Communication Major

Introduction, Writing, and Research (three courses)

• MDS 105 - Introduction to Media Studies (4 Cr.)
• MDS 232 - Writing for the Media (4 Cr.)
• MDS 262 - Research Methods in Media Studies (4 Cr.)

Intermediate (three courses required)

• MDS 310 - History of Photography (4 Cr.)
• MDS 316 - Making Sense of Popular Culture (4 Cr.)
• MDS 319 - History of Television and Radio (4 Cr.)
• MDS 323 - Media and the Environment (4 Cr.)
• MDS 327 - Media and Technology (4 Cr.)
• MDS 330 - Screen Styles and Genres (4)
• MDS 334 - Critical Analysis of Journalism (4 Cr.)
• MDS 337 - Media Criticism (4 Cr.)
• MDS 341 - American Cinema (4 Cr.)
• MDS 342 - World Cinema (4 Cr.)
• MDS 357 - Intercultural Communication (4 Cr.)

Advanced (three courses required)

• MDS 401 - Topics in Media (4 Cr.)
• MDS 405 - Topics in World Cinema (4 Cr.)
• MDS 415 - Social Media (4 Cr.) /DIG 410  
• MDS 417 - The Documentary (4 Cr.)
• MDS 421 - The Internet (4 Cr.)
• MDS 425 - Women and Film (4 Cr.)
• MDS 430 - Queer Film and Media (4 Cr.)
• MDS 435 - Global Media (4 Cr.)
• MDS 440 - Media and Politics (4 Cr.)
• MDS 499 - Independent Study (2 or 4 Cr.)
• DIG 412 - Digital Media Workshop (2 or 4 Cr.)
• DIG 415 - Screenwriting (4 Cr.)
• DIG 450 - Storytelling across Media (4)
• DIG 460 - Digital Video Production III (4 Cr.)

• Note: Only one 400-level DIG course can count toward the Advanced course requirement.

Internship (at least 2 credits)

• MDS 390 - Internship in Communication (0-4 Cr.)

Capstone Project (choose one option)

• DIG 497 - Capstone Project in Digital Arts (1-4 Cr.)
• MDS 499 - Independent Study (2 or 4 Cr.)

Writing Proficiency in the Major

To achieve writing proficiency in the Communication and Media Studies major, students must complete MDS 232  (WEC requirement) with a grade of C+ or better AND MDS 262  (WID requirement) with a grade of B- or better. To achieve this writing proficiency, students are expected to master the ability to

• write grammatically appropriate, syntactically sophisticated sentences and construct cohesive, effective paragraphs consistently and spontaneously;
• research and integrate information from multiple sources; and
• provide substantial and appropriate support for theses and propositions and demonstrate the correlating ability to develop and write well-reasoned arguments of merit in the field of media studies.

Students who fail to obtain writing proficiency in the major twice, will be dropped from the major.

Qualifications Required to Graduate with Honors

Honors are decided by a vote of the full-time and half-time faculty just prior to Commencement each year. The following guidelines are used to determine honors:

• Students must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.67 in all 200-, 300-, and 400-level courses taken in the major to be considered for honors.
• No student will be considered for honors who has taken any 200-, 300-, or 400-level course for the major beyond the 100-level pass/no pass, except for those courses that can only be taken on a pass/no pass basis (internship and applied video).
• Students must demonstrate via their course work and/or a capstone project a superior grasp of media theory, criticism, and/or history
• Students must complete a variety of rigorous courses in the major and should take courses from many of the full-time faculty.

Multiple Failed Courses

It is the department’s policy that majors receive at least a C- in every course taken toward the completion of the major. Any student who receives a grade below C- in more than two courses will not be permitted to continue in the major.