Mass Communication Core Required Courses: (15 semester hours)
All students in the Mass Communication major must take the following five courses. The number after the course title is the number of credit hours earned in the particular course.

100 Mass Media & Society (3)
Sociological examination of the interrelationship of mass media and society in contemporary America.

210 Visual Communication (3)
Basic visual communication theory including basic photographic theory, camera handling and darkroom experience as related to graphic communication and mass dissemination. Weekly critiques. Lab required.

232 News Writing (3)
Style and structure of news stories; news sources; newsroom practices and procedures; with reporting assignments for publication and broadcast. Prerequisite: ENG 111.

300 Mass Media Law (3)
Major issues and survey of the media's current legal status. Prerequisite: MCOM 100.

405 Mass Media Issues & Ethics (3)
Introduction to perspectives on ethics, applied to case studies and issues in journalism, advertising, and public relations. Prerequisite: MCOM 100.

499 - Assessment Portfolio (0)
For this arranged class, each student completes an assessment portfolio to fulfill a graduation requirement.

Core Electives: (3 semester hours)
All students in the Mass Communication major must take one of the following three courses.

305 Mass Media History (3)
Development of the mass media including historiography, examination of movements and current research problems.

400 Mass Communication Theory (3)
Theories of mass influence on society and culture. Prerequisite: MCOM 100.

450 International Broadcasting (3)
Examines the structures, processes, functions and significance of various international broadcasting systems and services. Emphasis is placed on the scope and complexity of such systems and their impact on global understanding. Prerequisite: MCOM 100.

Public Relations Required Courses: (21 semester hours)
All students in public relations must take the following three courses

175 Mass Communication Computer Applications (3)
Computer skills for the mass media using word processing, page layout, database, spreadsheet, image generation, image manipulation and other applications for the Macintosh computer.

240 Public Relations (3)
Nature and role of public relations in a democratic society. Case problems and projects.

275 - Publication Design (3)
Using desktop publishing software to learn layout, design principles, and processes for the print media. Prerequisite: MCOM 175.

332 News Gathering (3)
Interviewing, observation and research as information-gathering methodologies; with reporting assignments for publication and broadcast. Prerequisite: MCOM 232.

340 Public Relations Cases (3)
Public relations problems in industry, government, trade associations, labor and other groups. Planning and preparing communications materials for various media, and applications of public relations techniques. Prerequisite: MCOM 240.

345 Public Relations Writing (3)
Preparing news releases, brochures, newsletters, web sites and other promotional materials including television, radio and print ads. Prerequisite: MCOM 332.

440 Public Relations Campaigns (3)
A combination of mass communication and public relations theory and practical application. This course is the capstone course in this option. It involves a simulation of a three-year campaign in concert with students from the Advertising Campaigns course and the Marketing Department's Entrepreneurship course.

Public Relations Electives:  (3 semester hours)
All students in public relations must take one of the following 10 courses

120 Electronic Media (2)
Characteristics, philosophy and impact of radio, television, cable and the development of electronic mass media.

205 - Principles of Internet Communication (3)
An overview of the specialized nature of communicating to mass audiences via the Internet. Students learn website development using Dreamweaver and Flash to communicate clearly and maintain interest while providing effective communication.

215 Photocommunication (3)
Advanced visual and technical skills for black and white photography. Prerequisite: MCOM 210.

220 Broadcast Writing (3)
Radio and television writing including commercial copy and feature programs. Prerequisite: ENG 111.

260 Advertising (3)
Survey of advertising theory and structure, and its function and purpose in modern society.

226 Video/Multimedia Planning and Design (3)
An overview of the television/video and multimedia production process with special attention to organizing, scripting, budgeting, equipment and personnel. This course deals with essential pre-production planning rather than production techniques.

334 Feature Writing (3)
Developing, writing and marketing feature stories to a variety of media. Prerequisite: MCOM 332.

336 News Editing (3)
Operation of the newsroom including copy editing, gatekeeper decisions, headline writing, layout. Prerequisite: MCOM 332.

347 Public Relations Practicum (3)
Practical experience in print and public relations tasks including writing or designing brochures, speech writing, collecting data and developing strategies. Prerequisite: MCOM 240.

356 - Media and Society International (3)
Involves study abroad. Designed to provide students with exposure to concepts and principles involved in understanding the interrelationship between the mass media and society in a country other than the United States. The course is similar in content to MCOM 100. In this case, however, the relationship being examined is specific to the country visited during that particular term.

361 Advertising Media Selection (3)
Theories, problems and practices related to advertising media evaluation and selection. Prerequisite: MCOM 260.

399 Internship (3)
Departmentally approved, supervised practical experience in mass communication.

408 - Research in Mass Media (3)
Investigation and interpretation of mass media research; introduction to procedures for studying media, content, audience, and effects; problems in gathering theoretical and applied research data concepts. Prerequisites: MCOM 100 and junior standing.

Some important things to keep in mind as you plan your studies at WSU:

* Students in WSU's mass communication major can choose among options in advertising, broadcasting, journalism, photojournalism, and public relations.
* The major requires 42 semester hours.
* In addition to the major, you will also need to complete a minor in another academic area at WSU.
* You will need a total of 128 semester hours of coursework to earn a B.A. degree.
* You must maintain an average course load of 16 hours per semester to graduate in four years.
* Courses numbered 100 and 200 are primarily for freshmen and sophomores; those numbered 300 and 400 are primarily for juniors and seniors.
* You must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 to graduate with a degree in mass communication.
* Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all Mass Communication courses in order for them to be counted toward graduation.
* Transfer students must satisfy the requirements from the appropriate option and must take at least 12 credit hours of mass communication courses at 300 level or above while in residence at WSU.
* For additional information, see the WSU undergraduate catalog.

Contact us for more information on the Mass Communication major, Winona State University, our programs, faculty, students, and facilities.