Nov 28, 2024  
2020-21 College of Liberal Arts 
    
2020-21 College of Liberal Arts [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Critical Media and Cultural Studies Major


Meet the Faculty

The “critical” in critical media and cultural studies stems from our commitments to: 1) critical thinking, 2) critical theory’s analysis of social systems and the distribution of power and inequality, and 3) critical issues in our world today, including climate change, poverty, war, and mass incarceration. We ground our program in values of equity, human rights, and social justice.

Skills we hone in CMC include:

  • Deep thinking and analysis
  • Application of theory
  • Synthesis of research findings
  • Written communication
  • Media production, including proficiencies in photo, sound, and video editing
  • Oral communication and discussion facilitation
  • Collaborative learning
  • Multicultural understanding and competence
  • Social action, advocacy, and change

CMC aims to cultivate a community of intellectually curious, socially aware, and politically engaged citizens who can critically read media and cultural texts and produce effective oral, textual, and mediated arguments.

Each major will work with a CMC faculty advisor to create an area of concentration tailored to that student’s interests and goals, culminating in a semester-long senior capstone documentary project.

Major Requirements


Three five-semester-hour courses; seven four-semester-hour courses; and one of the following:

  • a CMC-congruent experience (e.g., course or internship) as part of a semester-long study-abroad program,
  • an approved CMC internship (see the Career and Life Planning website for a list of those pre-approved for CMC),
  • significant service to campus media as defined by the student’s CMC faculty advisor,
  • a community engagement (CE) course.

At least eight courses–including all core courses–must be taken at Rollins.

Core Course Requirements


Elective Course Parameters


  • Each student will take no fewer than six four-credit (or equivalent) electives.
  • At least three must have a CMC prefix.
  • At least three must be at the 300-level or above.
  • At least three must be thematically congruent with the student’s area of concentration to provide background knowledge for the student’s senior capstone project.
  • At least one faculty-advisor-approved course for the major must be taken outside of CMC.

Sample Areas of Concentration and Representative Classes