Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 Academic Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Academic 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 LINKS MAY NO LONGER BE ACTIVE AND CONTENT MAY BE OUT OF DATE!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


The Media Studies major requires the completion of 11 courses, 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:


One course in media theory:


A senior seminar:


Senior Exercise applicable to major concentration.

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


Film/Video


Digital/Electronic Media


Critical Studies


  • One additional media theory course, as listed above. One of the two required media theory courses must be MS 147 PO or MS 149 PO, Topics in Media Theory I or II.
  • 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:

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 will complete MS 190  JT 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. The Senior Project course will count toward the four electives required for the major. The Senior Thesis (MS 191  SC) must be completed in the spring semester. Students selected to attempt honors will enroll in MS 191H SC - Honors Senior Thesis in Media Studies . For the thesis (MS 191  SC or MS 191H  SC), 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  SC or MS 191H  SC will count as one of the four electives required for the major.

Film/Video and Digital/Electronic:


Students in this concentration will fulfill the requirements for MS 190  JT in the fall of their senior year. During this course film/video and digital/electronic concentrators 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  Senior Project in Media Studies. Spring projects will be supervised by two members of the Media Studies faculty or appropriate affiliated faculty members from the Claremont Colleges. MS 192 SC Senior Project will count toward 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. Spring enrollment will be in ID 191D 

Honors in Media Studies:


A Scripps student who wishes to graduate with honors in Media Studies must achieve a minimum grade point average of 11.0 (A-) in the major, be selected to participate in the second-semester Senior Project or Honors Senior Thesis, and earn grades of A or A- in both first and second semester senior exercise courses.