• MDST 3944

    Avenger, Victim, Outsider: Women in 1990s Cinema
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    Last Taught

    Fall 2026

    This course examines some of the most important American films and cinematic innovations of the 1990s and combines some crucial cultural, political, and historical events (e.g. third-wave feminism, discourse of race and ethnicity in the wake of the Rodney King case) with the representation of women across different cinematic genres. Attention will be paid to the rise of female filmmakers such as Julie Dash, Jane Campion, and Kathryn Bigelow.

  • MDST 4960

    Advanced Independent Projects in Media Studies
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    Last Taught

    Fall 2026

    This course is designed to allow students to pursue independent research and study of a topic that is not contained within the course offerings of Media Studies. This course will not fulfill the capstone requirement

  • MDST 8004

    Master's Thesis Development
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     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2026

    Students meet as a cohort to translate their intellectual interests into a specific thesis project through iterative development, critique, and refinement of their research questions and proposed methods. Students will read and critique published work, gaining a sense of best practices in research design. This course is heavily reliant on peer feedback and collaboration. The culmination of this class is a thesis proposal.

  • MDST 8026

    Tutorial in Media Theory
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    Last Taught

    Fall 2026

    Examines foundational and contemporary developments in media and cultural theory.

  • MDST 8600

    Media Studies Pedagogy
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    Last Taught

    Fall 2026

    Focuses on strategies for teaching media (screenings, using media in class, production). Uses pedagogical strategies like backwards course design, universal design for learning, and enhancing diversity. Covers FERPA, Title IX, and other university policies. Assignments include designing, presenting, feedback on lesson plans, assignments, and syllabus design.

  • MDST 8998

    Non-Topical Research
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     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2026

    This is a variable credit course that gives students the opportunity to do supervised or unsupervised research toward their degree. These hours fulfill enrollment credits but do not count toward graded credit requirements.

  • MDST 9000

    Colloquium
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     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2026

    The graduate colloquium builds an intellectual community and offers professionalization opportunities. Students learn the field, norms of scholarship, and the variety of research topics and approaches through presentations by faculty and visiting faculty. Advanced students will have the opportunity to present and hone research projects, course plans and lectures, and receive feedback on teaching and application materials, formal research talks, and interview practices.