Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Scripps Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Scripps Catalog THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. LINKS MAY NO LONGER BE ACTIVE AND CONTENT MAY BE OUT OF DATE!

Media Studies Major


Requirements for the Major


A major in Media Studies requires a minimum of 11 courses including senior seminar (MS 190 JT), with a concentration in Film/Video, Digital/Electronic Media, or Critical Studies.

All Media Studies majors will complete the following courses. Courses listed as fulfilling each requirement are subject to change, and other courses may be counted toward those requirements with the approval of the IMS curriculum committee.

One introductory critical/theoretical course


  • MS 049  Introduction to Media Studies at SC, PZ, or PO 
  • MS 050  Introduction to Film Studies at PZ or PO, or LIT 130 CM  
  • MS 051  Introduction to Digital Media Studies at SC, PZ, or PO

A senior seminar


Senior Exercise applicable to major concentration.

Each student will also complete one of the following six-course concentrations


Film/Video


  • One intermediate or advanced film/video production class.
  • One additional course n media history, as listed above.
  • Four appropriate electives, drawn from the list of all approved courses.

Digital/Electronic Media


Critical Studies


  • One additional media theory course as listed above. One of the two required media theory courses must be MS 148A PO .
  • One additional course in media history as listed above.
  • Four appropriate electives, drawn from the list of all approved courses.

Critical Studies: Film Studies Option


Students desiring an emphasis in Film Studies should follow the Critical Studies track, tailoring their major by selecting the following courses:

One introduction critical/theoretical course

One introduction production course

Senior Exercise


All Media Studies majors must take the thesis- and project-based senior seminar (MS 190 JT) jointly taught during the fall semester by faculty from each of the concentrations. This seminar asks students to bring together the various aspects of their course of study. Scripps students will complete the senior sequence based on their track (Critical Studies, Film/Video or Digital/Electronic) detailed below.

Critical Studies (or Critical Studies: Film Studies option)


Students in this concentration must complete MS 190 JT Senior Seminar in Media Studies  in the fall of their senior year. Critical Studies students will work on a significant writing project that may be used in conjunction with their senior thesis. This course fulfills the Scripps Senior Exercise requirement for students in the critical studies track. Selected students will be allowed to attempt honors in the spring by enrolling in MS 191 JT Senior Thesis in Media Studies . For the thesis (MS 191 JT), two readers will be required: one must be a member of the Media Studies faculty or affiliated faculty; the second reader may be from an appropriate discipline that reflects the content or theme of the work (e.g., history, literature, a foreign language, gender and women’s studies, and so forth); one of the two readers must be a Scripps faculty member.  MS 191 JT will count as one of the four electives required for the major.

Film/Video and Digital/Electronic


Students in this concentration must complete MS 190 JT Senior Seminar in Media Studies  in the fall of their senior year. During this course, seniors concentrating in film/video and digital/electronic will complete an approved project (film, video, printed matter, installation, etc.) and a major paper about their work. This course fulfills the Scripps Senior Exercise requirement for students in the film/video and digital/electronic tracks. Selected students will be allowed to attempt honors in the spring by enrolling in MS 192 JT   Senior Project & Paper in Media Studies. Spring projects will be supervised by members of the Media Studies faculty from the Claremont Colleges. MS 192 JT Senior Project will count as one of the four electives required for the major.

Dual Majors


Students combining Media Studies with a second major intending to complete a single senior thesis (or honors thesis/project) must integrate the skills and knowledge of both disciplines. The thesis (or honors project/thesis) must be cooperatively reviewed, read and graded by one faculty reader from each discipline; one of the two readers must be a Scripps faculty member. Dual majors may pursue honors in either or both majors. Fall or spring thesis enrollment (depending on the discipline of the other major) will be in ID 191D .

Honors Requirements


A Scripps student who wishes to graduate with honors in Media Studies must:

  1. Achieve a minimum grade point average of 11.0 (A-) in the major;
  2. Be selected to participate in the second-semester Senior Project or Senior Thesis; and
  3. Earn grades of A or A- on their fall and spring thesis projects.

The main website for Intercollegiate Media Studies webpage can be found at https://www.pitzer.edu/ims/