St. Lawrence Adds New Digital Media and Film Major
St. Lawrence University has created a new bachelor's degree program in digital media and film, preparing graduates for careers in the media industry through digital content creation, new media, and a commitment to social justice.
“The new digital media and film major will prepare St. Lawrence students for a variety of media industry careers that are looking for highly-skilled and ethical content creators,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Florence Hines. “With dynamic classroom experiences and ample hands-on learning opportunities, St. Lawrence’s liberal arts education ensures that students are thinking critically about the implications of their work while staying at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field.”
“With dynamic classroom experiences and ample hands-on learning opportunities, St. Lawrence’s liberal arts education ensures that students are thinking critically about the implications of their work while staying at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field.” - Florence Hines
Hallmarks of the new major include developing students’ skills in digital media production, experiential learning through internships, research, study abroad, and Community Based Learning, and a commitment to integrating social justice and media-making beginning with a new required flagship introductory production course, Film and Media Action.
“By leading with the term ‘digital’ in this new program, we have sought to reframe the study of film and media and challenge students to think critically and creatively about today’s highly mediated world,” said Brook Henkel, associate professor of German and film studies and a faculty lead on the proposal to add the major to the curriculum.
The new major encourages students to curate a curriculum that relates to their career interests in commercial media, artistic filmmaking, citizen journalism, multi-media storytelling, graphic design, and social media. To gain a competitive edge for the workforce, students will assemble a digital portfolio of their work during their final year in the program.
“Students will gain a variety of skills to be prepared for careers in the media industry while finding their own voices,” said Sarah Knobel, associate professor of art and art history and a faculty lead on the major proposal. “We want to provide students with the tools to share what they have to say and to be aware of the power and ethical responsibility that comes with creating and engaging with media.”
“We want to provide students with the tools to share what they have to say and to be aware of the power and ethical responsibility that comes with creating and engaging with media.” - Sarah Knobel
In partnership with St. Lawrence’s Director of Research and Digital Scholarship Eric Williams-Bergen and Director of Libraries John Payne, Owen D. Young Library will become a hub for students, faculty, and staff involved in the new major by providing access to a podcasting studio and digital imaging lab.
St. Lawrence’s new digital media and film, data science, and finance majors are a result of the Experience St. Lawrence: The Task Force on Institutional Structure, Policy, and Planning, which was created in December 2019 with the charge of reimagining a liberal arts education in the 21st century and recommending a pathway to position St. Lawrence as a leader among its peers for decades to come. The process enlisted the expertise of numerous Laurentians across disciplines and divisions, and the new majors are the first of several inspiring academic programming recommendations made by the Task Force.
Students can officially declare the digital media and film major during the Spring 2022 semester.
