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Media and Communication Studies

Career and Academic Paths | Bachelor of Arts (33 credits) | Statement on Study of Foreign Languages | Certificate (21 Credits) |

Faculty

View faculty details

Director

Jason Loviglio

Lecturer

Donald Snyder

Courses in this program are listed under MCS.

The program in media and communication studies is a distinctive, 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 traditional liberal arts education.

The program uses materials and methodologies from various disciplines. It also emphasizes learning through seminar experiences and independent projects. The emphasis in the core curriculum on applied experience, undergrad 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 gradually move from cursory understanding of media and communication to increasingly sophisticated understanding of the social, political, economic and cultural issues at stake in how and where human communication occurs.

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

Advertising
Broadcasting
Communications
Gaming
Education
Journalism
Law
Marketing
Public history and culture: museums and cultural institutions
Public policy
Public relations
Social and public service
Social work
Web development

Through the combination of applied learning experiences, a required depth-of-field area of study, and capstone research project, students are well-prepared for many academic and professional fields of study.

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 334
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:
Writing Intensive Requirement
Two courses designated “writing intensive” must be taken in addition to GEP requirements. These additional courses may be drawn from required coursework in the core or elective areas.

Depth of Field Requirement
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 students 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

A knowledge of at least one foreign language and familiarity with foreign cultures are important for understanding media and communications under the conditions of globalization in the 21st century. Beyond the language and culture requirements of the General Education Program, 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 Communication 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 334:
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 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; US 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:
Writing Intensive Requirement
One course designated “writing intensive” must be taken in addition to GEP requirements. These additional courses may be drawn from required coursework in the Core or Elective areas.

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 course sequences:
AFST 205
Contemporary Black Popular Culture
AND
AFST 245
Introduction to Black Music

AFST 245
Introduction to Black Music
AND
MUSC 214
History of Jazz

AMST 320
Television in American Culture
AND
AMST 321
Radio in American Culture

AMST 320
Television in American Culture)
AND
AMST 322
American Society and Culture in Film

AMST 325
Studies in American Popular Culture
OR
AMST 100
Introduction to American Studies
AND
AMST 320, 321, 322, 357, 372, 374

AMST 325
Studies in Popular Culture
AND
SOCY/ANTH 416
Cyberspace Culture
OR
SOCY 397
Special Topics: Media and Society
OR
AFST 205
Contemporary Black Popular Culture
OR
GWST 322
Women and the Media

ANTH 211
Cultural Anthropology
AND
SOCY/ANTH 416
Cyberspace, Culture, and Society

ART 220
Art History I
AND
ART 221
Art History II

ART 324
History of Film: Origins to 1965
AND
ART 325
History of Film and Video 1965-Present

ART 324 (or 325)
AND
AMST 322
American Society and Culture in Film

ART 321
19th-Century Art
AND
ART 323
20th-Century Art

ART 324
History of Film: Origins to 1965
AND
ART 342
Film/Video Theory and Criticism

ART 224 (or 225)
AND
ART 343
History of Animation)

ART 326
History of Photo 1
AND
ART 327
Contemporary Directions in Photography

ENGL 332
Literature of Non-fiction

MUSC 336
The Beatles
AND
MUSC 330
Popular Musics of the non-Western World

MUSC 217
Rock: 1950-Present
AND
MUSC 330
Popular Musics of the non-Western World

MUSC 230
Music of the World
AND
MUSC 480
Topics in Music, Art and Society*

POLI 433
First Amendment Freedoms
THTR 210 and THTR 211 History of Theatre I and II

VPA 225
Ideas in the Arts
AND
VPA 325
International Women Directors

GWST 310
Gender and Inequality
AND
GWST 322
Women and the Media

2. Intercultural Communication
Suggested course sequences
AMST 200
Multicultural America
AND
AMST 352
U.S. in Global Perspective

AMST 352
US in Global Perspective
AND
AMST 380
Community in America

ANTH 211
Cultural Anthropology
AND
ANTH 310
Ethnographic Film

MLL 230
World Language Communities
AND
MLL 425
Intercultural and Cross-cultural Communication

MLL 230 World Language Communities
AND
MLL 250
Introduction to the French-Speaking World
OR
MLL 270
Introduction to Russian Culture and Civilization
OR
MLL 271
Introduction to Modern Russian Civilization and Culture
OR
MLL 280
Introduction to the Spanish-Speaking World

MLL 263
Popular Music and National Identity in German-Speaking Countries
AND
MLL 332
Introduction to German Cultural Thought

MLL 320
International Women Directors
AND
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
OR
MLL 191
The World of Language II
AND
MLL 301
Textual Analysis: Words, Images, Music

MLL 310
Intercultural Studies of International Film
AND
HIST 371
History and Film

MLL 213
Film and Society in Spain
OR
MLL 218
Film and Society in Latin America
OR
RUSS 315
Studies in Russian Film
AND
MLL 310
Intercultural Studies of International Film

MLL 406
History and Theory of Intercultural Media
AND
MLL 495
Intercultural Video Production

POLI 260
Comparative Politics
AND
POLI 280
International Politics

SOCY 211
Diversity and Pluralism
AND
MLL 305
Introduction to Intercultural Communication

3. New Media and Applied Communication
Suggested course sequences
ART 100
Introduction to Imaging Arts: Photography, Film, Video and Computer Art
AND
ART 210
Visual Concepts I—2 Dimensions

ART 210 and ART 211
Visual Concepts II—Camera Vision

ART 210 (or 211)
AND
ART 315
Video I

ART 210 (or 211)
AND
ART 331
Graphic Design

ART 210 (or 211)
AND
ART 395
Television Production Techniques I

ART 395 and ART 396 Television Production Techniques II

ENGL 380
Intro to News Writing
AND
ENGL 382
Feature Writing

ENGL 380
Intro to News Writing
AND
ENGL 480
Seminar in Advanced Journalism

ENGL 391
Advanced Exposition and Argumentation
OR
ENGL 393
Technical Writing
AND
ENGL 387
Web Content Development

ENGL 393 and ENGL 394 Technical Editing

MLL 406
History and Theory of Intercultural Media
AND
MLL495
Intercultural Video Production

MCST 397
Participatory Media and Personal Broadcasting

SPCH 100
Public Communication
AND
SPCH 210
Interpersonal Communication
For Music majors only:
MUSC 218
Recording Technology Lab
AND
MUSC 219
Studio Recording