Catalogs & Handbooks

Communication and Media Studies Major

Interdisciplinary Major

The Communication and Media Studies (CMS) program prepares students to become discerning media consumers, producers, critical thinkers, confident speakers, skilled writers, and creative storytellers. CMS is an interdisciplinary field that draws from programs and departments on campus to enable students to study a wide range of topics and develop critical academic and professional skills including media and information literacy; persuasive writing; public speaking; strategic communication; critical analysis; project management; and research design and execution.

CMS is a versatile and flexible major that pushes students to expand their understanding of human communication, culture, and social institutions. The knowledge, understanding, and skills students acquire in CMS prepares them for a wide range of opportunities after graduation--in grassroots organizations, non-profits, global media companies, political offices, legal professions, journalism, education, and everything in-between. CMS students critically assess information sources, address issues of representation and equity in media and communication systems, and learn to communicate effectively in a variety of media channels to a range of different audiences. These skills make our graduates not only exceptionally qualified for a wide variety of careers, but prepared to engage in the world thoughtfully and ethically, with a broad understanding of what it means to be a responsible global citizen. 

Distribution Credit in CMS

Student can complete their Humanities Distribution credit with CMS courses. Students taking one Humanities course can take CMS 101 Intro to Communication & Media Studies or CMS 201 Contemporary Popular Film & TV. Students who choose to take two Humanities courses must take both CMS 101 Intro to Communication & Media Studiesand CMS 201 Contemporary Popular Film & TV