The Bachelor of Arts in media studies program emphasizes the creative and analytical skills needed to make sense of current and future trends in media, and to gain a deep understanding of the history and development of various means and forms of communication. 

Explorations of media theory, history, criticism, practices, popular culture, technology and emerging cultures are enhanced by practical training in media design, storytelling, digital art, online community engagement, documentary filmmaking and social media.

Requirements

Required Courses and Credits

 Students pursuing the BA in media studies complete 12 courses, for 36 credit hours. MDST requires an internship (3 credit hours; MDST 4931) in a field of the student's choice, and a capstone course (3 credit hours; MDST 4221 or MDST 4401), both usually completed in the senior year.

MDST Core
Required Courses
MDST 1001Foundations of Media Studies3
MDST 1002Introduction to Social Media3
MDST 2002Media and Communication History3
MDST 3001Media Research3
MDST 3002Digital Culture and Politics3
MDST 4221Media Technology and Cultural Change3
or MDST 4401 Fan and Audience Studies
MDST 4931Internship3
Students would then take six hours of Media Practice courses offered by MDST, other departments or programs in CMCI or departments outside CMCI. Courses meeting this requirement include: MDST 1003, MDST 2010, MDST 2011, MDST 2012, MDST 2031, MDST 2032, MDST 3341, MDST 4003, MDST 4071, MDST 4220, MDST 4331, MDST 4402, ATLS 1300, ATLS 2000, ATLS 2100, ATLS 2200, ATLS 2300, CMDP 2500, CMDP 2860, CMDP 2870, CMDP 3510, CMDP 3600, CMDP 3610, CMDP 3620, CMDP 3700, CMDP 3720, CMDP 3810, CMDP 3820, CMDP 3830, CMDP 3840, CMDP 3860, CMDP 4610, CMDP 4620, CMDP 4640, CMDP 4900, INFO 1111, INFO 1121, INFO 4602, JRNL 2001, JRNL 3102, JRNL 3552, JRNL 3614 and JRNL 3644.6
Electives/Areas of Concentration
Select three courses from any of the following (at least one must be upper division): 19
Media, Technology & Society
Media and Social Movements 2
Disruptive Entrepreneurship in the Internet's New Economies 2
Hacker Culture 2
Visual Literacies & Design 2
Future Histories of Technology
Comic Books: Culture and Industry
History of Computing and Information
Social Media Cultures
Sports-Media Complex
Designing Alternative Media Platforms 2
Media, Food and Culture
Media and Popular Culture
Crime, Media and Contemporary Culture
Deconstructing Disney: Mediated American Mythology
Media Technology and Cultural Change
Mass Communication Criticism 2
Gender, Race, Class, and Sexuality in Popular Culture
TV and the Family in American Culture and Society
Media and Religion
Islam, Pop Culture and Media
Fan and Audience Studies
Transmedia Worldbuilding 2
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
Undergraduate Independent Study
Special Topics
Global Media Industries & Culture
Introduction to Global Media
Media and Social Movements 2
Media, Culture and Globalization
Media Industries and Economics
Sports-Media Complex
Media, Food and Culture
Asian Media and Culture
Visual Culture and Human Rights
International Media and Global Crises
Media and Religion
Islam, Pop Culture and Media
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
Undergraduate Independent Study
Special Topics
Advocacy, Entrepreneurship & Social Change
Critical Media Literacies 2
Truth, Beauty, and Conspiracy
Media and Social Movements 2
Disruptive Entrepreneurship in the Internet's New Economies 2
Hacker Culture 2
Documentary and Social Change 2
Media Industries and Economics
Designing Alternative Media Platforms 2
Media, Food and Culture
Media and Popular Culture
Media and the Public
Digital Media Production and Design 2
Writing for Screens 2
Viral Video & Media 2
Youth Media: Culture and Politics
MDST 4405
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
Undergraduate Independent Study
Special Topics
Self-Designed Concentration
Undergraduate Independent Study
Special Topics
Total Credit Hours36

Secondary Area of Study

In addition to coursework required for the major, all students in MDST must complete a secondary area of study outside of MDST. This secondary area of study can be met by any of the following: a minor, a second major within CMCI, a double degree or any credit-based certificate program of at least 12 credit hours. 

Sample Four-Year Plan of Study

This sample plan of study is one possible approach to completing degree requirements and that students should use their degree audit and work with their academic advisors to plan classes.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) or CMCI Elective (3)  
MDST 1001 Foundations of Media Studies 3
Quantitative Thinking 3
WRTG 1160 or other first year writing course 3
 Credit Hours9
Spring Semester
CMCI Elective (3) or CMCI 1040: Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication, and Information (4) 3
MDST 1002 Introduction to Social Media 3
CMCI Core Computing 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
MDST 2002 Media and Communication History 3
CMCI Core (Natural World) 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 7
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
Media Practice course 3
CMCI Core (Natural World w/Lab) 4
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
MDST 3001 Media Research 3
Media Practice course. Courses meeting this requirement include: MDST 1003, MDST 2010, MDST 2011, MDST 2012, MDST 2031, MDST 2032, MDST 3341, MDST 4003, MDST 4071, MDST 4220, MDST 4402, MDST 4311, ATLS 1300, ATLS 2000, ATLS 2100, ATLS 2200, ATLS 2300, CMDP 2500, CMDP 2860, CMDP 2870, CMDP 3510, CMDP 3600, CMDP 3610, CMDP 3620, CMDP 3700, CMDP 3720, CMDP 3810, CMDP 3820, CMDP 3830, CMDP 3840, CMDP 3860, CMDP 4610, CMDP 4620, CMDP 4640, CMDP 4900, INFO 1111, INFO 1121, INFO 4602, JRNL 2001, JRNL 3102, JRNL 3552, JRNL 3614 and JRNL 3644 3
CMCI core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 6
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
MDST 3002 Digital Culture and Politics 3
MDST Electives 6
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
MDST 4221 or MDST 4401 capstone course 3
Area of Media Concentration 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 3
Secondary Area 6
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
MDST 4931 Internship 3
CMCI Core or elective (P/S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) 9
Secondary Area 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours116

Learning Outcomes 

Upon completing the program, students will have:

  • Awareness of communication and power within and across networks.
  • An understanding of the historic and contemporary systems of inequity across social identities, nationalities, socioeconomic class and the role of media, communication and information in both creating and addressing them.
  • Competence to conduct research using at least one method appropriate to media research.
  • The ability to produce compelling and effective problem-solving in their given fields.