Media and Communication Studies

Faculty

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Director

Jason Loviglio

Lecturer

Donald Snyder

Assistant Professor

Rebecca Adelman
Fan Yang

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Courses in this program are listed under MCS .

The program in media and communication studies is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes a broad liberal arts approach toward the teaching of critical media literacy, intercultural communication and new digital media skills. These skills include a critical understanding of the emerging forms of digital technologies of communication, information, surveillance and entertainment. Students will learn how to integrate new communicative practices into their liberal arts education.

The program uses materials and methodologies from various disciplines. It also emphasizes learning through seminar experiences and independent projects. The focus in the core curriculum on applied experience, undergraduate research, critical thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to study of media is part of the program's fundamental liberal arts orientation. Core courses build one upon the other, developing students' critical skills, historical background, and theoretical sophistication so that they progressively develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the social, political, economic and cultural issues at stake in human communication.

The elective courses, which are drawn from American studies, English, modern languages and linguistics, visual arts, along with several other departments and programs across the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, reinforce the commitment to a broad liberal arts education. Students choose electives from a broad set of choices in three areas: critical media literacy, intercultural communication and technology and applied communication.

Career and Academic Paths

Through the combination of applied learning experiences, a required depth-of-field area of study, and a capstone research project, students are well-prepared for many academic and professional fields of study including, advertising, broadcasting, communications, gaming, history and culture (museums and cultural institutions), education, journalism, law, marketing, public policy,public relations, social and public service, social work and web development.

Bachelor of Arts (33 Credits)

CORE (15 credits)

MCS 222 Introduction to Media and Communication Studies

Two courses on theoretical approaches and methods

MCS 333 History and Theory of Mass Communication and Media Studies

PLUS one of the following:

AMST 390 Theories of Media and Culture

ENGL 324 Theories of Communication and Technology

ART 215 Introduction to Art and Media Studies

MLL 305 Introduction to Intercultural Communication

Required Applied Experience:

MCS 404 Internship
(Internships can be completed as part of the study abroad experience)

Capstone Seminar: A project emphasizing scholarly research, creative production, or both.

MCST 499

Three Elective Areas (18 credits)

(See list of recommended course sequences for each area below

B.A. students must choose two courses from each area:

Critical Media Studies

Coursework on the cultural history of specific media, critical media analysis, industry analysis, audience studies and special topics in media genres.

Intercultural Communication
Coursework on intercultural communication; race, gender, ethnicity, social class and media; comparative studies and media; U.S. media in global perspective.

New Media and Applied Communication
Coursework in video, audio and digital production; Web content design; technical writing; journalism and oral communication

Additional Information:

Depth of Field Required

A required major, minor, or certificate

Counting Credits

A total of nine credits towards the completion of the major may be "double counted" towards the completion of an additional major, minor or certificate.

Capstone

MCST student double-majoring in a discipline that requires a capstone course may be able to satisfy this requirement with the other capstone course, provided that, in the opinion of the director, the subject matter and methods are relevant to the study and/or practice of media and communications.

Statement on Study of Foreign Languages

Knowledge of at least one foreign language and familiarity with foreign cultures beyond the language and culture requirements of the General Education Program are important for understanding media and communications under the conditions of globalization in the 21st century. Therefore, MCST students are strongly encouraged to study a foreign language to at least the 202 level (with appropriate exemptions made for native speakers of languages other than English). Study abroad is also strongly encouraged, for it can provide not only understanding of another culture but also important perspectives on U.S. culture and media.

Certificate (21 credits)

CORE (12 credits)

MCST 222: Introduction to Media and communications Studies

Two courses on Theoretical Approaches and Methods

MCST 333: History and Theory of Mass Communication and Media Studies

PLUS one of the following:

AMST 390: Theories of Media and Culture

ENGL 324: Theories of Communication and Technology

ART 215: Introduction to Art and Media Studies

MLL 305: Introduction to Intercultural Communication

Required Applied Experience:

MCST 404 (Internship)

Three Areas (9 credits) Certificate students take all nine credits in only one of the two areas:

Critical Media Studies
Coursework on the cultural history of specific media, critical media analysis, industry analysis, audience studies and special topics in media genres.

Intercultural Communication
Coursework on intercultural communication; race, gender, ethnicity, social class and media; comparative studies and media; U.S. media in global perspective.

New Media and Applied Communication
Coursework in video, audio and digital production; Web content design; technical writing; journalism and oral communication

Additional Information:

Counting Credits

A total of nine credits towards the completion of the certificate may be "double counted" towards the completion of an additional major, minor, or certificate.

Suggested Course Sequences for MCST Areas 1

(At least 9 of the 18 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level)

1. Critical Media Studies

Suggested courses:

AFST 205 Contemporary Black Popular Culture

AFST 245 Introduction to Black Music

MUSIC 214 History of Jazz

AMST 320 Television in American Culture

AMST 321 Radio in American Culture

AMST 320 Television in American Culture

AMST 322 American Society and Culture in Film

AMST 325 Studies in American Popular Culture

AMST 100 Introduction to American Studies

AMST 320, 321, 322, 357, 372, 374

AMST 325 Studies in Popular Culture

SOCY/ANTH 416 Cyberspace Culture

SOCY 397 Special Topics: Media and Society

AFST 205 Contemporary Black Popular Culture

GWST 322 Women and the Media

ANTH 211 Cultural Anthropology

SOCY/ANTH 416 Cyberspace, Culture, and Society

ART 220 Art History I

ART 221 Art History II

ART 324 History of Film: Origins to 1965

ART 325 History of Film and Video 1965-Present

ART 324 (or 325)

AMST 322 American Society and Culture in FIlm

ART 321 19th Century Art

ART 323 20th Century Art

ART 324 History of Film: Origins to 1965

ART 342 Film/Video Theory and Criticism

ART 224 (or 225)

ART 343 History of Animation

ART 326 History of Photo I

ART 327 Contemporary Directions in Photography

ENGL 332 Literature of Non-Fiction

MCS 370 Special Topics in Media and Communication Studies (topics vary)

MUSC 336 The Beatles

MUSC 330 Popular Musics of the non-Western World

MUSC 217 Rock: 1950-Present

MUSC 330 Popular Musics of the non-Western World

MUSC 230 Music of the World

MUSC 480 Topics in Music, Art and Society*

POLI 433 First Amendment Freedoms

THTR 210 and THTR 211 History of Theatre I & II

VPA 225 Ideas in the Arts

VPA 325 International Women Directors

GWST 310 Gender and Inequality

GWST 322 Women and the Media

2. Intercultural Communication

Suggested courses:

AMST 200 Multicultural America

AMST 352 U.S. in Global Perspective

AMST 380 Community in America

ANTH 211 Cultural Anthropology

ANTH 310 Ethnographic Film

MLL 230 World Language Communities

MLL 425 Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Communication

MLL 230 World Language Communities

MLL 250 Introduction to the French-Speaking World

MLL 270 Introduction to Russian Culture and Civilization

MLL 271 Introduction to Modern Russian Civilization and Culture

MLL 280 Introduction to the Spanish-Speaking World

MLL 263 Popular Music and National Identity in German-Speaking Countries

MLL 332 Introduction to German Cultural Thought

MLL 320 International Women Directors

GWST 322 Women and the Media

AMST 200 and MLL 306 Intercultural Communications: Issues Confronting Immigrant and Heritage Communities

MLL 190 The World of Language I

MLL 191 The World of Language II

MLL 301 Textual Analysis: Words, Images, Music

MLL 310 Intercultural Studies of International Film

HIST 371 History and Film

MLL 213 Film and Society in Spain

MLL 218 Film and Society in Latin America

RUSS 315 Studies in Russian Film

MLL 310 Intercultural Studies of International Film

MLL 406 History and Theory of Intercultural Media

MLL 495 Intercultural Video Production

POLI 260 Comparative Politics

POLI 280 International Politics

SOCY 211 Diversity and Pluralism

MLL 305 Introduction to Intercultural Communication

3. New Media and Applied Communication

Suggested courses:

MCS 377 Desktop Publishing and the Web

MCS 395/ART 395 Television Production Techniques I

ART 100 Introduction to Imaging Arts: Photography, Film, Video and Computer Art

ART 210 Visual Concepts I---2 Dimensions

ART 210 and ART 211 Visual Concepts II---Camera Vision

ART 210 (or 211)

ART 315 Video I

ART 210 (or 211)

ART 331 Graphic Design

ART 210 (or 211)

ENGL 380 Intro to News Writing

ENGL 382 Feature Writing

ENGL 380 Intro to News Writing

ENGL 480 Seminar in Advanced Journalism

ENGL 391 Advanced Exposition and Argumentation

ENGL 393 Technical Writing

ENGL 387 Web Content Development

ENGL 393 and ENGL 394 Technical Editing

MLL 406 History and Theory of Intercultural Media

MLL 495 Intercultural Video Production

SPCH 100 Public Communication

SPCH 210 Interpersonal Communication

For Music Majors Only:

MUSC 218 Recording Technology Lab

MUSC 219 Studio Recording