Students of media literacy apply critical thinking skills in analyzing the source of much of our information: the media. The emphasis in media literacy consists of the following areas of study: an awareness of the impact of the media on the individual and society; an understanding of the process of mass communication; the development of critical approaches with which to analyze and discuss media messages; an awareness of media content as a “text” that provides insight into our contemporary culture and ourselves; an awareness of the depiction of diverse groups within a culture by the media; and the cultivation of an enhanced enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of media content.

Successful graduates of this program will be able to: * demonstrate comprehension and knowledge of basic media literacy concepts; * use industry-standard terms and concepts in communicating media literacy ideas; * apply media literacy concepts to a variety of media; * express media literacy concepts and develop arguments in writing; * conduct original media literacy research; * analyze and synthesize media literacy concepts; * evaluate application of media literacy concepts.