Frequently Asked Questions
CMS undergraduates often have a lot of questions. We've compiled the most frequently asked questions below. These are divided up into two main categories:
Choosing CMS As a Major
- How big is the CMS program?
- What are the required courses?
- Which classes will help me gain a better understanding of this major?
- What activities exist for undergraduates outside of classes?
- What UROPs are available?
- What do CMS majors do after graduating?
How big is the department?
CMS has four core faculty members, and 25 affiliated faculty. In addition, CMS's distinguished Visiting Scholars and Postdocs teach CMS courses.
Which classes will help me gain a better understanding of this major?
21L.015 Intro to Media Studies and CMS.400 Media Systems and Texts highlight CMS's commitment to thinking across media forms, theoretical domains, cultural contexts, and historical periods.
What activities exist for undergraduates outside of classes?
Every Friday afternoon, students are invited to visit CMS's GAMBIT game lab to talk about and play videogames developed at GAMBIT, along with other international, commercial and educational videogames. Students are also welcome to attend the weekly CMS colloquia. Throughout the semester CMS hosts a number of internship and career development events for undergraduates.
What UROPs are available?
UROP opportunities exist in nearly all of CMS's research initiatives, providing undergraduates with hands-on research experience.
What do CMS majors do after graduating?
Many CMS majors pursue careers in related fields. Some pursue higher education in Film Production, Cinema Studies, Creative Writing, Journalism, and even Comparative Media Studies here at MIT. Other job experiences include: Management Consultant specializing in Entertainment, Media, and Communications and Consumer Good Practices; Director of Enhanced Programming at Fox Cable Networks; Linux development support at CloudShield Technologies; working at WGBH-TV in Boston on documentaries dealing with global health, globalization, and environmental issues; Assistant Producer at Electronic Arts; User Experience Designer at Google; and Advertising and Studio Manager for Blink Music Studios.
Information for current CMS Majors, Minors and Concentrators
- Can a class count toward both my CMS major and my HASS requirements, or does it have to be one or the other?
- How do I get HASS credit for CMS topics classes?
- Which CMS courses count toward the CI-M?
- Can I get credit for classes taken at other schools?
Can a class count toward both my CMS major and my HASS requirements, or does it have to be one or the other?
A total of 3 subjects can be used to fulfill both CMS and HASS requirements, 2 of which can be used to fulfill the HASS-D requirement. However, any classes counted toward both CMS and HASS requirements cannot count toward the 180 units required beyond the GIR. This "double counting" issue does not apply to CMS minors and concentrators.
How do I get HASS credit for CMS topics classes?
A petition must be filed with the HASS office. The petition can be found here: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/student/coc/petitions.htm#subhass. The class in question must be taken for a letter grade and count as 9 or more units.
Which CMS courses count toward the CI-M?
The CI-M requirement can be fulfilled by courses required for the CMS major. CMS.400 Media Systems and Texts counts as a CI-M course, as do both capstone courses, 21L.706 Studies in Film and 21L.715 Media in Cultural Context.
Can I get credit for classes taken at other schools?
MIT students can cross register at Harvard University, Wellesley College, the Massachusetts College of Art (MCA), and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA). Harvard and Wellesley classes can be used to fulfill departmental requirements. MCA and SMFA classes, which are graded P/D/F, can only count as unrestricted electives.