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Study what you love in a welcoming and inclusive environment while gaining multicultural perspectives and developing skills in critical thinking, writing, presentation and discussion facilitation, and media production.

With the guidance of faculty, build your own specialized concentration or focus in areas such as action, advocacy, and social change; body, health, and society; critical media analysis; gender studies; media production; power and persuasion; race and ethnicity studies; and sexualities studies.

A CMC degree from Rollins prepares you for a career in media, communication, and other industries; public service and policy; and graduate and professional programs in media studies, cultural studies, law, and business.


Why Study Critical Media & Cultural Studies at Rollins

  1. 1

    Media Expertise

    Our curriculum trains students to be critical analysts and producers of media, combining the theory, analysis, and research of media studies with hands-on experience in media production.

  2. 2

    Activism & Advocacy

    We study media and culture with an eye toward activism and advocacy. In Incarceration and Inequality, for example, students research current issues in the criminal justice system, then present their recommendations to policymakers.

  3. 3

    Flexibility

    In this interdisciplinary major, students work closely with a faculty advisor to craft an individualized concentration and to locate the most relevant and engaging courses across departments and programs.

Interested in Studying Critical Media & Cultural Studies at Rollins?

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A Day in the Life of a Rollins Critical Media & Cultural Studies Major

“I chose CMC because it combined my creative passions for media and film with social justice. My worldview was forever changed in Dr. Lisa Tillmann’s Research, Media, and Culture course—I highly recommend it!”

Renee Sang ’21


Popular Courses

The “critical” in critical media and cultural studies stems from our commitment to critical thinking, critical issues of the 21st century, and critical theory’s analysis of social systems and the distribution of power and inequality.

Rollins College students enjoying lunch by the Lakeside pool.

Apply By November 15

It’s never been easier or more rewarding to apply to Rollins. No app fee, formal essay, or test scores required. Apply by November 15 to receive priority consideration for admission and academic scholarships that range from $15,000 per year to full ride.

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A student DJ at WPRK.

Beyond the Classroom

Student Media Develop your voice through volunteer and paid work opportunities at Rollins’ student-run media outlets, including WPRK radio, The Independent magazine, Brushing literary magazine, and The Sandspur newspaper.

Local Film Festivals The Global Peace and Florida Film Festivals—both based in Orlando—provide project-based internship and full-time employment opportunities that include hands-on experience with planning, promotion, implementation, and post-production processes.

Documentary Filmmaking For their capstone project, students meld their area of study with concentrated research to produce a 15-minute documentary.



Real World Experience

Hone the knowledge and skills you’re developing in the classroom through internships at local and national organizations.

  • The White House
  • Orlando Sentinel
  • Equality Florida
  • NASA
  • Global Peace Film Festival
  • Florida Film Festival
Ruqayyah Ali, Sr. Mgr, Digital Media | Disney Parks, Experiences & Products

“The CMC program is the foundational building block for the career path I pursued in digital media and the entertainment industry. Studying the intersection of culture and media taught me how media influences people on a personal level, and I apply this every day in my digital marketing career.”

Ruqayyah Ali ’14

Senior Manager, Digital Media, Disney Parks, Experiences & Products


Rollins Critical Media & Cultural Studies Careers

Rollins critical media and cultural studies grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative companies.

  • Self portrait of Sam Barns

    Sam Barns ’11 ’12MBA

    Development Manager, Stonehenge Real Estate Group Consulting

  • Self portrait of J.D. Casto

    J.D. Casto ’11

    Senior Director, 2K

  • Julia Pyzik ’09

    Julia Pyzik ’09

    Film and TV Producer, Amazon Studios

  • Self portrait of Anne Koeblitz.

    Anne Koeblitz ’13

    Multimedia Producer, NBC Sports

  • Self portrait of Cass Yankala.

    Cass Yankala ’13

    Manager, Campaign Planning, Disney+

  • Self portrait of Spencer Mumford.

    Spencer Mumford ’15

    Actor, Stewart Talent


Keep Exploring

What’s it like to be a critical media and cultural studies major at Rollins? See for yourself by exploring our game-changing courses and award-winning graduates.

Image of image-ba47249b65003069af9135b31f55ea2573f34c9a-2000x1333-jpg

March 01, 2022

Rollins Launches New Graduate Certificate in Racial Reconciliation & Community Restoration

This innovative certificate program is built to empower those seeking to make a difference in the community and addressing racial inequality.

Rollins Launches New Graduate Certificate in Racial Reconciliation & Community Restoration
Colin Kelly, Renee Sang, Neny Lairet, Wyatt Deihl, and Cristina Toppin

July 28, 2021

Rollins Ready

Equipped with 21st-century skills, real-world experience, and lifelong relationships, Rollins grads step into their futures ready to make the mark only they can.

Rollins Ready
A grid of images depicting service learning experiences at Rollins College.

July 26, 2021

Leadership Lessons (L)earned

These Rollins College grads credit thriving careers in medicine, law, and business to lessons learned in service of others.

Leadership Lessons (L)earned

Dive Into Critical Media and Cultural Studies at Rollins

Explore more about what it will be like to major in critical media and cultural studies at Rollins.

  • What You Will Learn

    To fulfill its mission, the department has designed a curriculum to help you develop as both a critical analyst and a critically-oriented producer of media and culture.

  • Global Peace Film Festival

    Participate in the Global Peace Film Festival, hosted at Rollins by CMC faculty and students.


Expert Faculty

Grounded in social justice values, our professors help students develop the tools to work for change.

Department of Critical Media & Cultural Studies

Winter Park, FL32789

Telephone:407.646.2337

Fax:407.646.1566

  • A professional headshot of Rollins professor Nicole Richter.

    Nicole Richter, PhD

    Associate Professor of Critical Media & Culture

    Research interests: Women, gender, and sexuality in cinema

    Visit Site
  • Steve Schoen

    Steve Schoen, PhD

    Associate Professor of Critical Media & Cultural Studies

    Research interests: Documentary production, theory and criticism, and media representations of gender and sexuality

    Visit Site
  • Lisa Tillmann

    Lisa Tillmann, PhD

    Department Chair, Professor of Critical Media & Cultural Studies

    Research interests: Activism, social justice documentary filmmaking, and civil rights

    Visit site

Professor and students in a class discussion at a Rollins outdoor classroom

See for Yourself

Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.

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