MCST Major Planning WorksheetMedia Studies Minor Planning Form

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Media and Cultural Studies Major | Media Studies Minor

General Distribution Requirement

Courses numbered MCST 110, MCST 247, MCST 248, MCST 249MCST 252, MCST 256MCST 268MCST 275MCST 276MCST 278MCST 279MCST 284MCST 315MCST 342 and count toward the requirement in humanities. Courses numbered MCST 114, MCST 126MCST 281, MCST 321MCST 357, and count toward the requirement in social science. Course MCST 128 and MCST 232 meet the distribution requirement in the fine arts.

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and U.S. identities and differences will be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester.

Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.

Topics Courses

MCST 194, MCST 294, MCST 394, MCST 494 

Recent examples include: Environmental Issues and the Media; Politics of Difference; Cultural Studies of the U.S./Mexican Border; Art & Ideas in French Culture: Female Artistic Expression and Feminism in France. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)

Independent Study

The department offers independent study options in the form of tutorials, independent projects, internships, preceptorships and Honors independent projects. For more information contact the department and review the Curriculum section of the catalog.

Media and Cultural Studies Major

Major Requirements

Four courses are required of all majors, including the introductory course, MCST 110 - Texts and Power: Foundations of Media and Cultural Studies, which covers the history of cultural analysis, broadly defined, from traditional to contemporary approaches, providing students with a foundation in major writings and acquainting students with issues of continuing debate in media studies. Completion of or enrollment in MCST 110 - Texts and Power: Foundations of Media and Cultural Studies is required for admission into the major program. Students must also take MCST 128 - Film Analysis/Visual Culture, MCST 126 - Local News Media Institutions or MCST 202 - Global Media Industries, and MCST 488 - Advanced Topics Seminar, in which students work on an independent project in line with the theme of the seminar and share their scholarship with a scholarly community, integrating what they have learned in the major. The capstone experience involves close analysis of cultural artifacts that examine at a higher level issues first raised in the introductory course. In exceptional cases, students with sufficient preparation may take the seminar prior to their senior year.

The major also requires one advanced course in media/cultural theory, two courses on race or gender/sexuality and the media, one course in analyzing or making media, and two approved electives in media studies.

Media Studies Minor

Minor Requirements

A minor in media studies requires MCST 126 - Local News Media Institutions or MCST 202 - Global Media Industries, plus four other courses in media studies approved by the department chair.