The American Culture and Media Arts major combines faculty and courses from the American Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts and the Film and Media Arts Department in the School of Communications and Theater. Students can choose this major from either school. Majors will develop critical thinking skills relating to an understanding of the place of film, television, photography and print media in our society. They will also develop skills in historical and contemporary research. Graduates can also pursue advanced training at the graduate level in documentary film production.
Students examine both the history and the emerging future of communication technologies.
Media Production - the writing, editing, and producing of work in radio, television, and new technologies, particularly for commercial, corporate, and instructional programs distribution. Media Organization and Management - business practices and strategies for mass media and telecommunications institutions, industries, and professional enterprises. Media Institutions - the history, economics, law, regulation, and policy pertaining to the broadcast, cable, and new technology industries. Media and Social Processes - the psychology, sociology, cultural analysis, and politics of the mass media, particularly in terms of their impact on everyday life. Both theory and practice are balanced and integrated into all areas of study in Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and Mass Media so as to allow students to become well-rounded communications professionals as well as knowledgeable media consumers.