Mass Communications Major, BA

Mission

The mission of the Department of Communication and Media Studies is to provide a program of study through classroom instruction, and practical experience in research and application, that prepares students to apply the principles of communication to the production, distribution, and systematic analysis of messages. Overall, the curriculum seeks to integrate theoretical and applied knowledge in the field in a program model that facilitates curricular flexibility in order to better meet the challenges of a rapidly changing communication and media studies environment.

Departmental Goals

The primary goals of the department are to provide dynamic and robust: 1) Classroom instruction, 2) Practical experience through practicums and internships, and 3) Research in Communication. This foundation is offered through a set of core courses that all students l must take. Depending on the combination of courses, students will be able to claim expertise in a specific area of specialization, or be a generalist in Communication.

More specifically, the departmental goals of Communication and Media Studies enable students:

1. To engage in the interdisciplinary opportunities in combining the major with other areas of study across the College and University.

2. To engage in the necessary theoretical and applied knowledge to critically understand communication, media, media technology, and its influence on society in different cultural historical, social, and political contexts.

3. To engage in the multiple influences of traditional, contemporary, and emerging media and how media shapes and informs new conceptions of the world and human experience.

4. To engage in greater freedom and choice to successfully create academic pathways to pursue their intellectual interests while developing critical conceptual, methodological, and theoretical skills to engage the discipline for academic and professional purposes.

Major Program Outcomes

Students will use traditional, contemporary, and emerging media to articulate new conceptions of the world and communicate various perspectives of the human experience.
Students will demonstrate the ability to use theoretical and applied knowledge to better understand communication, media, media technology, and its influence on society in different cultural, historical, social and political contexts.
Students will demonstrate the ability to write, speak, and communicate effectively with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

Major Requirements

Majors are required to take a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of departmental courses beyond the required 60 semester credit hours of WSSU General Education courses. Five core courses are included in the departmental 30 semester credit hours. The five required core courses are:

CMS 2325 - Introduction to Mass Communication

CMS 1301 - Introduction to Human Theory

CMS 3342 - Media, Communication, and Culture

CMS 4321 - International Communications

CMS 4325 - Communications Senior Seminar Capstone

Each of the five core courses equals 3 semester hours for a total of 15 semester credit hours once completed. The remaining 15 semester credit hours of departmental courses at the 3000 and 4000 level are required to satisfy the major. Free elective courses and possibly some major elective courses should be taken to fulfill the needed total of 120 semester hours required for graduation.

Students must achieve a grade of “C-” or better in all departmental courses taken as part of the major requirements.

Foundation Courses

Foundation Courses (15 hours)	Requirements for the Major
	CMS 1301 - Introduction to Human Theory
	CMS 2325 - Introduction to Mass Communication
	CMS 2361 - Digital Convergence
	CMS 3308 - Journalism Language, Style, and Literacy
	CMS 3342 - Media, Communication, and Culture

Breadth Courses

Breadth Courses (21 hours)	Requirements for the Major
	CMS 3301 - Laws & Ethics
	CMS 3321 - Media Presentations
	CMS 3325 - Electronic Media Writing
	CMS 3341 - News Reporting and Writing
	CMS 3345 - Community for Social Justice
	CMS 4321 - International Communications
	CMS 3340 - Interpersonal Communication

Depth Courses

Depth/Concentration/Track	Digital Media	Multiplatform Journalism			Applied Communication
Depth Courses (24 hours)	CMS 3305 - Mass Media Management	CMS 3311 - Studio Production	or	CMS 3371 - Field Production	CMS 3335 - Topics in Communication and Media Studies
		CMS 3361 - Public Affairs Reporting
					CMS 3369 - General Internship
	CMS 3367 - Video Editing *	CMS 3368 - Advanced Video Production			CMS 4322 - Minorities & Media
	CMS 3371 - Field Production	CMS 3380 - Graphics and Layout			CMS 2341 - Fundamentals of Speech
	CMS 4093 - Mass Communication Internship	CMS 4093 - Mass Communication Internship			CMS 3320 - Intercultural Communication
	CMS 4322 - Minorities & Media	CMS 4309 - Feature Writing			CMS 3350 - Group Discussion
	CMS 4351 - Broadcast Marketing	CMS 4316 - Critical and Persuasive Writing			CMS 4345 - Advanced Public Speaking
	CMS 4325 - Communications Senior Seminar Capstone	CMS 4325 - Communications Senior Seminar Capstone			CMS 4325 - Communications Senior Seminar Capstone
Total credit hours — 60 hours

Courses Offered by the Department

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Speech Communication Minor

Mass Communications Major, BA

Mission

Departmental Goals

Major Program Outcomes

Major Requirements

Foundation Courses

Foundation Courses

(15 hours)

Breadth Courses

Breadth Courses

(21 hours)

Depth Courses

Depth Courses

(24 hours)

Courses Offered by the Department

Core Required Courses (15 Semester Hours)

Elective Courses (15 Semester Hours Required at the 3000 and 4000 level)

Speech Courses Offered by the Department of Communication and Media Studies