Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication

The Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication will help you build the critical and collaborative skills needed for a wide range of career paths—from public relations to screenwriting, and social media marketing to graphic design for film and television.

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Arts

Program Types

• Undergraduate, Major, Minor

Mode of Study

• On Campus

Department

• Media and Communication

School / College

• College of Arts and Sciences

What is a media & communication degree?

The media & communications degree immerses you in the world of media theory and practice. The program begins with foundational courses in media theory, followed by advanced classes that refine your skills in spoken, written, and visual storytelling. You will gain hands-on experience in a variety of areas, including literary journalism, AI-assisted writing, documentary filmmaking, and web design. Additionally, you can tailor your upper-level coursework to align with your individual career aspirations and interests, preparing you for diverse roles in the dynamic field of media and communications.

Why should you major in media & communication at Redlands?

Majoring in Media & Communication at Redlands will equip you with skills for problem-solving and innovation in a range of contexts. Through a mixture of hands-on experiences you will gain historical and cultural perspectives, and critical awareness essential for success in a connected and rapidly changing world. As a graduate of the program, you will demonstrate reflective self-awareness as both a maker and consumer of media, and as an engaged citizen who can communicate empathetically and productively with others.

Classes you'll take

MECM is an interdisciplinary program, offering MECM-specific courses but also incorporating cross-listed courses from a range of departments, for a total of 40 credits minimum. Students are trained in media literacy and visual competency through engagement with diverse methodologies and develop transferable skills that will position them to be effective and responsible producers and consumers of media in the network age.

To view specific classes, program requirements, and coursework information, visit the current university catalog.

The major consists of 40 credits minimum, including the following required elements:

Core (2 courses/8 credits)

• All majors complete:
  • MECM 101 Introduction to Media and Communication (4), usually before the junior year
  • MECM 211 Screen Genres (4) OR MECM 261 Critical Approaches to Media (Topics) (4), usually before, and not later than, spring of the junior year

Production (1 course/4 credits)

• Relevant courses include:
  • MECM 202 Visual Storytelling (4)
  • MECM 203 Screenwriting (4)
  • ART 235 Introduction to Photography (4)
  • ART 252 Introduction to Graphic Design (4)
  • CS 103 Introduction to Multimedia (4)

Electives (5 courses/20 credits)

• In addition to cross-listed courses offered regularly or semi-regularly (see below), a list of electives for each semester is posted on the MECM pages on the university website and is available on request from the program office or the director. Students must work with their advisors to draw from the lists of approved courses to ensure their experience in the major encompasses an appropriate breadth of content and methodology, ideally including courses that address: media forms; theoretical and historical approaches to visual communication, and media cultures, and media/visual culture in global perspectives.

Capstone experience (2 courses/8 credits)

• The two-course capstone sequence begins in the junior year and is completed in either spring or fall of the senior year.

Why should you minor in media and communication at Redlands?

Minoring in Media & Communication will give you an introduction to the basics of the subject. This is a flexible minor that can be shaped to enhance your major through the consultation of the Media & Communication program director.

The minor consists of 4 courses/20 credits, including the following required elements:

• MECM 101 Introduction to Media and Communication (4)
• MECM 211 Screen Genres OR MECM 261 Critical Approaches to Media (Topics) (4)

What you'll learn

• Media analysis
• Contextual reflection
• Power dynamics
• Project development

Graduates pursue careers in

• Media planning
• Broadcast journalism
• Public relations
• Content creation

A faculty of mentors

Every Redlands faculty member is an active practitioner in their field. The classes they teach emerge from their unique research and practices, and they’re passionate about what they’re sharing.

Faculty Members

• Piers Britton
• Leslie Brody
• Ross Conkey
• Heather King
• Priya Jha
• Hongwei Lu
• Kathryn Tucker
• Bill Southworth
• Tim Seiber
• Kelly Hankin
• Nancy Carrick