Media Theory & Criticism

The Media Theory and Criticism option is the scholarly arm of the Cinema and Television Arts department. This major grounds students in media history and theories of critical analysis. It prepares students intellectually to become cinema and television scholars who build an existing knowledge and contribute to the ongoing scholarly conversation. This major provides production majors with rigorous knowledge of cinema and television history that today's most accomplished filmmakers possess. Copious viewing for cinema and television content is a fundamental part of this major.

Graduates from the Media Theory and Criticism option often pursue Masters and PhDs. Our graduates have entered post-graduate programs at Chapman University, San Jose State, Cal Arts, among others. This major is ideal for those aspiring to be authors, historians, archivists, film festival and museum curators, educators, or work in development or distribution companies, such as Criterion.