We encourage students to pursue relevant internships either during the summer or the academic year, and award up to twelve units of degree credit in the major for these.

After taking Introduction to MVC in their freshman or sophomore year, students learn to write in various media related genres (blog, review, film analysis, etc.) and to develop their abilities as researchers — an area regarded by external reviewers as a particular strength of the MVC program. In spring of their senior years all majors then take a Theories and Methodologies class, which deepens their knowledge of key concepts and questions in the field, and serves as the foundation and springboard for the senior capstone. This is a directed research project on a particular topic chosen by the student, usually resulting in a thesis (though projects incorporating production or internships are also encouraged).

As well as these core classes, all students are required to take a course that is focused on media production—e.g. screenwriting, photography, filmmaking or making zines—and two courses in the history or theory of media cultures—ranging from Screen Genres and Visual Ethnography to Theories of Popular Culture and U.S. History on Film. Other classes in the major are electives.