Department of Media Studies
Department of Media Studies

The Media Studies Major

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php

THE MEDIA STUDIES MAJOR:

Completion of the Media Studies majors required undergraduates complete ten (10) courses as outlined below. Students participating in the Distinguished Majors Program must complete twelve (12) courses. Students must earn a C+ or above in all classes that count toward the major. The bulk of your major must be completed in the Media Studies Department. You are allowed to take any Practice Media course on our List of Approved Practice of Media Courses. Of your four (4) electives in addition to Practice of Media, only two (2) may be study abroad, transferred from another US institution, or courses from other departments at UVA. One (1) class must be from our Approved List of Diversity & Inclusion Courses. Your 4510 capstone must be a Media Studies course taught by a member of our faculty. All courses from outside the department (including study abroad) must be on our approved lists or approved by the Director of Undergraduate Programs prior to being accepted toward the major.

TAKING A COURSE OUTSIDE THE MEDIA STUDIES DEPARTMENT:

All required courses must be taken at UVA and taught by a Department of Media Studies faculty member. These include:

  • MDST 2000: Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDST 3050: History of Media
  • MDST 3504: Topics in Global Media
  • MDST 3510: Topics in Media Research
  • MDST 4510: Capstone Topics

If you see a course in another department at the 3000 level or higher with a media focus that you would like to have count toward the major, you can have it evaluated by submitting the course syllabus and the Request to Have a Course Outside of Media Studies Count as an Elective form. If you would like a transfer credit from a US institution to count toward the major, use this form to make the request. William Little - wgl2h@virginia.edu - is the Department Contact. You must attach proof that you received at least a C+ in all courses you want counted toward the major.  A list of Previously Approved Outside Classes is available. You can also look on the List of Approved Practice of Media Courses and the Approved List of Diversity & Inclusion Courses for more options.

MEDIA STUDIES MAJORS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING COURSES:

  • MDST 2000 - Introduction to Media Studies (prerequisite-students are strongly encouraged to complete this class prior to applying to the major)
  • MDST 3050 - History of Media (should be taken in a student's 3rd year)
  • MDST 3504* – Topics in Global Media (must be taken from a Media Studies faculty member)
  • MDST 3510* - Topics in Media Research (should be taken in a student's 3rd year)
  • MDST 4510* - Capstone Topics (should be taken in a student's 4th year)
  • Five (5) Electives (15 credits). Elective requirements are as follows:
    • One (1) Practice of Media Course from approved list.*
    • One (1) Diversity and Inclusion Course from our approved list of courses. The Capstone (4510) and Research (3510) classes may fulfill the D&I requirement, however, students are still required to have four (4) electives in addition to the Practice of Media Elective.
    • Three (3) open electives at the 3000 level or above.
      • At least two (2) of the four (4) electives must be taught by MDST faculty (or affiliated faculty).
      • Most Practice of Media courses above the 3000 level do not count as an electives. See the Undergraduate Catalog for greater detail.

*If a MDST major takes a second topic of a core course (3504/3510/4510), the second course can count as a general Media Studies Elective.

STUDENTS ADMITTED TO THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORS PROGRAM (DMP) MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING IN ADDITION TO THE COURSES LISTED ABOVE:

  • MDST 3000 – Theory and Criticism of Media (3 credits)
  • MDST 4000 – Media Theory and Methods (this substitutes for MDST 3510)
  • MDST 4010 – Distinguished Majors Thesis Writing or Research Project (3 credits)