Minor in Media Studies
Overview
We are all consumers and creators of media, regardless of our background or field of study. It's crucial, however, to be able to critically engage with the content we take in, moving beyond our routine consumption. As a media studies minor, you will receive the training you need to thoughtfully analyze the stories being told through film and television. We will dive into visual style, media literacy and the cultural dynamics of media — dynamics that have the power to wield incredible influence in our society. The minor is offered upon the completion of 18 credits, 12 of which must be upper division.
Courses
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.
Mission
The Media Studies minor equips students to serve as observers and interpreters. We offer students a thorough grounding in the theory, research and practices of cinema and media arts. We begin with an understanding of the ancient arts and aesthetics inherent in storytelling. Students will learn the history of their discipline, developing the research skills and critical thinking necessary to recognize their position in relationship to critical junctures in cinema and other forms of the media.
Overview
In order to address the pervasiveness of media across multiple disciplines, the Media Studies minor is intended as a compliment to any major that foresees the integration of media into their future career goals. The unconscious influences are identified and analyzed so that students are equipped with the knowledge necessary to interact with media shrewdly and purposefully regardless of their field of study. This includes understanding psychological theories of perception, the impact of media technologies, the economic infrastructure of media, and the linguistic and communication theories of ideology and meaning-making.
By exploring media's sociological, rhetorical, aesthetic, literary and/or journalistic impact, the remaining elective classes allow for a student to examine the complex relationship between communication/media theories and a diverse set of individual, social and professional practices.
Curriculum Requirements
A Media Studies Minor is offered with the completion of 20 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| CNMA 101 | Introduction to Writing for Visual Storytelling | 3 |
| CNMA 104 | History of Cinema | 3 |
| or CNMA 105 | History of Television and Digital Media | |
| CNMA 280 | The Power of Media | 2 |
| COMM 254 | Communication Theories | 3 |
| Program Electives | 9 | |
| Select 9 upper-division credits from the following: | ||
| History of Film Music | ||
| Studies in Film Criticism 1 | ||
| Principles of Advertising | ||
| Themed Entertainment for an Immersive World | ||
| Mass Media Law and Ethics | ||
or JOUR 390 | Media Law | |
| Cinema and Media Arts Seminar 1 | ||
| Rhetoric of Media Studies | ||
| Rhetorical Criticism | ||
| Topics in Sociology 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 20 | |
- 1
This course may be taken for a maximum of 3 credits towards the Media Studies Minor's 9-credit elective requirement.