This interdisciplinary program (co-sponsored by American/Media Studies) will provide students with a foundational background in media literacy in Spanish, as well as the knowledge and skills necessary to create media content for both the conventional television industry and the new digital media ecosystem. Upon completion of this minor, students will be able to create Spanish-language media content in the fields of journalism, TV and podcast serial fiction, and documentary filmmaking based on a deep understanding of the connection between languages, cultures, and the communities they represent. This program will also provide an overview of research methods for Latinx and Spanish-language media activism to help organizations use media effectively to meet their objectives of social change. Students will acquire the applied skills necessary to create media content and communication strategies which effectively reach the Latinx segment of the population in the United States, as well as broader audiences in Latin America and Spain. This minor in Latinx and Spanish-language Media Creation is ideal for students who are proficient in Spanish language, especially heritage speakers. It can be a valuable credential for students majoring in or considering a career in media, government, politics, social work, business, advertising, marketing, public relations, education, or community advocacy. The program will educate students to think critically about all aspects of media creation, with a particular focus on the Spanish-language media ecosystem and the Latinx communities. Coursework will provide students with the applied skills necessary to create Spanish-language media content strategies which effectively reach the Latinx segment of the population, based on an understanding of Latinx cultures in the US and grounded in a knowledge of its cultural, economic, and sociological aspects, as well as a deep understanding of the US Latinx, Spanish, and Latin American media scenes.
Program Learning Outcomes.
Students who register for this minor course will:
- Both engage and demonstrate their interest in Latinx Studies within and across diverse areas of knowledge production in the media and communication field.
- Develop an understanding of the heterogeneous and rapidly changing Latinx and Spanish-speaking communities and media spheres locally, nationally, and globally.
- Increase their cross-cultural competence, understanding, and ability to dialogue across difference, developing a cultural sensitivity and awareness with Latinx and Spanish- speaking communities.
- Analyze the structure of media institutions/industries and systems of organization, funding, and regulation in the Latinx US, Latin American, and Spanish contexts.
- Develop an understanding of techniques, concepts, and processes characteristic of the multimedia content production, with an emphasis in documentary film, serial TV, radio languages, and podcast fiction, as well as community media and communication.
- Acquire solid knowledge and skills in the three main media content creation stages- Design, production, and post-production, as well as distribution.
- Reflect on the power of mediated communication, its ethical dimensions, and its social justice implications in the 21st century.
- Develop critical thinking, writing, and speaking skills in Spanish in all course requirements.
Evaluation of Learning. A minimum of C+ for every course in the Minor.
Curriculum
Requirements: The minor consists of five courses (20 credits)
A. Foundation Course. 4 credits (required)
• ML2601 Introduction to Latinx and Spanish-language Media Studies (in Spanish)
B. Conceptual Courses. 4 Credits (one course required)
In Spanish:
- ML3650 Cinema of Latin America and Spain
- ML4750 Fiction into Film
- ML3701 Digital Media in the Spanish World
In English:
- AS3722 History of Mass Media
- AS3732 Politics of Media
- AS3735 Documentary Media Studies
- AS4280 Global Media
- AS 4802 Investigative Reporting
C. Skill Courses. 8 credits (two courses required, at least one in Spanish)
In Spanish:
- ML3510 Creative Writing (Scriptwriting in Spanish for television and podcasting)
- ML4601 From the Idea to the Screen: Filming, Editing, and Postproduction Skills in Spanish
- ML4701 Research Methods for Communication, Advocacy, and Community Building in the US Latinx and Spanish-Language World
In English:
- AS3247 Introduction to Video and TV
- AS3820 Radio Production and Editing
- AS4260 New Media Newsroom
- AS4831 MIC Internship (instructor approval required)
- AS4852 Advanced Video: Documentary
- AS4870 Advanced TV: Studio Production
- AS4935 TV in Action
- AS4940 Journalism in Action
- AS4945 Radio in Action
- AS4955 New Media in Action
- AS4965 Video in Action
D. Practicum ML 5001: Content Creation/Production. 4 credits (capstone course required)
In this capstone course students will demonstrate their cumulative knowledge and skills on one of the five main media subjects in this minor program: documentary film, fictional television content, radio languages, podcast narratives, and community communication strategies. Under the guidance of faculty, students will develop and present a culmination project. This capstone experience will involve internships and cooperation with local Latinx organizations for those students focused on communication and community building.
This capstone course will offer students two options for completion: The above practicum course on campus or an abroad course to be developed at the EICTV in Cuba (Winter) or at The Core School in Spain (Summer).
Return to: