Media Studies
Requirements for a Concentration
Requirements for a Minor

Overview
The Media Studies concentration focuses on the role media plays in our daily lives. Students choose a variety of courses which help them understand and appreciate the history and development of media forms and the role that media plays in our personal and professional lives as well as the role of media in society. Theory courses encourage students to understand issues of law, ethics and social responsibility as they pertain to media. Writing-intensive and other applied courses provide a template for skill enhancement, both in the classroom and in the field.

The College has a strong tradition in preparing graduates for careers in print media, ranging from newspapers and magazines to literary journals. In recent years, the concentration has expanded to include popular disciplines (such as public relations and visual media) into the program. A primary emphasis by faculty is to enhance the holistic learning skills (inherent with a liberal arts perspective) and provide an avenue to cultivate professional reporting and editing skills. New courses will eventually broach cultural and applied concepts in new media, including methods of online research and introductory methods of graphic design and strategies.

The College's Student Media Center provides hands-on opportunities to work in print media, broadcast and magazines. Many of the Lowcountry's television affiliates, radio stations and print publications provide internships and/or job opportunities. A number of majors have gained experience in public relations through a four-course sequence, and several local PR firms and organizations offer internships.

Several classrooms are customized for professional learning opportunities, such as smart rooms with Internet capability, and computer classrooms for editing, writing and reporting classes. Desktop publishing is available in the Communication Department computer classroom, as well as many student labs. Students are encouraged to utilize technology, but the major emphasis is on the power of communicating, both to inform and to persuade.