level Elective 4
Community - Engaged Learning (CEL): MS 302 - Communication for Change   4
Elective (any elective or towards your minor) 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
MS 400-Level Elective 4
Elective (any elective or towards your minor) 4
Elective (any elective or towards your minor) 4
Elective (any elective or towards your minor) 4
Total Semester Units 16

*This information is subject to change, the degree planner is a sample, and students should consult with the department for any updated information. 

*If you would like to minor in Journalism, please keep in mind that a Media Studies Major + a Journalism Minor means you only need 3 stand-alone Journalism classes. Please consult your major advisor to determine how best to arrange your coursework to accomplish this (several Media Studies courses also fulfill core requirements, etc)

*If you would like to minor in Film Studies, please keep in mind that a Media Studies Major + a Film Studies Minor means you only need 3 stand-alone Film Studies classes. Please consult your major advisor to determine how best to arrange your coursework to accomplish this (several Media Studies and Film Studies courses also fulfill core requirements, etc)

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