2024-2025 Catalog

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Advising Information

Placement Information

No placement exams are specifically required for the Media Arts & Culture major.  

Concentration in Critical Media

Curricular Notes

  • At least one gateway course and one other 4-unit MAC course must be completed prior to the end of the sophomore year.
  • Students in the Critical Media Concentration must take two Critical/Historical Media Studies courses at the 200-level or above by the end of the junior year. See the Catalog for a full list of courses that fulfill this requirement.
  • Students in the Critical Media Concentration must take one 200-level course with a media production component. See the Catalog for a full list of courses that fulfill this requirement.
  • The 200-level or above course can be any other 4-unit MAC course excluding MAC 390 or senior comprehensive courses.
  • To complete the major, students must take enough MAC electives to bring their total units in the major to 48. The electives can be chosen from additional MAC courses, or from pre-approved courses in other Occidental Departments, study abroad programs, internships, and the Art Center College of Design Exchange program. Please see the Catalog for full details.

Sample 4-Year Plan


Fall

Spring

Year 1
  • Fall FYS course
  • Foreign Language 101 (4 or 5 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Spring FYS course
  • MAC 143, MAC 145, or MAC 146
  • Foreign Language 102 (4 or 5 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)

Year 2
  • MAC Elective (200-level or above, 4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 3

Year 4
  • MAC 490 (4 units)
  • MAC Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • MAC 490 (2 units)
  • MAC 493 (2 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)

Concentration in Production

Sample 4-Year Plan


Fall

Spring

Year 1
  • Fall FYS course
  • Foreign Language 101 (4 or 5 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Spring FYS course

Year 2
  • MAC Elective (200-level or above, 4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Critical/Historical Media
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • Core Requirement (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 3
  • MAC 240
  • MAC 200-level or above
  • MAC Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 4
  • MAC 491 (4 units)
  • MAC Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • MAC 492 (2 units)
  • MAC 493 (2 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)
  • General Elective (4 units)

Curricular Notes

  • At least one gateway and one other 4-unit MAC course must be completed prior to the end of the sophomore year.
  • MAC 240 is a prerequisite for MAC 355. Media Production students must complete both courses by the end of the junior year.
  • Students in the Media Production Concentration must take one Critical/Historical Media Studies course at the 200-level or above. See the Catalog for a full list of courses that fulfill this requirement.
  • The MAC 200-level or above course can be any other 4-unit MAC course (excluding MAC 390 or senior comprehensive courses).
  • To complete the major, students must take enough MAC Electives to bring their total units in the major to 48. The electives can be chosen from additional MAC courses, or from pre-approved courses in other Occidental Departments, study abroad programs, internships, and the Art Center College of Design Exchange program. Please see the Catalog for full details.

Media Arts and Culture Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: 12 units

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in MAC:

  • Transfer students entering as rising juniors are not able to pursue the MAC major but are welcome to consult with MAC faculty in developing a five-course MAC minor. These students may count one approved course in transfer toward a MAC minor.

  • Transfer students starting as rising sophomores or mid way through their sophomore year should have completed their Core requirements, or only have 1-2 requirements remaining by the end of their sophomore year so that they can focus on advanced-level study and other high impact opportunities like internships as juniors and seniors.  

  • Rising sophomore transfer students who start in the fall can complete the major without prior coursework.

General advice for transfer students wanting to major in MAC:

  • Transfer students entering as rising sophomores or mid way through their sophomore year may count a maximum of 12 chair-approved transfer credit units towards the MAC major. 

  • Transfer students are advised to start Occidental in the fall not the spring due to course sequencing challenges. For transfer students starting Occidental in the spring advanced planning with the chair to determine sequencing of classes is essential to being able to complete the major in the expected number of semesters/the number of semesters for which financial aid is offered. 

  • MAC senior comps is a year-long sequenced process starting in the fall and continuing in the spring. Students are not able to complete the senior comps at the end of a fall semester, and they must plan their course work accordingly. For some students this will mean finishing comps with one semester still to complete at Occidental.

  • Students must earn a 2.0 overall in at least 8 units of MAC, one of which must be a gateway course, by the end of their sophomore year prior to declaring the major.

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

  • A student transferring to Occidental mid way through their sophomore year must have taken two MAC courses in the major by the end of their first semester in order to be able to declare by the end of their sophomore year. One of these must be a gateway course taken at Occidental (MAC 143, MAC 145, or MAC 146) the other course may be taken at Occidental or be a prior MAC-approved transfer course.

  • Rising sophomore transfer students should enroll in a gateway course in their first semester at Occidental (MAC 143, MAC 145, MAC 146) in order to be on track for the full range of options as a major. Doing so will make it possible to sequence courses for all concentrations offered and for the possibility of study abroad in the fall of the junior year.