Requirements
The specialization requires at least 9 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Media and Diversity. Three (3) courses:
- MSCH-F 309 Images of War and Peace in Public Culture (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 326 Authorship in the Media (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-F 375 Race, Gender, and Representation
- MSCH-F 377 Cinemas of the Black Diaspora
- MSCH-F 398 National and Transnational Cinemas (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-J 360 Journalism Topics (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-J 460 Advanced Journalism Topics (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- MSCH-X 478 Field Experience in Media (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
- AAAD-A 330 African American Cinematic Experience
- AAAD-A 359 Ethnic/Racial Stereotypes in American Film
- AAAD-A 430 The Cinema of Africana Women
- AAAD-A 447 Race, Crime, and Media
- LATS-L 302 Latinos in the Media
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 AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourseSpring 2026CASE AHcourse
MSCH-F 326 Authorship in the Media
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Topic varies: in-depth analysis of directors, producers, or creative individuals in the media, viewed as 'authors.'
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourseSpring 2026CASE AHcourse
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 SHcourseSummer 2026CASE SHcourseSpring 2026CASE SHcourse
MSCH-F 377 Cinemas of the Black Diaspora
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines filmmaking in the black diaspora as a formally innovative visual and narrative art form in world cinema. Studies select films for their political and cultural significance and shared themes. Topics include colonialism and postcoloniality; race, gender and sexuality; migration and exile; modernity; and the dislocating processes of globalization.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourseSpring 2026CASE AHcourse
- Fall 2026CASE DUScourseSummer 2026CASE DUScourseSpring 2026CASE DUScourse
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 AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourseSpring 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 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-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.
AAAD-A 330 African American Cinematic Experience
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines the historical and contemporary portrayals of African Americans in Hollywood and in independent narrative film focusing on the social and political functions of film, its legitimization of race, and its oppositional formations, interventions, and practices. Considers how film mediates and interrogates race and social relations in American society.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourseSpring 2026CASE AHcourse
AAAD-A 359 Ethnic/Racial Stereotypes in American Film
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- A study in cross-cultural stereotyping as evidenced in the film medium. Analysis of Native American, Asian, black, Hispanic, and Jewish groups. Features, shorts, and animations screened to illustrate the "classic" stereotypes of each group and to demonstrate their impact on American society.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourseSpring 2026CASE AHcourse
- Fall 2026CASE DUScourseSummer 2026CASE DUScourseSpring 2026CASE DUScourse
AAAD-A 430 The Cinema of Africana Women
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Historical and critical overview of films produced by African American women from the 1940s to the present. The course emphasizes how black women filmmakers combine their creative abilities with a desire to capture dominant issues that affect black women's lives in America.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourseSpring 2026CASE AHcourse
AAAD-A 447 Race, Crime, and Media
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Focuses on crime reporting in America, addressing the question of whether or not the media distort the picture of crime. In particular, this course explores the mass media treatment of African Americans in the coverage of crime.
LATS-L 302 Latinos in the Media
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores the complex relationship between mainstream media constructions of Hispanics and the Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban migrations to the United States.
- Fall 2026CASE DUScourseSummer 2026CASE DUScourseSpring 2026CASE DUScourse
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourseSummer 2026CASE SHcourseSpring 2026CASE SHcourse
- Specialization GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the specialization.
- 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.
- 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.