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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Media and Screen Studies and Political Science, BA

Media and Screen Studies and Political Science, BA

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
      • School of Architecture
      • Art + Design
      • Communication Studies
        • Communication Studies, BA
        • Communication and Media Studies, BA
        • Communication Studies and Graphic and Information Design, BA
        • Communication Studies and Sociology, BA
        • Communication Studies and Theatre, BA
        • English and Communication Studies, BA
        • Human Services and Communication Studies, BA
        • Linguistics and Communication Studies, BA
        • Media Arts and Communication Studies, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and English, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and History, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Journalism, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Media Arts, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Philosophy, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Political Science, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Sociology, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Theatre, BA
        • Political Science and Communication Studies, BA
        • Business Administration and Communication Studies, BS
        • Computer Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Communication Studies and Speech-​Language Pathology and Audiology, BS
        • Health Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Media and Screen Studies and Theatre, BS
        • Music and Communication Studies with Concentration in Music Industry, BS
        • Political Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Argumentation and Law, Minor
        • Cinema Studies, Minor
        • Communication Studies, Minor
        • Digital Communications, Minor
        • Film Production, Minor
        • Human Communication, Minor
        • Improvisation and Storytelling, Minor
        • Media Screen Studies, Minor
        • Media Production, Minor
        • Oratory and Public Speaking, Minor
        • Political Communication, Minor
        • Rhetoric, Minor
        • Social Activism, Minor
        • Sports, Media, Communication, Minor
      • School of Journalism
      • Music
      • Theatre
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The Media and Screen Studies Program and the Department of Political Science offer a combined major in media and screen studies and political science. The combined major integrates the analysis, research, and production of traditional and emerging media along with courses on American government, comparative politics, international relations, and research methods.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA language requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath requirements Interpreting Culture (IC), Societies and Institutions (SI), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), and Ethical Reasoning (ER) are met through the major course requirements. 

NUpath requirements Creative Expression/Innovation (EI) and Difference and Diversity (DD) may be met through electives in the major.

NUpath requirements Natural and Designed World (ND) and Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ) must be met through general electives.

Media Studies Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Media and Screen Studies Common Requirements
MSCR 1220Media, Culture, and Society4
MSCR 1320Media and Social Change4
or MSCR 1420 Media History
Foundation Course
Complete one of the following:4
MSCR 1230
Introduction to Film Production
MSCR 2220
Understanding Media
Diversity or Globalization Course
Complete one of the following:4
MSCR 2325
Global Media
MSCR 2505
Digital Feminisms
MSCR 3392
Gender and Film
MSCR 3437
Media and Identity
Writing-Intensive
Complete two of the following:8
MSCR 2505
Digital Feminisms
MSCR 3420
Digital Media Culture
MSCR 3422
Media Audiences
MSCR 3600
Film Theory
MSCR 3700
Queer Media
MSCR 4208
TV History

Media and Screen Studies Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete three courses from MSCR or from the following (NUpath capstone recommendation: Complete MSCR 4623 as one of your MSCR electives if a political science capstone is not taken for a political science elective):12
ARTD 2380
Video Basics
ARTD 3480
Video: Sound and Image
ARTD 3485
Experimental Video
COMM 1450
Sound Production for Digital Media
COMM 2550
Television Field Production
COMM 2655
Television Studio Production
COMM 3655
Digital Editing for TV
COMM 3750
Special Effects and Postproduction for Television
COMM 4755
Production Capstone

Political Science Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
POLS 1150American Government4
POLS 1155Comparative Politics4
POLS 1160International Relations4
POLS 2400Quantitative Techniques4
Political Thought
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 2325
Ancient Philosophy and Political Thought
POLS 2328
Modern Political Thought
POLS 2330
American Political Thought
POLS 2332
Contemporary Political Thought
Politics in Media/Art
Complete two courses. Consult academic adviser for additional courses.8
POLS 2368
Music and Politics in America and Abroad
Elective Courses
Complete two POLS courses or complete a concentration.8
NUpath capstone recommendation: Complete a POLS capstone course as one of your POLS electives if MSCR 4623 is not taken for a MSCR elective.

Political Science Concentration (Optional)

If you are working toward one of the following concentrations, declare it with your adviser so that it may be added to your record. 

  • American Political Institutions
  • Campaigns and Elections
  • Comparative Politics
  • Identity, Culture, and Politics
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Law and Legal Studies
  • Public Policy
  • Security Studies

Integrative Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
MSCR 3437Media and Identity4
or COMM 3320 Political Communication
POLS 3320Politics and Mass Media4

Media and Screen Studies Grade Requirement

No more than two grades below a C in media and screen studies courses may be used to satisfy degree requirements

Experiential Liberal Arts

All undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required


Concentrations

 

Concentration in American Political Institutions

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 3300
The U.S. Congress
POLS 3302
Judicial Process and Behavior
POLS 3307
Public Policy and Administration
POLS 3310
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
POLS 3160
Campaign Strategy

 

Concentration in Campaigns and Elections

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
POLS 3160Campaign Strategy4
POLS 3302Judicial Process and Behavior4
Campaigns and Elections Electives
If POLS 4947 was replaced by a co-op or internship, an additional elective must be taken.
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 2345
Urban Policies and Politics
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 2355
Intergovernmental Relations
POLS 3310
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
POLS 3320
Politics and Mass Media
POLS 3304
Presidential Nominating Process

 

Concentration in Comparative Politics

Course List
Code Title Hours
Theoretical Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 2370
Religion and Politics
POLS 3418
Nationalism
POLS 3430
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
Regional Requirements
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 3465
Government and Politics in the Middle East
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 4915
Model Arab League
POLS 4918
Model NATO
POLS 4937
Dialogue of Civilizations: Government and Politics Abroad

 

Concentration in Identity, Culture, and Politics 

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Course
POLS 3418Nationalism4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 2368
Music and Politics in America and Abroad
POLS 2370
Religion and Politics
POLS 2375
Gender and Politics
POLS 3309
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Public Policy
POLS 3324
Law and Society

Concentration in International Relations and Diplomacy

Course List
Code Title Hours
Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 4910
Model United Nations
POLS 4915
Model Arab League
POLS 4938
Dialogue of Civilizations: International Politics Abroad
Core Courses
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 3405
International Political Economy
POLS 3406
International Law
POLS 3408
International Security
POLS 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict

Concentration in Law and Legal Studies

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 2330
American Political Thought
POLS 3300
The U.S. Congress
POLS 3302
Judicial Process and Behavior
POLS 3324
Law and Society
POLS 3406
International Law
POLS 3409
Global Governance
POLS 4500
U.S. Constitutional Law
POLS 4505
U.S. Civil Liberties

 

Concentration in Public Policy

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Requirement
POLS 3307Public Policy and Administration4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 2335
Budgeting and Taxation
POLS 2340
Business and Government
POLS 2345
Urban Policies and Politics
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 2357
Growth and Decline of Cities and Suburbs
POLS 2390
Science, Technology, and Public Policy
POLS 2395
Environmental Politics and Policy
POLS 3425
U.S. Foreign Policy

 

Concentration in Security Studies

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 3408
International Security
POLS 3420
U.S. National Security Policy
POLS 3423
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
POLS 3425
U.S. Foreign Policy
POLS 3430
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations

Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
MSCR 10001MSCR 1320 or 14204Foreign Language4Elective4
MSCR 12204POLS 11554Elective4Elective4
POLS 11504MSCR foundation4  
ENGW 11114Foreign Language4  
Foreign Language4   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 11604Co-opCo-opElective4
POLS 24004  Elective4
MSCR diversity/globalization4   
MSCR elective4   
EEAM 20001   
 17 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Political thought elective4MSCR writing-intensive4Elective4Co-op
MSCR writing-intensive4Politics in media/art elective4Elective4 
MSCR elective4MSCR elective4  
POLS 33204POLS elective4  
 16 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-opPolitics in media/art elective4  
 POLS elective4  
 Elective4  
 MSCR 3437 or COMM 33204  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 130
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