Study the cultural, historical and political importance of media in one of the first undergraduate programs in the U.S. to combine theory, history and practice.

The Pomona Department’s contribution to the Intercollegiate Media Studies major focuses on theoretical and critical approaches to the study of the media in global perspective.

Thanks to the resources of the five Claremont Colleges that participate in the major, you can chose from more than 80 media studies courses covering a wide range of theoretical approaches and hands-on production experience in film and video as well as digital and electronic media.  

You will examine the histories, the technologies and social and cultural contexts of media forms and apply critical thinking, theory and practice across the disciplines, including history, politics, computer science, English and art history. 

  • In class with Professor Jennifer Friedlander
    In class with Professor Jennifer Friedlander
  • In class with Professor Jennifer Friedlander
    In class with Professor Jennifer Friedlander

What You'll Study

  • Courses in media history and theory
  • One introductory production course
  • A concentration in one media form or critical studies
  • Senior exercise
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Choose from 82 media studies and core courses across The Claremont Colleges.

Creating at Pomona

  • Spotify: Streaming platform logo
    Schuyler (Skye) Mitchell '20: Spotify and the Droning of Culture

    An exploration of how the algorithmic music streaming platform Spotify utilizes user data to create personalized listener profiles and playlists that modulate an individual’s listening habits.

  • Thumbnail of "47" Documentary Project
    “47” Documentary

    Daniel Park ’20 produced a 40-minute documentary film to highlight and celebrate the strength and beauty of the Rwandan community at The Claremont Colleges.

  • Luke Meares
    Documenting a Queer Rural Community

    As a documentary photographer, Luke Meares '21 created a representation of queer rural community in Appalachia through digital photography

Daniel Park Headshot
Daniel Park '20

A media studies education at Pomona entails not just learning mind-blowing theory or getting access to a full deck of pro-grade cinema cameras, but also learning ​how ​to learn in new modes of thought, and if you’re a creative, spending lots​ ​of time thinking of ways to translate theory into practice.

Faculty & Teaching

Our Media Studies professors are innovative thinkers and practitioners exploring topics on popular culture, contemporary art controversies, experimental literature and film, and the relationship between media and politics. 

Professor Jennifer Friedlander

Media studies students enter a challenging space—a space that refuses them the comfort and ease of speaking behind the veneer of objective knowledge. In its place, we work together to erect a different system of inquiry, one in which apparently obvious and common-sense views become our object of scrutiny, not just in terms of their content, but also in terms of their form.