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. The concentration also includes electronic and visual media. 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.

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 multi-course sequence, and several local PR firms and organizations offer internships. Students in the media studies concentration also have completed internships in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and other leading media markets.

Several classrooms are customized for professional learning opportunities, such as smart rooms with Internet capability, and computer classrooms for editing, writing, reporting and production courses. A variety of software packages are available in computer classrooms, as well as in many student computer labs. Students are encouraged to utilize technology, but the major emphasis is on the power of communicating, both to inform and to persuade.