MEDIA ARTS AND SCIENCES
An Interdepartmental Major

[pdf version of this document]

Directors: Judith Black (Studio Art ), Panagiotis Metaxas (Computer Science)

A major in Media Arts and Sciences requires at least 12 courses, at least two of which must be in the 300-level other than 350 or 360. Flexibility has been built into the major to allow students the ability to adapt their course of study in relation to their interests, and can choose an emphasis either in Media Sciences or in Media Arts, or a balanced MAS course of study. The major starts with 3 pre-requisite courses, at least 5 courses in the concentrating area and at least 2 courses in the non-concentrating area. In addition to other courses at Wellesley, students can take courses from MIT's Media Lab or the MIT Comparative Media Studies. See sample ways to structure the major.

A checklist can be downloade from here or from the MAS website.

The Major consists of:

1. Three required introductory courses, from Studio Art, Art History and Computer Science:
> ARTH 101 Introduction to the History of Art: Renaissance to the Present
> ARTS 109 Basic 2D Design or ARTS 108 Photography I
> CS 110 Computers and the Internet

2. At least two required Art Courses (at least five required for emphasis in Media Arts ) from the following:
> ARTS 219 or ARTS 220 Introductory Print Methods
> ARTS 221 Digital Imaging
> ARTS 255 Dynamic Interface Design
> ARTS 260 Moving Image Studio
> ARTS 265 Video Production II or ARTS 208 Photography II
> ARTS 313 Virtual Form (not offered 2004-5)
> ARTS 317 Seminar: Topics
> ARTS 320 Architectonics and Installation
> MUS 275 Computer Music: Synthesis Techniques and Compositional Practice

3. At least two required Computer Science Courses (at least five required for emphasis in Media Science ) from the following:
> CS 111 Intro to Programming
> CS 215 Multimedia Design and Programming
> CS 230 Data Structures
> CS 231 Fundamental Algorithms
> CS 242 Computer Networks
> CS 304 Databases with Web Interfaces
> CS 307 Computer Graphics

4. At least one Media Culture course is recommended from the following:
> ARTH 225 Modern Art Since 1945
> ARTH 226 History of Photography: From Invention to Advertising Age
> ARTH 291 Persuasive Images
> CAMS 175 Introduction to Media Studies
> SOC 216 Sociology of Mass Media and Communication

5. At least one production course is recommended from the following (can be done in groups):
> MAS 250 Research or Individual Study
> MAS 250H Research or Individual Study
> MAS 350 Research or Individual Study
> MAS 350H Research or Individual Study
> MAS 360 Senior Thesis Research
> MAS 370 Senior Thesis

Honors may be supervised by members of the departments associated with the major in accordance with the requirements of the host department. Supervisors from other departments can be arranged by permission of the directors.

The courses listed below are representative of Wellesley and MIT courses that emphasize topics related to the MAS major. Students may include courses not listed below in their major with permission of the program directors.

> ANTH 232 Anthropology of the Media
> ARTH 335 Seminar. Topics in Modern Art. 2005-06: The Bauhaus
> CAMS 231 Film as Art
> CS 115/PHYS 115 Robotic Design Studio
> CS 210 The Dynamic Web
> CS 342 Computer Security
> ENG 204 The Art of Screenwriting
> PHIL 203 Philosophy of Art
> PHYS 115/CS 115 Robotic Design Studio
> PSYC 337 Psychology of Creativity
> SOC 215 Sociology of Popular Culture

MIT

The MIT Media Lab and the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program offers a large variety of courses that could be appropriate for a MAS. Their offerings vary per semester, so you should consult it often.

OLIN COLLEGE

Olin College courses may also be applicable to the major.