Specialization in Media and Cultural Studies – Bachelor of Arts in Media

Students on Summer 2018, Fall 2018, or Spring 2019 requirements MDAS17

Requirements

The specialization requires at least 9 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.

Media and Cultural Studies. Three (3) courses:
- MSCH-A 315 Advertising and Consumer Culture
- MSCH-D 337 Digital Media and Society (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-D 413 Global Screen Cultures (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 309 Images of War and Peace in Public Culture
- MSCH-F 311 History of Media and Culture
- MSCH-F 336 Using Popular Culture (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 375 Race, Gender, and Representation (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 391 Media Audiences (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 392 Media Genres (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 398 National and Transnational Cinemas (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 420 Topics in Media History (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 445 Media, Culture, and Politics (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-H 410 Honors Media as Social Institutions
- MSCH-J 360 Journalism Topics (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions
- MSCH-J 460 Advanced Journalism Topics (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-T 410
- MSCH-V 334 Current Topics in Media
- MSCH-X 478 Field Experience in Media (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- AMST-A 200 Comparative American Identities (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
MSCH-A 315 Advertising and Consumer Culture
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Critical examination of advertising's role in modern societies. Focuses on marketing and consumption as central activities in shaping personal identity and social relations.
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE SHcourse
MSCH-D 337 Digital Media and Society

Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Develops frameworks for understanding new media technologies in social contexts. Compares computing, networked digital media, and social media to prior eras of technological change, focusing on interactions among technological, industrial, regulatory, social, and cultural forces.
MSCH-D 413 Global Screen Cultures
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Covers electronic media\'s role in altering perceptions of time, space, locality, and identity. Explores changing economic, political, and cultural relations in the global media environment. Topics vary and may include global media events, trans-border information flows, cultural differences in media forms and practices.
Repeatability
May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE SHcourse
MSCH-F 309 Images of War and Peace in Public Culture
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Examines the cultural contestation of images of war and peace with a focus on the materiality of political images in a variety of verbal, visual, and acoustic media across a range of cultural forms such as film, literature, art, public memorials, and political texts.
Repeatability
May be repeated when the focus is on a different country or region for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 311 or MSCH-F 309.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE AHcourse
MSCH-F 311 History of Media and Culture
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Historical development of media forms, institutions, and technology, from the origins of writing to digital media. Attention to characteristics of media, changes in media's role as a cultural force, transformations to media institutions, and the role of media in the development of public discourse. Considers continuity and change over time.
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE SHcourse
MSCH-F 336 Using Popular Culture
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Critical exploration of the form, content, and uses of popular culture in everyday life.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 336 and MSCH-F 336.
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE SHcourse
MSCH-F 375 Race, Gender, and Representation
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Construction of race and gender identities across a range of media. Emphasis on the power of sound/image representations to shape and contest ideas about race and gender. Topic varies.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 412, JOUR-J 375, or MSCH-F 375.
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE SHcourse
MSCH-F 391 Media Audiences
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Studies audiences in the context of film, television, new media, and other media forms. Topic varies, but may include a focus on theories of spectatorship, historical reception studies, ethnographic and/or empirical audience studies, global or transnational audiences, Internet communities, performance theory, fan cultures, and subcultures.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 391 and MSCH-F 391.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE AHcourse
MSCH-F 392 Media Genres
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Topic varies. Analysis of typical genres, such as westerns, situation comedies, documentaries, etc. Problems of generic description or definition: themes, conventions, iconography peculiar to given genres.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 392 and MSCH-F 392.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE AHcourse
MSCH-F 398 National and Transnational Cinemas
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Historical survey of major national cinemas. Subject varies. Topics include Brazilian cinema, British cinema, Chinese cinema, French National cinema, German film culture, Indian cinema, and Italian cinema.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 398 and MSCH-F 398.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE AHcourse
MSCH-F 420 Topics in Media History
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Media historiography, topics in national media history, national and international movements and trends. Topic varies.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 420 and MSCH-F 420.
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE SHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE SHcourse
MSCH-F 445 Media, Culture, and Politics

Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Examines the role of media in the political process. Topic varies and may include censorship and free speech, social movements, politics of representation.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMCL-C 445 or MSCH-F 445.
MSCH-H 410 Honors Media as Social Institutions
Credits
3
Prerequisites
C- or higher in MSCH-H 300 or MSCH-J 300; must be a current MSCH honors student
Description
Examines functions and impact of mass media in society with primary focus on the United States. Discusses values of media organizations and professional and ethical values of journalists. Includes critical analysis of the relationship between media and society and the effect of political, economic, and cultural factors on media operation.
Repeatability
Credit given for only one of MSCH-H 410, MSCH-J 410, JOUR-H 410 or JOUR-J 410
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE AHcourse
MSCH-J 360 Journalism Topics

Credits
1–4 credit hours
Prerequisites
None
Description
Focuses on emerging trends in journalism. Topics vary.
Repeatability
May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 enrollments and 18 credit hours in JOUR-J 360 and MSCH-J 360.
MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions
Credits
3
Prerequisites
C- or higher in MSCH-C 251 and MSCH-J 300 and junior or senior standing; or consent of instructor
Description
Examines functions and influences of news and public relations professionals in a networked society with primary focus on the United States. Analyzes professional and ethical values of journalists and public relations practicioners working in a digital, participatory media environment. Critical analysis of the relationship of media institutions and society, and the effects of political, economic, and cultural factors on media professionalism.
Repeatability
Credit given for only one of JOUR-J 410 or MSCH-J 410.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE AHcourse
MSCH-J 460 Advanced Journalism Topics

Credits
1–4 credit hours
Prerequisites
At least junior standing; or consent of instructor
Description
Advanced seminar in journalism. Topics vary.
Repeatability
May be repeated for credit up to 4 times.

MSCH-V 334 Current Topics in Media

Credits
1–3 credit hours
Prerequisites
None
Description
Analysis of selected problems in media studies. Topics vary each semester.
Repeatability
May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

MSCH-X 478 Field Experience in Media

Credits
4
Prerequisites
Application for internship credit approved by the school
Notes
Application is available on the Media School website
Description
Topical course integrating classroom and field experience. Includes 10-day field experience during or after term offered. Field experience will change based on topic.
Repeatability
May be repeated for credit with different topics in JOUR-J 418, MSCH-J 418, and MSCH-X 478.
AMST-A 200 Comparative American Identities
Credits
3
Prerequisites
None
Description
Examines the formation of legal, social, cultural, and economic identities within the United States and within U.S.-controlled territories. Who counts as "American?" To what ends have citizens and non-citizens assumed, claimed, or refused "American" identity? This course employs a comparative frame in considering elite and subordinated classes (and/or genders, races, ethnicities, sexualities); institutional and countercultural forms of self-definition; official history and alternative acts of collective memory.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE AHcourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE AHcourse
- Fall 2026CASE DUScourse
  
  Summer 2026CASE DUScourse
  
  Spring 2026CASE DUScourse
Specialization GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
1. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the specialization.
2. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the specialization—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
3. Exceptions to specialization requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.