Curriculum

Major in Media Arts and Studies

Requirements: Students majoring in Media Arts and Studies must complete a minimum of 40 credit hours, distributed as follows:

Foundation Courses (16 credits)

COM 1500 Survey of Mass Communication (3 credits)
COM 1600 Introduction to Audio-TV-Film Production (3 credits)
COM 1610 Fundamentals of New Media Production (3 credits)
COM 2010 (VP) (CI) Introduction to Film (4 credits)
COM 2210 Media Writing and Storytelling (3 credits)

History and Analysis Courses (Pick Two 6 credits)

COM 3010 (WI) Media Analysis and Criticism (3 credits)
COM 4560 (WI) Telecommunications Policy (3 credits)
COM 5010 History of Communication Technologies (3 credits)

Production Courses (Pick Two 6 to 7 credits)

COM 3380 Editing and Field Production (3 credits)
COM 4310 Audio Production (3 credits)
COM 4410 Television Production (4 credits)

Capstone Course (Pick One 3 to 4 credits)
Senior level capstone course should be taken in the last year of study.

COM 5400 Techniques of Film-Video Production (4 credits)
COM 5510 Societal Effects of New Technologies (3 credits)

Elective Courses (Pick Three - 9 credits)

COM 5020 Studies in Film History (3 credits, max 12)
COM 5060 Documentary & Non-Fiction Film & TV (4 credits)
COM 5270 Screenwriting (for an additional 4 credits)
COM 5384 Topics in Prod Design & Theory (3 credits, max 6)
COM 5390 Digital Animation (3 credits)
COM 5420 Director's Workshop (3 credits, max 6)
COM 6190 Internship (1-3 credits)
COM 6310 Allesee Lectures in Media (1 credit, max 3)
COM 6410 Allesee Master Class (1-3 credits, max 6)
COM 6680 Directed Projects in Film & Media (1-4 credits)
AFS 3200 African-American Cinematic Exp (4 credits)
AIN 2220 Video Art (3 credits)
AIN 3220 Computer Art (3 credits)
AIN 4220 Computer Animation (3 credits)
APH 2400 Introductory Photography (3 credits)
APH 2410 Beginning Photography (3 credits)
APH 2420 Digital Imaging I (3 credits)
APH 3410 Intermediate Photography (3 credits)
APH 3420 Digital Imaging II (3 credits)
APH 4410 Advanced Photography (3 credits)
ENG 3040 Major Works of World Cinema (4 credits)
ENG 5040 Film Criticism and Theory (4 credits)
ENG 5050 Concepts in Film Studies (3-4 credits, max 12)
ENG 5060 Styles and Genres in Film (4 credits, max 12)
ENG 5070 Topics in Film (4 credits, max. 12)
GER 5350 Early German Film (4 credits)
ITA 5150 Italian Cinema Since 1942 (3 credits, max 9)
N E 2060 Israeli Film: Trends and Themes (3 credits)
SLA 3710 Russian and East European Film (3 credits)
SLA 3750 Polish and Yugoslavian Auteur Cinema (3 credits)

Important Reminders: Every course required to complete an undergraduate major in the Department of Communication must be completed with a grade of "C" (2.0) or better. This includes all transfer credit that may be applicable to the major programs. All students pursuing this major must complete the university's general education requirements as well as the Department of Communication foreign language requirement, which includes completion of a foreign language through the second semester. A minimum of 120 total credit hours is required to earn a Bachelor's Degree.

Advising: Careful planning is required to assure timely completion of the program. An advisor should be consulted as soon as you decide to enroll in the Media Arts & Studies program. All students are expected to follow the published curriculum for their major and to consult regularly with their advisor. Advising appointments can be booked online here.

Special Activities: Course work is only one part of your undergraduate education. Employers pay close attention to the types of activities applicants participated in as students. There are many valuable campus activities to choose from. You are encouraged to participate in such activities as student government, the student newspaper (South End) and the student radio station (WAYN). In addition, the Department of Communication sponsors the Wayne State University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), The Film and Media Group, as well as the nationally acclaimed forensics and debate teams.