Mar 15, 2025  
Undergraduate Record 2023-2024 
    
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Undergraduate Record 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Media Studies

Return to: College of Arts & Sciences: Departments/Programs  

Prerequisites

Before being accepted into the Major in Media Studies, students are required to complete MDST 2000 (exceptions are made only at the discretion of the Chair of the Department of Media Studies or Director of Undergraduate Programs and only when logistically necessary). Students must apply to the major. If admitted, students are accepted into the major in the spring semester of their second year or the summer prior to their third year. Students in their third and fourth years cannot apply to the major. The application is a competitive process that takes into account the applicant’s GPA and application essay, as well as other factors.

Application Information

Applications must be completed in the spring semester (normally that which coincides with the student’s fourth semester) or in the summer (normally that follows the student’s fourth semester). Deadlines will be posted in the Media Studies Department office and on the web (http://mediastudies.as.virginia.edu/); the deadline will be on or about March 1st and August 1st.

The application consists of overall GPA; the listing of grade(s) for all Media Studies classes taken, in particular MDST 2000, and a short statement of purpose that answers the question: what are your intellectual goals in media studies? This should not be a list of courses to be taken, but an outline of intellectual goals to be achieved through course work in the field of media studies. A statement such as “I like to watch films” is insufficient; however the following formulations, accompanied by a description of the means to achieve these goals, would be sufficient: “I’m interested in the evolution of the studio system,” or “I want to trace the relationship between notions of intellectual property and Internet law.” 

The admissions committee will complete their review and notify students by or around March 15. All accepted students must declare the Media Studies major within a stated time frame in order to reserve a place in the major.

Requirements

Academic Standards: Every course that a student wishes to apply toward the major must be passed at a 2.3 (C+) grade or above. Students who are unable to maintain these academic standards will be put on probation by the Media Studies department for one semester. Students who are not able to raise their grade point averages in the subsequent semester will be asked to leave the major.

Transfer Students: Students transferring to UVa and interested in pursuing the Media Studies major must complete MDST 2000 in their first fall semester at UVa. Second year transfer students will be able to apply to the major in the Spring semester of the second year. Third year transfer students must apply to the major in the summer leading to the third year. Exceptions are made only at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Required Courses

Majors in Media Studies are required to take the following courses:

Elective Requirements

Students are required to complete five (5) Electives (15 credits). Elective requirements are as follows:

  • One (1) Practice of Media Course from the approved list.*
  • Four (4) electives at the 3000 level or above.
    • At least two (2) of the four (4) upper-level electives must be taught by MDST faculty (or affiliated faculty).
    • A Practice of Media course taken outside the department will not count as an upper-level elective.
    • Within the four (4) electives, students must complete one (1) Diversity and Inclusion Course from the approved list of courses below, 3000 level and above.

Practice of Media Approved Course List

Diversity and Inclusion Approved Course List

Concentration in Media Ethics and Policy

Media Studies majors have the option of concentrating in the general area of Media Policy and Ethics by selecting at least three of their upper-level electives from the below list of approved courses that consider major issues in media policy or media ethics. Any other courses that a student seeks to count toward the concentration must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Programs.

Concentration in Film Studies

Media Studies majors have the option of concentrating in the general area of Film Studies by selecting five (5) courses from a list of approved courses.  These courses must include:

  • One (1) Film Studies core course, from approved list below.
  • One (1) Practice of Media course applicable to film, from approved list below. Note that only one Practice of Media course can be applied to the Major and thus that the Practice of Media course for the film concentration will be the only one that counts toward the major.
  • Three (3) Film Studies electives at the 3000-level or above, from approved list below.

Any other courses, including cross-listed courses, which a student might wish to have count toward the concentration, must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Programs.

Film Studies Core Course Requirement

Students must complete one of the following courses:

Practice of Film Requirement

Students must complete one of the following Practice of Film courses. 

Note: Only one Practice of Media course can be applied to the Major and thus the Practice of Film course for the film concentration will be the only one that counts toward the major. 

Approved Film Studies Elective Course List

Students must complete three (3) Film Studies electives at the 3000-level or above from the following list of courses.

Internships in Media Studies

Students who wish to pursue an internship in Media Studies for credit may do so by seeking approval from the Director of Internships prior to the internship. Students who have been approved for internship credit must enroll in  MDST 3800 - Field Experience in Media Studies  during the semester of their internship or during the semester immediately following their internship (i.e., a student interning in the summer of 2021 may enroll in MDST 3800  that summer or in Fall 2021). MDST 3800  is a 1-credit course restricted to Media Studies Majors that does not count toward the major requirements.

Distinguished Majors Program in Media Studies

 

Prerequisites and Application

Students with superior academic performance are encouraged to apply for the Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) in Media Studies in which they write a thesis or complete a substantial creative portfolio with appropriate documentation demonstrating independent study of high quality. An application is required for entrance to the DMP. Students must apply in the second semester of their second year by the deadline posted on the Media Studies website. The application process is highly selective and takes into account the applicant’s GPA, application essay, as well as other factors. Once accepted, the student will be assigned a faculty advisor who will guide the student in the preparation of her or his degree plan, in the selection of courses, and who will help the student with all matters related to her or his intellectual pursuits. Prior to applying, students are expected to have complete MDST 2000: Introduction to Media Studies. Exceptions to these pre-requisites are made only at the discretion of the Director of the Media Studies Distinguished Majors Program.

Requirements

Media Studies DMP students are required to take the following courses:

  • Credits: 3 to 4
  • Credits: 3
  • Credits: 3
  • Credits: 3
  • Credits: 3
  • Credits: 3
  • Credits: 3

  • DMP students must also complete five (5) MDST electives at the 3000 level or above. The five (5) electives must include courses that fulfill the following criteria:

    • One (1) Practice of Media Course from approved list (Practice of Media course list provided above).
    • One (1) Diversity and Identity Course from approved list (Diversity and Inclusion course list provided above).

     

    * DMP students may count a second Practice of Media course as an elective.

     

    Students will choose their electives in consultation with their faculty advisor and the Director of the Media Studies DMP. These courses must constitute a plan that furthers the student’s special interest(s). In some cases, and in consultation with the faculty advisor, students may be encouraged to register for MDST 4010 both semesters of their fourth year.

     

    DMP students are expected to earn at least a 3.000 (B) in each MDST course applied to the Distinguished Majors Program and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.400 (A-) per university policy. Students who are unable to maintain these academic standards will be put on probation by the Media Studies department for one semester. Students who are not able to raise their grade point averages in the subsequent semester will be asked to leave the DMP but may continue as a Media Studies major provided they meet the minimum requirements for that major.

     

    Depending on their performance in the DMP, students are eligible to graduate with Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction, and such a designation will be reflected on their diplomas.

Additional Information

For more information, contact the department at:
P.O. Box 400866, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4866, Phone: (434) 243-8855 Fax: (434) 243-8869,
Media Studies Director of Undergraduate Programs, https://mediastudies.as.virginia.edu

Course Descriptions