Major Emphasis areas   Advertising Minor   Broadcasting   Journalism   Photo Journalism   Public Relations

Mass Communication Majors & Minors

The Mass Communication department offers a major in mass communication in five emphasis areas: Advertising, Broadcasting, Journalism, Photojournalism, and Public Relations. The department also offers a minor in mass communication. For more information on the requirements for each emphasis click the links in the purple box above

Purpose:

Mass media are needed in a free society to inform, survey, protect and enlighten. The mass communication faculty stresses developing communicators with a strong sense of responsibility in serving the community and society. The faculty also provides practical experience in producing mass media content.

Practicing professionals are frequent guests. Mass communication students have many opportunities to apply theory to practice in laboratories, co-curricular, and extracurricular programs including:

• KQAL, a full-service, 1,800-watt departmental radio station serving an average weekly listening audience of 15,000. WSU students are involved in all aspects of station operation.
• Bravura, a laboratory publication with a circulation of 17,000 which is written, edited, photographed, and designed by students as part of capstone experience courses in the Journalism and Photojournalism emphasis areas.
• Color television broadcast facilities in which students produce programs for a variety of audiences, and which are broadcast on local cable.
• Computerized reporting labs for writing projects and graphics projects.
• Campus chapters of the American Advertising Federation, the International Association of Business Communicators, the National Broadcasting Society (Alpha Epsilon Rho), and the Society for Collegiate Journalists.

In addition, there are many other opportunities students to work in campus and professional media activities both on and off-campus.  

Mass communication students choose an option for their coursework in advertising, broadcasting, journalism, photojournalism, or public relations. The curriculum offers students opportunities to develop skills in oral, visual, and written communication; gain an understanding of media law, ethics, and theory; and receive theoretical and practical experience in an area of special interest.

To assist students in planning, the department prepares a list of planned courses for the next two semesters on an ongoing basis. Students may contact the Mass Communication department for a copy of this tentative schedule.

Pass/No Credit (P/NC) Courses

Except for internships, students must take all courses in their mass communication major or minor program on a grade-only basis. Courses offered on a pass/no credit-only or grade-only basis are so designated in the course descriptions.

Additional Graduation Requirements

For a checklist of the University's graduation requirements, see the WSU Undergraduate Catalog. Specific requirements for mass communication majors/minors are as follows:

• All mass communication majors must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to graduate.
• Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher to register for most mass communication courses.
• Mass communication majors and minors must earn a grade of C or better in all mass communication courses and all additional courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a mass communication major.
• All mass communication majors must submit an assessment portfolio prior to graduation providing evidence of skills and abilities related to mass communication courses.

To graduate from WSU with a mass communication degree in any option, a student transferring credits must satisfy requirements from the appropriate option including 12 credit hours earned at WSU in mass communication courses at the 300-level or above.

University Studies Flag Requirements

Students may use Flag courses to satisfy both University Studies and major requirements. Flag courses will usually be in the student's major or minor program. The Mass Communication Department offers the following flag courses in the University Studies Program:

Flags

Oral

MCOM 405 Mass Media Issues and Ethics (3)

Math/Critical Analysis

MCOM 300 Mass Media Law (3)

Writing

MCOM 232 News Writing (3)
MCOM 305 Mass Media History (3)
MCOM 400 Mass Communication Theory (3)
MCOM 450 International Broadcasting (3)

Flag courses that can be used to satisfy Mass Communication major/minor requirements are identified in the lists of required courses and electives in this section.

Last Modified: Monday, October 05, 2009 13:03