Tufts Blogs

Here at Tufts, you have the option to study a variety of different subjects, and most of our students do! Over 50% of students at Tufts study more than one thing. I study both English and Film & Media Studies. When deciding what I wanted to study, I was pretty sure that English was right for me, but I also knew that it wasn’t the only right thing for me. That’s where Film and Media Studies, or FMS as we students call it, came into play. 

Many students choose to study things that are totally different from each other, for example, Theater and Computer Science, while others decide to study things that have more obvious connections. I chose the latter. I wanted a minor, or secondary major, that complemented my primary major and gave me more skills to add to my toolbox. FMS does just that. I hope to work in book publishing once I graduate from Tufts, and the combination of English and Film & Media Studies has given me a wide array of skills that I can use in my career. 

The Film and Media Studies program is one of the most varied programs we offer at Tufts. As an FMS student, you can study film history, filmmaking, film theory, marketing, public relations, journalism, and more. I was drawn to the media aspect of film and media studies, as I felt like it would allow me to grow my skills as a writer, as well as provide me with other skills that could be useful in publishing. Some of the courses I’ve taken for my minor include: Creative Writing: Journalism, Creating Children’s Media, Marketing & Branding, and Crafting Compelling Digital Media Campaigns. In these courses, I’ve learned about the history of marketing, different types of digital media campaigns, how to write a profile, and so much more. 

One of the things I love about the media-focused courses in the FMS program is that many of the projects you are assigned to can cater to your interests. In these courses, I’ve made a hype video of Book of the Month Club, a brand analysis of Barnes & Noble, and a pitch deck for the creation of a Land of Stories TV show, for example. In these courses, I actively try to pick topics that will help me not only learn more about the publishing industry, but will also help me build my portfolio of work at the same time. 

My major in English, on the other hand, has provided me with the ability to think critically, write concisely, and read diversely, all skills that are necessary in publishing. With the addition of my minor, I feel confident that I have a diverse set of skills that set me apart.

As you can see, combining English and FMS here at Tufts has allowed me to diversify my skills and set me up for success once I graduate, but the way I’m doing this is not the only way. So many students at Tufts study multiple things for the same reasons that I do, or for completely different reasons. The one thing I’m sure we can all agree on is that by studying multiple subjects, Tufts students open their minds even further, allowing them to go even farther.