Mass Communications, BA

51-60 credit hours

39 core credit hours

12 elective hours - no emphasis

21 credit hours - emphasis area

Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications requires completion of the following core courses:

39 credit hours

COM 10800Mass Communications Seminar

0

COM 10050Web Design I

3

COM 11000Fundamentals of Oral Communication

3

COM 15400Video Production

3

COM 24200Basic Reporting

3

COM 30550Imaging and Layout Design

3

COM 30700Writing for Visual Media

3

COM 32700Media Literacy

3

COM 40100Mass Communications Law

3

COM 46010Mass Communications Theory and Ethics

3

PSY 10000Principles of Psychology

3

AAD 32500 is offered in place of COM 30550 on the St. Charles campus. AAD 10050 is offered in place of COM 10050 on the St. Charles campus.

Mass communications majors must enroll in COM 10800 Mass Communications Seminar (0) every semester with the exception of the semester in which they are taking an internship. 

One of the following:

COM 15100Radio Production

3

COM 15200Podcasting Production

3

One of the following:

AAD 12000Digital Foundations

3

COM 12300Media Design Foundations

3

Activity/Experiential Course

Three credit hours are also required in activity/experiential coursework and must be selected from one of the following:

COM 30102Applied Mass Communication-Video

3

COM 30106Mass Communications Studio

3

COM 45000Communications Internship

3

AMC 44444, COM 30131, COM 30132, and COM 30133 are additional options offered on the St. Charles campus. 

Students have the option to choose an emphasis area for this degree program. If a student does not select an emphasis area, an additional 12 credit hours of elective coursework is required from the following courses:

AAD 18101Digital Photography I

3

AAD 25000Typography I

3

AAD 30100Print Design and Production

3

AAD 35500Branding

3

COM 11500Sportscasting

3

COM 30600Advanced Reporting

3

COM 34000Television Sports Production I

3

COM 34600Television Fine Arts Production I

3

COM 35400Producing for Film and Video

3

COM 37100-37199Topics in Production

1-3

COM 37300-37399Topics in Producing

1-3

COM 37500-37599Topics in Media Studies

1-3

COM 38300Television News Reporting

3

DCS 10000History of Contemporary Media Industries

3

DCS 20000Digital Content and Demographics

3

DCS 35000Personal Branding and Content Creation

3

DCS 38700Emerging Platforms and Analytics

3

DCS 40000Contemporary Audience Analysis

3

Additional elective options in AAD, ASC, COM, DCS, and MUS may be available. Please consult your academic advisor for details. 

Mass Communications Media Arts and Production Emphasis

21 credit hours

AAD 18101Digital Photography I

3

COM 33700Illustration

3

COM 35200Advanced Audio Production

3

COM 35400Producing for Film and Video

3

COM 35700Editing for Film and Video

3

AAD 31000 is offered in place of COM 33700 on the St. Charles campus. 

Elective Courses for Media Arts and Production Emphasis

Six credit hours of electives from the courses listed below:

AAD 25000Typography I

3

AAD 30100Print Design and Production

3

AAD 35500Branding

3

COM 11500Sportscasting

3

COM 30600Advanced Reporting

3

COM 34000Television Sports Production I

3

COM 34600Television Fine Arts Production I

3

COM 35400Producing for Film and Video

3

COM 37100-37199Topics in Production

1-3

COM 37300-37399Topics in Producing

1-3

COM 37500-37599Topics in Media Studies

1-3

COM 38300Television News Reporting

3

DCS 10000History of Contemporary Media Industries

3

DCS 20000Digital Content and Demographics

3

DCS 35000Personal Branding and Content Creation

3

DCS 38700Emerging Platforms and Analytics

3

DCS 40000Contemporary Audience Analysis

3

Additional elective options in AAD, ASC, COM, DCS, and MUS may be available. Please consult your academic advisor for details. 

Mass Communications Media Management and Sales Emphasis

21 credit hours

COM 33500Buying and Selling Media

3

COM 36000Media Management

3

MRKT 35010Principles of Marketing

3

ASC 33500 is offered in place of COM 33500 on the St. Charles campus. 

One of the following:

COM 30300Written Communication for Business

3

MGMT 26030Business Communications

3

One of the following:

COM 36300Creative Advertising Concepts

3

MRKT 45070Consumer Behavior

3

One of the following:

DCS 40000Contemporary Audience Analysis

3

MRKT 35020Marketing Information and Research

3

Elective Courses for Media Management and Sales Emphasis

Three credit hours of electives from courses listed below:

AAD 18101Digital Photography I

3

AAD 25000Typography I

3

AAD 30100Print Design and Production

3

AAD 35500Branding

3

COM 11500Sportscasting

3

COM 30600Advanced Reporting

3

COM 34000Television Sports Production I

3

COM 34600Television Fine Arts Production I

3

COM 35400Producing for Film and Video

3

COM 37100-37199Topics in Production

1-3

COM 37300-37399Topics in Producing

1-3

COM 37500-37599Topics in Media Studies

1-3

COM 38300Television News Reporting

3

DCS 10000History of Contemporary Media Industries

3

DCS 20000Digital Content and Demographics

3

DCS 35000Personal Branding and Content Creation

3

DCS 38700Emerging Platforms and Analytics

3

Additional elective options in AAD, ASC, COM, DCS, and MUS may be available. Please consult your academic advisor for details. 

Mass Communications Broadcast Emphasis

21 credit hours

COM 25600Television Production

3

COM 30000Multiplatform Reporting

3

COM 30400Broadcast Newswriting

3

COM 35200Advanced Audio Production

3

COM 35700Editing for Film and Video

3

COM 33333 is also required for this emphasis. This course is only available on the St. Charles campus. 

Plus three credits of applied mass communications-video coursework.

 
COM 30102Applied Mass Communication-Video

3

COM 30131, COM 30132, COM 30133 are additional options offered on the St. Charles campus. 

Mass Communications Journalism Emphasis

21 credit hours

COM 30000Multiplatform Reporting

3

COM 30400Broadcast Newswriting

3

COM 30600Advanced Reporting

3

COM 38200Feature Writing

3

COM 22500, COM 35300, and COM 33333 are also required courses for this emphasis. These courses are offered on the St. Charles campus. 

**Updated November 2019. Please see the November 2019 addendum for more information.