New media studies major in the mix for next spring
A media studies major is in development as an expansion of the existing cinema and media studies minor, with the proposal to be submitted to the University Committee on the Undergraduate Curriculum in March. If approved, classes for the major would become available in spring 2026.
Lida Oukaderova, an associate professor of art history and film and co-director of media studies, said that the department had always considered developing the minor into a major, but needed more faculty to make it happen.
Martin Blumenthal-Barby, professor of German and film studies and co-director of media studies, said he agreed with Oukaderova that more faculty was needed before the major was developed. The arrival of Michael Dango, an associate professor of English, and Hayley O’Malley, an assistant professor of art history, enabled them to start expanding the major, according to Blumenthal-Barby.
“They came with expertise in those fields, and that basically was the moment where the dean felt we really have enough people now,” Blumenthal-Barby said. “It’s nationwide. It’s one of the fields in the humanities that’s actually growing.”
Additionally, Oukaderova said the construction of Sarofim Hall for the Department of Art could provide facilities for production classes.
The proposal is scheduled to be submitted to the CUC in March to undergo comments and revision before final approval by faculty, according to Oukaderova.
“[It will probably] go through the [Faculty Senate] approval in the fall, and then we hope it would start in the spring semester,” Oukaderova said.
The major would require two introductory courses in film studies and media studies, with three possible tracks: cultural theory, film history and production, Blumenthal-Barby said. The department is still in the process of deciding whether these tracks would be formalized.
The current cinema and media studies minor does not have a production component or require any courses in filmmaking or media development. The major would expand on the existing minor to be broader and more applicable to the job market.
“We need to respond to the fact that students are understandably concerned with what they will do after graduating,” Blumenthal-Barby said. “The idea is not exclusively, but among other things, to offer something that will allow people to work in certain industries in the job market, such as journalism, media and so forth.”
A hands-on capstone experience would also be required for the major, such as an internship, making a short film, podcast or other product.
“We also think it’s extremely important to have hands-on experience to be able to have a career in media,” Oukaderova said.
Oukaderova and Dango hosted a discussion with humanities students interested in the major Feb. 20, where they asked for opinions on the major and took suggestions for classes and structure.
Emaline Davis, a Will Rice College sophomore, attended the discussion and said she would be interested in taking the major as soon as it became available with an emphasis on film production.
“I applied as a [visual and dramatic arts] major and like right when I got here, they were like, ‘Actually, we don’t have that anymore. You’re an art major now,’” Davis said. “I’ve been waiting for them to create something like this, because I’m more interested in film, and the new art major does not have that specialization.”
Oukaderova took notes throughout the discussion and said she values student input as the department works to finalize the proposal.
“It was so inspiring to see how [students said] ‘More production courses, more theory, give us psychoanalysis’ because Rice is still a pretty strong tech school, a lot of students here focus on STEM fields, understandably so,” Oukaderova said. “We hope that there are committed core students who are deeply interested in [the major] and who take the classes not because it’s a Distribution I requirement, but because they’re really committed to that content.”
Oukaderova said she views the major as necessary because media is completely woven into everyday lives, and media literacy is crucial to interacting with the world.
“Even for students who don’t necessarily want to work in media-related fields, I imagine it would entice interest to just understand, on a deeper level and from a historical perspective, what it means to live in a media-saturated world, and what kind of responsibilities you carry as a person, as a citizen,” Oukaderova said.
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