Experiential learning is an essential component of a student’s study in the Program in Media Studies, whether through coursework in Media Production and Applied Research or in the Media Studies Senior Workshop, which invites majors to synthesize their coursework while simultaneously pursuing an applied project, either: (1) a critical research project; (2) a creative project (such as launching a podcast or directing a documentary); or (3) an internship or placement in a local community organization. The mix of critical, creative, and applied projects will allow the expertise and interests of students to influence one another.
Beyond coursework, the Program in Media Studies partners with other offices on campus and other organizations throughout Houston and the world to develop engaged opportunities for students. At Rice University Student Media, students DJ on the local radio, produce Rice’s yearbook and newspaper, and take advantage of our podcast studio—experiences enriched by the historical and theoretical context provided by the academic study of media. Through the Center for Civic Leadership, students are matched with media-related community organizations for paid internships, capstone experiences, alternative spring breaks, and more.
The Program in Media Studies also oversees the Critical Media Lab, which brings together students in a course that operates as a research team pursuing a specific question. Topics include the empirical study of how representations of climate change affect audience perceptions and how media genres adapt to new constellations of activist discourse.