Mass Communications (COMM) Undergraduate Program

125 STEWART HALL/(320) 308-3293
www.stcloudstate.edu/masscommunications

Also see College of Fine Arts and Humanities descriptions and requirements.

Chairperson: Mark Mills
Faculty: Ahmed, Bradley, Dick, Eden, Fish, Heinrich, Huntzicker, Majid, Martin, Mills, Peng, Przytula, Rudolph, Tiberghien, Vadnie

The Department of Mass Communications is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). The mass communications major includes four sequences - advertising, broadcasting (TV journalism, TV production, radio), news editorial (journalism and photojournalism) and public relations - which emphasize both academic and professional preparation for entering the mass media professions.

In accordance with ACEJMC guidelines, mass communications majors are required to be broadly educated in the traditional liberal arts and sciences. This approach to education prepares students for the pursuit of intellectual excellence beyond the requirements of vocational or professional specialization.

Honors Students

Honors General Education Requirements are as required in the SCSU Undergraduate Catalog plus the number of credits needed to satisfy the mass communications liberal arts requirements.

Distribution of Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements for Mass Communications Majors

1. Core Requirements: 17 credits
   CMST 192 (3 cr.)
   ENGL 191 (4 cr.)
   MATH/STAT 193 (3 cr.)
   PHIL 194 (3 cr.)
   Democracy 195 (3 cr.)
   PHY ED/Wellness (1 cr.)
2. Distribution Requirements: 36 credits
   1. Humanities and Fine Arts (15 cr.)
      Complete a minimum of one course from each of the following areas:
          Art
          Communication Studies
          English
          Music
          Theatre
      *Completion of ENGL 331 or ENGL 333 fulfills the university's upper division writing requirement.
   2. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 cr.)
      Complete a minimum of one course from each of the following areas:
          Economics
          Geography/History/Political Science
          Human Relations/Ethnic Studies/Women's Studies
          Psychology
          Sociology/Anthropology
   3. Natural Sciences (6 cr.)
      Complete a minimum of one course from at least two of the following areas (including one lab course):
          Astronomy
          Biology
          Chemistry
          Computer Science
          Earth Science
          Physics
3. Liberal Arts and Sciences electives (12 cr.)
   (from approved departments or programs)

Course Registration Policies

Mass communications 200-level courses are open to all SCSU students. 300/400-level courses are open to students who have been formally accepted into the major.

Prerequisites

No students will be given credit for a course unless they have met the established prerequisites prior to enrolling in the course. Approval of the instructor teaching the course is needed to waive prerequisites. Prerequisites will be waived only for a student the instructor believes has skill and knowledge comparable to that offered by the prerequisites.

Transfer students who have begun formal application procedures for a major program may be admitted to 300/400-level courses with the approval of the department chairperson. Normally, such approval shall not be granted for more than two semesters.

Up to 12 credits may be transferred to the major program at the discretion of the department chairperson. Exceptions to the policy will be considered by the admissions committee and/or individual course evaluation.

Major/Minor Acceptance Requirements

Before students will be formally admitted to a mass communications major, they must have:

• Successfully completed English 191 and Communication Studies 192 and one mass communications course with a grade of "C" or better.
• A 2.5 GPA in all courses taken at SCSU.
• Completed a meeting with a sequence adviser to plan their major program.
• Completed acceptance into a second major, a minor or a concentration in a foreign language.
• The department has placed a cap on the number of students admitted annually to these programs and students will be selected competitively from among the applicants.

Bachelor of Science: (33-40 Cr.)

Advertising Sequence
Core required of all majors: COMM 220, 420, 460 (9 cr.)
Required for Advertising Sequence: COMM 402, 403, 471, 486 (20 cr.)
Elective courses: Choose one from the following electives: COMM 412, 416, 418, 430 (3 cr.)
Electives: Choose any two COMM electives (consult with adviser) (6 cr.)

Broadcasting Sequence
Core required of all majors: COMM 220, 420, 460 (9 cr.)
Required for Television Journalism Emphasis: COMM 272, 378, 379, 478*, 479 (19 cr.)
Required for Television Production Emphasis: COMM 273, 277, 377, 476. 477 (19 cr.)
Required for Radio Emphasis: COMM 271, 272, 451 (14 cr.)
Electives: Choose one from the following electives:
COMM 412, 416, 418, 430 (3 cr.)
Choose any two COMM electives (consult with adviser) (6 cr.)

* COMM 478 is required of all TV journalism majors. Because of lack of studio availability to support this course, it is only offered during the summer session. Broadcast students electing the TV journalism emphasis are required to attend one summer session during their junior or senior year.

News Editorial Sequence
Core required of all majors: COMM 220, 420, 460 (9 cr.)
Required for Print Journalism Emphasis: COMM 240, 340, 346, 350, plus pick one from COMM 454, 455, 456 (19 cr.)
Required for Photojournalism Emphasis: COMM 240, 336, 346, 350, 445 (19 cr.)
Electives:
Choose one from the following electives:
COMM 412, 416, 418, 430 (3 cr.)
Choose any two COMM electives (consult with adviser) (6 cr.)

Public Relations Sequence
Core required of all majors: COMM 220, 420, 460 (9 cr.)
Required for Public Relations Sequence: COMM 240, 352, 434, 436, 438 (19 cr.)
Elective courses:
Choose one from the following electives:
COMM 412, 416, 418, 430 (3 cr.)
Choose any two COMM electives (consult with adviser) (6 cr.)

Mass Communications Minor (15-19)
Completion of COMM 220 plus 4 elective mass communications courses in consultation with a mass communications adviser.