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The Media School

Concentration in Media Science (Bachelor of Arts in Media)

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements MDAC05

Media Science courses develop skills and competencies necessary for creating and distributing more effective media messages. This makes the concentration (and the specialization in Media Research in particular) useful for those interested in careers including message production, developing and distributing persuasive media (e.g., advertising and public relations), message testing and audience research, media management, marketing, consulting, sales and others. The concentration is also well-suited to those students interested in pursuing graduate work in media research. Students completing the Media Science will be well-positioned to work in a number of media and non-media related fields.

Requirements

The major requires at least 36 credit hours (12 in the Media Core, 15 in the Concentration, and 9 in the Specialization), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Media School Core.
    1. Introduction to Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 101 Media
    2. Managing Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 207 Introduction to Media Industry and Management
    3. Thinking Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 213 Introduction to Media Psychology
    4. Making Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 220 Game Technology
      • MSCH-C 221 Writing for Electronic Media
      • MSCH-C 223 Introduction to Design and Production
      • MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I
  2. Concentration.
    1. Media Science Courses. Four (4) courses:
      • MSCH-C 255 Introduction to Media Audience Measurement
      • MSCH-S 312 Politics and the Media
      • MSCH-S 315 Media Processes and Effects
      • MSCH-S 317 Children and Media
      • MSCH-S 348 Audience Analysis
      • MSCH-S 351 Methods in Media Psychology
      • MSCH-S 410 Sex in the Media
      • MSCH-S 451 Topical Seminar in Media Psychology (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
      • MSCH-S 452 Communicating Climate Change
      • MSCH-S 471 Applying Theory to Media Design
    2. Elective. One (1) additional course:
      • MSCH-S 312 Politics and the Media
      • MSCH-S 315 Media Processes and Effects
      • MSCH-S 317 Children and Media
      • MSCH-S 348 Audience Analysis
      • MSCH-S 351 Methods in Media Psychology
      • MSCH-S 410 Sex in the Media
      • MSCH-S 451 Topical Seminar in Media Psychology (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
      • MSCH-S 452 Communicating Climate Change
      • MSCH-S 471 Applying Theory to Media Design
      • MSCH-V 334 Current Topics in Media (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
      • MSCH-V 490 Capstone Seminar in Media
    3. Additional Requirements.
      • At least nine (9) credit hours in the concentration must be at the 300–499 level.
      • Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the concentration.
      • A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the concentration—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
  3. Specialization. One (1) Media Specialization from the list below.
    • Recommended Specializations: Health Communication; Media Persuasion and Behavior; Media Research; Sex, Gender, and Media; or Media and Diversity
  4. One (1) Media Specialization (see list below)
  5. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the MSCH prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
  • Any course, consistent with the policies herein, that is part of a concentration, track, and/or specialization being pursued as part of this academic program
Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:

  • No common exclusions

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (JOURBAJ)
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts (CINEARTBFA)
  • Bachelor of Science in Game Design (GAMEDSGNBS)
  • Certificate in New Media and Interactive Storytelling (NMISTACRT1)
  • Minor in Black Cinema and Media Studies (BLKCNMDMIN)
  • Minor in Cinema and Media Studies (CNMDASTMIN)
  • Minor in Film Production (FILMPRDMIN)
  • Minor in Game Design (GAMEDSNMIN)
  • Minor in Global Media (GLVMDIAMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Creative Advertising (MDCRADMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Diversity (MDIADIVMIN)
  • Minor in Media Law and Ethics (MDLWETMIN)
  • Minor in Media Persuasion (MDIAPRSMIN)
  • Minor in Media, Sex and Gender (MDGNDRMIN)
  • Minor in Public Relations (PBLCRELMIN)
  • [Name unavailable] (NMISTACRT)
  • [Name unavailable] (FAMEDIAMIN)
  • [Name unavailable] (SPORTMDMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.