ABSTRACT
Each state in America has adopted some element of media literacy into its educational curriculum. The incorporation and implementation of media literacy curricula varies wildly from state to state and district to district, and classroom to classroom. The required components of a graduate program in media literacy become clear when the challenges of the digital age are viewed through a CCSML lens. This approach suggests that coursework should encompass five key areas: media studies history and theory, media literacy debates, specialty areas, media literacy research methods, and engaged practice. This set of coursework should explore the seven great debates in media literacy. These debates coalesce around issues of protectionism and vulnerable populations. Critical cultural studies media literacy (CCSML) is often considered the most transformative version of media literacy. Thus, it is a call to action to strengthen media education efforts by bringing educators back to school for training on media literacy education in the digital age.
