Media Studies Major

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 050 PZ Introduction to Film    or LIT 130 CM Introduction to Film   
• One introductory production course: MS 082 PZ Introduction to Video Art    or ART 148 SC Introduction to Video Art   
• One media theory course: MS 147 PO Topics in Media Theory I or MS 149 PO Topics in Media Theory II
• One course in film theory such as: LIT 103 HM Third Cinema ; LIT 138 CM Film and Mass Culture  ;LIT 139 CM Film Theory ; MS 046 PZ Feminist Documentary ;MS 074 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
• Two film history courses: LIT 131 CM Film History I (1925-1965)  and LIT 132 CM Film History II (1965-Present)  
• Four appropriate film-oriented electives from among the list of all approved courses, including:

• LIT 103 HM - Third Cinema
• LIT 131 CM - Film History I (1925-1965)
• LIT 132 CM - Film History II (1965-Present)
• LIT 138 CM - Film and Mass Culture
• MS 046 PZ - Feminist Documentary
• MS 074 PZ - Sound Theory, Sound Practice
• MS 110 PZ - Media and Sexuality
• MS 197 PZ - Media Praxis

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:

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

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