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Table of Contents Academic Life Academic Regulations The Academic Programs International and Off-Campus Studies Special Programs Admissions and Financial Aid Life Outside the Classroom People Facts and Figures College Calendar |
Media studies New to the St. Olaf Catalog in 2001-02 Director, 2001-03: William Sonnega, Theatre The primary purpose of Media Studies is to promote media literacy and encourage students to become informed consumers and creators of media products and services. Students pursuing an interdisciplinary concentration in Media Studies in a liberal arts context take courses that survey the history of the mass media, the dominant theories and practices that shape media representation, and the effects of the mass media on individuals and groups. Media Studies courses are taught from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and are united by the assumption that informed media users are better able to exercise ethical judgment in determining which media are best for themselves, their families and communities, and society in general. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION With the approval of the program director, students will assemble individualized programs of study involving a total of five courses. A concentration consists of a common introductory course, Media Studies 160, plus three approved courses drawn from departments and programs across the curriculum, and an internship in a media-related field. MEDIA INTERNSHIP Students pursuing the Media Studies concentration enroll in and complete an internship in a media-related field, e.g., film, television, video, radio, Internet, newspaper, magazine, book publishing, journalism, public relations, marketing, advertising, or graphic design. An internship, for a semester, interim or summer term, may be undertaken at any time during a program of study. While students are responsible for securing personal internships, they should consult with the program director and Internship Director of the Career Development Center for addition information and guidance. COURSES 160 Mass Media This introductory-level course is part of a two-course sequence that encourages students to assess and shape their personal relationship to mass media. Its premise is that we are all, to some extent, uninformed and uncritical consumers of media projects and services rather than conscientious and socially minded users of them. In this spirit, the course provides a comprehensive historical overview of the various print and electronic media that have shaped, and continue to shape, our lives. By examining the issues that have influenced the development of the mass media, the course considers ideological, cultural, aesthetic and ethical perspectives. 260 Media and Contemporary Culture This course focuses on contemporary media, primarily film and television, from theoretical and critical perspectives. Primary emphasis is given to the specific identifying characteristics of news, advertising and entertainment media and to how those media serve as forums for cultural negotiation in our society. In particular, attention is paid to how media representations of race, class and gender presently exist as both products and producers of contemporary cultures. 294, 394 Internship 298 Independent Study 398 Independent Research APPROVED COURSES The following courses are offered annually or biannually: Additional courses that count for Media Studies may be offered on a periodic or one-time basis. Students interested in having a course approved for Media Studies should consult the program director.
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