Activist Media and Performance

Master of Arts in Media Studies:
Activist Media and Performance

In an effort to serve media activists and performers, we offer this special course of study in collaboration with the Drama, Theatre and Dance department. It is an opportunity for actors, dancers, writers, directors, technicians, set and costume designers, media makers, and performance studies scholars to study and practice performance and/or media as a form of social practice, activism, or community building.

It is appropriate for those pursuing careers in the performing arts, arts education, media arts, arts activism, or performing arts scholarship. The program specializes in the integration of media arts and performance with the department's mission of media studies and social justice, cultural change, climate justice, economic equality, and media activism.

Students can also receive credit for projects such as playwriting, theater productions, dance, choreography, public theater, media activism, augmented theater, community engagement, primary school workshops, internships with media or performing arts organizations, and teaching.

Students in this track apply for and earn the same MA in Media Studies as anyone else in the program, but can choose to take more electives in arts and performance, and do creative thesis productions. You may decide to mention your interest in your application, or choose to participate in these courses after you begin your studies. 

Completion of the Media Studies MA requires 30 credits, or the equivalent of 10 courses.  Students in this track must meet all those requirements. They include two required courses:

Media and Social Justice

Media and Capitalism 

One or Two semesters of thesis – Thesis advisors will be chosen from whichever arts modality in which the student is working, and include projects such as playwriting, theater productions, dance, choreography, public theater, media activism, augmented theater, community engagement, primary school workshops, etc.  

Seven (or six) additional electives. 

For the Activist Media and Performance Track, electives should include:

• At least two electives in media arts or performance practice

  • Students will be required to do practical work in their discipline. This can be accomplished by taking any combination of two studio, performance, or practical classes in Media Studies, Art, Theater, Dance, or Social Practice; or by taking up to two semesters of cooperative placement with an existing performing arts organization, teaching opportunity, or internship; or by doing Independent Studies with professor

• One elective of Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, or Equivalent

  • Courses from our program or anywhere in the QC system, or new dedicated courses in community media and performance.

• Three additional electives

  • Three additional electives in Media Studies, Theater, Dance, Directing, Playwriting, Media Arts, Social Practice, Filmmaking, Social Media, etc. 

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor from their discipline, who helps guide the student’s curriculum and supervises the two-semester thesis. 

Apply directly to the Media Studies MA program; state your interest in this concentration in your essay.