BA in Communications Curriculum (Media Studies)
Students majoring in Communications/Media Studies must meet the following requirements for graduation:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| Required School of Communications core courses 2 | ||
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| School of Communications Requirements | ||
| Global Issues and Cultures: select two courses | 6 | |
| Additional courses outside the major or minor, at the 200 level or higher | 6 | |
| Seminars for Success | ||
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Required Media Studies Courses | ||
| MSS 131 | Media Innovators | 3 |
| MSS 332 | Media Research Methods | 3 |
| MSS 340 | Communications Law and Policy | 3 |
| MSS 495 | Capstone: Media Forecasting and Strategy | 3 |
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select four of the following, one of which must be a 400-level MSS elective: | 12 | |
| Media, History and Memory 3 | ||
| Is AI Taking Over? Disruption, Disinformation, and the Future Of Communication | ||
| Diversity in the Media (WGS 311) | ||
| Communication Technologies: Evolution and Impact | ||
| Media Users and Audiences (WGS 345) | ||
| Global Communication | ||
| Political Communication (PO 349) | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Sports, Media and Society (SPS 420) | ||
| Celebrity Culture | ||
| Media Critics and Influencers | ||
| Crime, Media and Culture | ||
| Popular Music | ||
| TV and Society: From Sitcoms to Streaming | ||
| Media Studies Seminar | ||
And/or any ADPR, FTM, GID, or JRN courses | ||
Other non–School of Communications courses with chair’s approval | ||
| Open electives | ||
| Complete 6 credits | 6 | |
| Minor Courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
All students must complete the 46 credits of the University Curriculum. Students majoring in Communications (Media Studies) will complete their Integrative Capstone Requirement within the major with MSS 495. In place of those credits, the student will select an additional unrestricted course in the University Curriculum.
- 2
Core must be completed by end of sophomore year.
- 3
MSS 220 can also be taken as a UC Humanities under Disciplinary Inquiry or under Part 1 or 2 of UC Personal Inquiry.
Minor Requirement
All students majoring in communications are required to take a minor (typically 18 credits) that will complement their career and/or personal interests. This minor can be from any program either within or outside the School of Communications. However, a student majoring in communications/media studies may not minor in media studies.