Media Studies Major

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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. The courses listed below as fulfilling each requirement are examples of current and recently offered courses. The IMS website lists current course offerings including course descriptions and what major requirement offered courses meet. In limited circumstances, other courses may be counted toward those requirements with the approval of the major advisor.

One introductory critical/theoretical course such as

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

One introductory production course such as

One course in media history such as

One course in media theory such as

A senior seminar

Senior Exercise applicable to major concentration.

MS 190 JT - Senior Seminar in Media Studies

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 in media history.
Four appropriate electives, drawn from the list of all approved courses.

Digital/Electronic Media

One intermediate or advanced digital/electronic production class.
One course in twentieth or twenty-first century art history.
Four appropriate electives, drawn from the list of all approved courses.

Critical Studies

One additional media theory course as listed above. One of the two required media theory courses must be in MS 147 PO - MS 149 series.
One additional course in media history.
Four appropriate electives, drawn from the list of all approved courses.

Critical Studies students also have the option of a sub-focus Film Studies

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

MS 50 PZ or LIT 130 CM, Language of Film

MS 82 PZ or ART 148 SC or MS 182s HM, Introduction to Video Art

MS 147 PO, MS 148 PO, or MS 149 PO

One course in film theory such as: LIT 103 HMC, Third Cinema; LIT 138 CMC, Film and Mass Culture; LIT 139 CM, Film Theory; MS 46 PZ, Feminist Documentary Production and Theory; MS 72 PZ, Women and Film; or MS 76 PZ, Gender and Genre; MS 48 PZ, Media Ethnography/Autobiography; MS 74 PZ, Sound Theory, Sound Practice; MS 110 PZ, Media and Sexuality; MS 197 PZ, Media Praxis in Ontario; or ARHI 141B PO, Africana Cinema: Through the Doc Lens

LIT 131 CM, Film History I (1925-1965) and LIT 132 CM, Film History II (1965-Present)

Three appropriate film-oriented electives drawn from the listof all approved courses

Senior Exercise

All Media Studies majors must take the senior seminar (MS 190 JT). Students may choose to take the seminar in either the fall and spring semesters. Scripps students will complete capstone project based on their track (Critical Studies, Film/Video or Digital/Electronic) detailed below. Scripps students must have a Scripps faculty as either first or second reader for their project.

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 or spring 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.

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.

Dual Majors

Students combining Media Studies with a second major intending to complete a single senior thesis must integrate the skills and knowledge of both disciplines. The 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:

Achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.67 in the major.
Earn a grade of A or A- on their thesis project.
Be nominated for honors by IMS faculty.

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