How can a student obtain approval for a course to be applied toward the Media Studies major?

Most of our prerequisites may be completed at 2-year or other 4-year institutions. If you think you’ve completed one of these courses at a California Community College, log on to http://www.assist.org to be sure. If you took a course elsewhere, you will need to have its equivalency determined by one of the faculty advisors: Jean Retzinger, 335 Campbell, or Marina Levina; 347 Campbell.
Bring your transcripts and the following documents: a syllabus for Media Studies 10 and upper division courses; for lower division prerequisites, bring a copy of the college catalog description.

When may I apply to the major?

Only in fall and spring semesters during the adjustment week before classes start and also during the first full week of each month in the semester. These dates are posted on the website before the start of the semester.

Can AP units substitute for one (or more) of the pre-requisites?

No. The pre-requisites for the major must be satisfied with approved (articulated) classes taken for a letter grade.

How many classes may I take from another department as electives in the Media Studies major?

Because we are an interdisciplinary major, we do not allow more than 2 courses from any other department or program on campus (e.g. Psychology, Sociology, UGBA, American Studies, etc) to be counted as electives for the Media Studies major. We believe that students benefit from the different perspectives/theoretical lenses afforded by taking courses in various disciplines and wish to encourage more rather than less diversity in their studies.

Can you help me to get into an elective course for the major offered by other departments?

No

How many EAP courses may be counted towards completion of major requirements?

There is no cap on the number of courses taken abroad that may count as Media Studies electives.

What are the benefits of the double major?

Although we are an interdisciplinary major and students may already take courses from other departments, many Media Studies majors find it beneficial to declare a double major. A double major is reserved for students demonstrating academic excellence. L & S notes that, "To complete a major in two different fields of study is an exceptional achievement. Perhaps no other undergraduate endeavor offers such a challenge, or promises comparable breadth and depth of intellectual experience." Media Studies majors have declared double majors with a broad range of disciplines from Political Science, Sociology, and History to Economics, Public Policy, and Public Health among others.

How many units may be earned for an internship and what are the requirements for earning these units?

Students may enroll in MS 199: Supervised Independent Study for either 1 or 2 P/NP units. The University does not allow more than 16 units in total from 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, or 199 courses.

The units earned are based NOT on the number of hours worked or tasks performed in the internship. Instead, units are based on the essay assignment for MS 199. For 1 unit of P/NP credit, students must write a 5-page essay, employing a single concept presented in a Media studies class. The essay should define the concept and illustrate it with observations or experiences gained from the internship. For 2 units of P/NP credit, students must write a 10-page essay, choosing 2 or 3 concepts and defining and illustrating each. Essays must include a Works Cited page.

Will internship units count towards the 30 units required for the major?

No. MS 199: Supervised Independent Study units will only count towards the 120 units needed for graduation.

Who is eligible to earn academic units for an internship?

Declared Media studies majors. Students who held an internship during the summer are eligible to earn units retroactively in the fall for their summer internship.
To enroll in MS 199, students should obtain the assignment prompt and a Course Entry Code (CEC) from Dr. Retzinger during the opening weeks of the semester.

What steps should I take in preparation for study abroad to find courses that may be applicable as Media Studies electives?

Once you have decided on the school you will be attending and have access to their course offerings, you should print copies of the course descriptions for any classes you think might serve as Media Studies electives. Meet with a faculty advisor (Profs. Levina or Retzinger) to review these course descriptions.
Please note that faculty can only grant pre-approval to courses based on course descriptions. For final approval you will need to save course syllabi and bring them in to a faculty advisor for full review when you return to Berkeley from your study abroad program.

Will this major help me get a job in advertising or PR?

Our approach to media studies is theoretical and historical. We train students to be critical citizens and consumers of mass media. Therefore we do not provide practical training in advertising or PR. However, our majors have gone on to pursue various careers.

What have MS majors done after graduation?

Media Studies (Mass Comm.) graduates have found jobs within virtually every facet of media--from TV
(news and entertainment), film, radio, music industry, (magazine and book) publishing to the internet, as well as advertising, marketing, and PR. Other graduates have found positions in the
non-profit sector or in sales or management. Many students have gone on to earn professional degrees in law or journalism, while others have pursued graduate degrees in communication or related fields.

What advice do you have for students transferring to the major from other colleges or universities?

Students who wish to become Media Studies majors are urged to apply to Berkeley in the Fall U.C. application process. (Prospective students apply in November for admission the following fall.)

• At this point you should direct your questions to the advisors at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (642-3175) to be sure that you have completed the minimum requirements for transfer to the College of Letters and Science.

If you have completed freshman/transfer requirements and you meet their admission standards, you may be offered admission to the University as a prospective media studies major. When you arrive on campus the following fall you must join "native" Berkeley students in applying directly to the major program.

PLEASE NOTE: Admission to the department is an entirely separate process that follows admission to the University. Although University admissions tries to select students that appear to have a strong chance of successful application to the major program, admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the major. Students must apply to the major when they arrive on campus in the fall semester.

AFTER YOUR ARRIVAL AT BERKELEY . . .
Because we are a group major, our resources are restricted, and we can only accommodate a limited number of majors. Admission to the major is by special application, made to the department after your admission to Berkeley and your arrival on campus. Students who are interested in the major should consult with Marty Gaetjens, the Student Affairs Officer in 343 Campbell Hall early in their academic careers for advising on the application process. At the time of application, prospective majors should have completed at least three of the four prerequisite courses, including Media Studies 10. The final prerequisite must be completed or in progress at the time of application.

See also "Important Information for all Applicants" under Declaring the Major