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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

Mode of Study

On Campus

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.

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
    II. PRODUCTION (1 course/4 credits from the following list, or others approved by the director)

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.

All majors complete MECM 396 Praxis/Method, which serves as the capstone’s threshold class and satisfies the first 4 credits, in the spring of the junior year. (NB. This course may be attended asynchronously by students studying abroad, but assigned work must be completed by the end of the spring semester.)

Based on the learning contract drawn up in MECM 396, there are several possibilities for the remaining 4 credits of the capstone experience during the senior year, as follows:

  1. Options for single majors –
    • MECM majors who have no second major have three paths to fulfilling the capstone requirement:
    • (a) complete MECM 495 Capstone (4) in the senior year, usually writing an undergraduate thesis
    • OR
    • (b) complete a 4-unit, 300- or 400-level MECM, ARTH, or cross-listed class (e.g. MECM 461, ARTH 365, ENGL 311), which, with approval of the instructor and MECM program director, forms the basis for the capstone
    • OR
    • (c) complete an advanced internship, MECM 480, which builds on a prior internship/practicum experience, and write an accompanying critical reflection on that experience, showing mastery-level engagement with program learning outcomes.
  2. Options for double majors –
    • MECM majors who also major in another field may either: (a) complete two separate capstone experiences; one in Media and Visual Culture (as detailed above)
    • AND one in the second major
    • OR
    • (b) where appropriate and feasible, write a shared capstone that integrates the student’s learning outcomes in both majors (with the director’s approval and that of the advisor and capstone instructor in the second major), with the Media & Visual Culture component reflected in the transcript either as MECM 495 or as the capstone in the second program (e.g. ENGL 420, BUS 458, HIST 490, POLI 495, REST 401 & 402, WGS 459), depending on the nature of the project.
    • Regardless of which of the foregoing options is selected, the capstone must focus substantively and centrally on media forms, representation, practices, organizations, ecologies, or theory and students must meet MECM program learning outcomes at the mastery level. In most cases other than Option 1(a) above, this will entail supplementary or extension writing above and beyond what is required by the course nominated as the basis for the capstone.

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. 

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

Electives: Students may shape the minor to enhance their major program and can do so in consultation with the director.

Undergraduate application deadlines
Spring 2025
November 1, 2024*
Fall 2025 - First Year
November 15, 2024 - Early Action
Fall 2025 - First Year
January 15, 2025 - Regular Decision*
Fall 2025 - Transfer
March 1, 2025 - Regular Decision*
Note
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after the deadline based on capacity.
Apply Now

What you'll learn

You will learn to interpret and create media texts using formal visual techniques and aural analysis skills, all while applying theoretical perspectives.
You will learn how to reflect on media and communication by comparing and interrelating texts within their production and consumption contexts.
You will learn to analyze how relations of power are represented and mediated through various interpretive methods and theories.
You will learn how to devise and execute a significant research or creative project that will include a substantial piece of writing that builds on prior academic work.
View catalog to learn more

What you'll learn

Mutiple media - Hall of letters room

Graduates pursue careers in

As a media planner, you will strategize and purchase advertising space to optimize campaign reach and impact.
As a broadcast journalist, you will report news and stories on television, radio, or online, keeping the public informed.
As a public relations specialist, you will build and maintain a positive public image for organizations through strategic communication.
As a content creator, you will produce engaging and compelling multimedia content for various platforms and audiences.

Graduates pursue careers in

Mutiple media - Graduate student athletes
100 %

of University of Redlands B.A. in Media and Communication graduates have successful outcomes within six months of graduation.

First Year Destination Survey, 2023

$ 73 k

average salary for media and communication occupations in 2024.

Market research from PayScale and Zip Recruiter

9 out of 10 ( 91 %)

Alumni shared they gained critical thinking skills from their degree.

NACM Alumni Career Mobility, 2022

Top 10

Best Universities in the West

U.S. News & World Report, 2023

Want to know more?

Get in touch with our admissions team.

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