Department of Media Studies

For more information about degree offerings by the faculty of media studies, visit the Department of Media Studies webpage.

The strong liberal arts orientation of the media studies program equips students for a variety of professional opportunities in communication as well as graduate study in communication, law, business administration, and other areas. With appropriately chosen electives, students can prepare themselves for careers in media studies, public relations, advertising, journalism studies, visual studies, and related fields.

The core courses in the major provide a strong background in communication, covering topics ranging from symbolic processes and systems to theories and philosophy of communication research. Majors also choose foundation courses that emphasize the larger social consequences of communication. Working with their advisors, media studies majors develop an emphasis in a particular area of the discipline. Media studies majors may, with the approval of their advisor, develop their own individualized emphasis.

Undergraduate Academic Programs

The faculty of media studies offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in media studies. Students pursuing a major in media studies typically choose the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Media studies majors who wish to choose the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree must petition the faculty chair for permission.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the undergraduate program in media studies will be able to:

1. Evaluate and critique abstract categories used in the study of media technologies, mediated messages, and mediated culture, and to use these categories in the analysis of empirical data or case studies drawn from modern or historical mediated forms.

2. Apply concepts of media studies methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, to rigorously critique and compare empirical studies of the media, or to construct their own empirical studies.

3. Effectively use writing to accurately convey their ideas, and to demonstrate the basic ability to think logically and critically, through their writing.

4. Demonstrate a basic competence in communicating ideas through oral presentations before a group of people.

5. Critique visual images with the use of fundamental theoretical concepts.

6. Be able to understand their lives within a wider media culture, to thoughtfully consider their responsibilities towards other people and the natural world, though the use of media and in the production of mediated messages, and to take appropriate and ethical actions based upon those considerations.

Faculty

Chair
Benjamin J. Peters

Associate Professors
Mark Brewin
Benjamin J. Peters

Assistant Professors
Emily Contois
Zenia Kish
Justin Rawlins

Programs

Major

Minor

Media Studies Minor

Courses

Media Studies