Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Media Studies

Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in Media Studies

Upon completing the BA Degree with a major in Media Studies, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how cultural and economic forces have shaped the history of media production. 
2. Interpret works of media in both oral and written communication with a specialized vocabulary drawn from theoretical approaches relevant to media studies.
3. Interpret works of media in both oral and written communication with a specialized vocabulary drawn from theoretical approaches relevant to media studies.
4. Articulate their own position in a media landscape, with attention to how consumption and production are influenced by race, gender, class, and the environment.
5. Produce audiovisual content in at least one medium with an understanding of the medium’s history and affordances.

Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Media Studies

For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Media Studies must complete:

• A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
• A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
• A minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
• A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab. 

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Degree Requirements

Footnotes and Additional Information

Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements

Elective Requirements

To fulfill the remaining Media Studies major requirements, students must complete a total of 7 elective courses (21 credit hours) from the following three categories as listed below. At least 1 course (3 credit hours) must be selected from Film History and Aesthetics, at least 1 course (3 credit hours) must be selected from Media and Cultural Theory, and at least 1 course (3 credit hours) must be selected from Media Production and Applied Research. The remaining 4 courses (12 credit hours) can be selected from any category (Film History and Aesthetics, Media and Cultural Theory, or Media Production and Applied Research). Additionally, in order to fulfill the major requirements of 6 courses (18 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above, students should select 5 courses (15 credit hours) at the 300-level or above in the Elective Requirements.  

Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Media Studies

Program Restrictions and Exclusions

Students pursuing the major in Media Studies should be aware of the following program restriction:

• As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, students may not major and minor in the same subject.

• Students pursuing the major in Media Studies may not additionally declare the minor in Cinema and Media Studies.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities. 

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the major in Media Studies should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guideline:

• No more than 4 courses (12 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards major requirements.

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Media Studies website: 

Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Media Studies

Academic Honors

The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Media Studies website: