Major in Mass Communication
Programs of the Major
The Mass Communication major consists of three tracks: Advertising, Journalism, and Strategic Public Relations. Students must complete one of the three tracks. Many students complete two of the three tracks and some complete all three.
Students who complete the Mass Communication major will have many career options, especially in the broadly defined fields of print, broadcast and online journalism, advertising, and strategic public relations. Majors are expected to learn how the various fields in mass communication are structured and function.
Graduation Requirements
All major requirements must be completed with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher. The Pass (PS) grading option is not available for courses applied to the major.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Option
Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts degree by completing the intermediate (202) level of a foreign language.
Requirements for the Mass Communication Major
The Mass Communication major consists of 42 units: 15 units in required courses, 6 units in elective courses and 21 units in track courses. Students must select one of the following tracks: Journalism, Advertising, or Strategic Public Relations.
Transfer students are required to take 27 units in the major/track at Towson University. The department will accept up to 15 units of compatible transfer courses.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MCOM 101 | INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| MCOM 210 | INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING | 3 |
| MCOM 360 | LAW AND ETHICS IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 1 | 3 |
| or MCOM 361 | LAW AND ETHICS IN JOURNALISM | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| SOCIAL MEDIA AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION 1 | ||
| MEDIA AUDIENCES AND ANALYTICS 1 | ||
| MASS MEDIA GRAPHICS 1 | ||
| Major Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY THROUGH MASS MEDIA | ||
| EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM AND MASS MEDIA | ||
| MEDIA CRITICISM | ||
| PODCASTING | ||
| MASS MEDIA AND SOCIETY | ||
| MEDIA AND HEALTH COMMUNICATION | ||
| PUBLIC OPINION AND THE PRESS | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION | ||
| STUDY ABROAD IN MASS COMMUNICATION | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN MASS COMMUNICATION 2 | ||
Non-MCOM courses (maximum one course may be counted toward the major): | ||
| PERSUASION | ||
| BUSIN & PROF COMM | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF FILM AND MEDIA PRODUCTION | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARTS, MEDIA, AND COMMUNICATION | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIAL ACTION | ||
| Track Requirements | ||
| Select one of the tracks listed below. | 21 | |
| Total Units | 42 | |
Journalism Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Track Required Courses | ||
| MCOM 258 | INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL JOURNALISM | 3 |
| MCOM 341 | DIGITAL PUBLISHING | 3 |
| MCOM 358 | EDITING FOR MEDIA WRITERS 3 | 3 |
| or MCOM 383 | NEWS REPORTING | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| MULTIMEDIA REPORTING CAPSTONE 3 | ||
| MAGAZINE PUBLISHING 3 | ||
| BROADCAST JOURNALISM II 3 | ||
| Track Electives: | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| FEATURE WRITING | ||
| BROADCAST JOURNALISM I | ||
| PHOTOJOURNALISM I | ||
| SPORTS JOURNALISM | ||
| LITERARY JOURNALISM | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN JOURNALISM 2 | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN JOURNALISM | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Advertising Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Track Required Courses | ||
| MCOM 214 | PRINCIPLES OF ADVERTISING | 3 |
| MCOM 323 | ADVERTISING MEDIA PLANNING | 3 |
| MCOM 325 | ADVERTISING COPYWRITING | 3 |
| MCOM 390 | MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH | 3 |
| MCOM 447 | ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS | 3 |
| Track Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| PRINCIPLES OF STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| ADVERTISING ACCOUNT PLANNING | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | ||
| EDITING FOR MEDIA WRITERS | ||
| CORPORATE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT | ||
| ADVERTISING MEDIA SALES | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 2 | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Strategic Public Relations Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Track Required Courses | ||
| MCOM 253 | PRINCIPLES OF STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS | 3 |
| MCOM 357 | PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | 3 |
| MCOM 390 | MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH | 3 |
| MCOM 419 | CORPORATE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| MCOM 453 | STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS | 3 |
| Track Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| PRINCIPLES OF ADVERTISING | ||
| ADVERTISING MEDIA PLANNING | ||
| ADVERTISING COPYWRITING | ||
| ADVERTISING ACCOUNT PLANNING | ||
| EDITING FOR MEDIA WRITERS | ||
| ADVERTISING MEDIA SALES | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 2 | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
- 1
Courses listed as options but not taken to fulfill major requirements may be used as major electives. In addition, courses listed as options but not taken to fulfill track requirements or track electives (from the student's declared track) may also be used as major electives.
- 2
Enrollment in MCOM 460, MCOM 461 and MCOM 496 must be approved by the Department of Mass Communication before registration. See the department website for the approval process. Maximum 6 units of any combination of MCOM 460, MCOM 461 and MCOM 496 may be applied to the Mass Communication major.
- 3
Courses listed as options but not taken to fulfill track requirements may be used as track electives.
Departmental Honors Program
The department recognizes students for academic excellence. Mass Communication majors with an overall GPA of 3.75 and a 3.75 in their major are eligible for the MCOM departmental honors program. To graduate with honors in Mass Communication, students must complete at least 6 units from internships (MCOM 460/MCOM 461), independent studies (MCOM 496), or honors thesis in Mass Communication. In addition, students are required to make a public presentation of their honors work at an academic venue that is approved by the MCOM Honors Coordinator. Departmental honors will be posted to the transcript shortly after the bachelor’s degree is conferred. Students interested in departmental honors should consult with the department’s honors coordinator no later than the first term of their junior year. Departmental honors is a separate program from the Honors College. Students interested in becoming University Honors Scholars should visit the Honors College website or the Honors College section of this catalog.
Journalism Track Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 101 | 3 | MCOM 210 | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 5 | 3 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 11 | 3 |
| Core 6 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 258 | 3 | MCOM 341 | 3 |
| Core 7 | 4 | Core 8 | 4 |
| Core 10 | 3 | Core 9 (MCOM 356 is recommended) | 3 |
| Core 13 | 3 | Core 14 | 3 |
| MCOM Major Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 333, 371, or 415 | 3 | MCOM 333, 371, or 415 | 3 |
| MCOM 358 or 383 | 3 | MCOM 360 or 361 | 3 |
| Track Elective | 3 | Track Elective | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 407, 458, or 481 | 3 | MCOM Major Elective | 3 |
| Track Elective | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- 1
MCOM course is recommended.
Advertising Track Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 101 | 3 | MCOM 210 | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 5 | 3 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 11 | 3 |
| Core 6 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 214 | 3 | MCOM 325 | 3 |
| Core 7 | 4 | Core 8 | 4 |
| Core 10 | 3 | Core 9 (MCOM 357 recommended) | 3 |
| Core 13 | 3 | Core 14 | 3 |
| Track Elective (MCOM 253 recommended) | 3 | MCOM Major Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 323 | 3 | MCOM 333, 371, or 415 | 3 |
| MCOM 360 or 361 | 3 | MCOM 390 | 3 |
| MCOM 333, 371, or 415 | 3 | Elective 1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective 1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 447 | 3 | Elective 1 | 3 |
| Track Elective | 3 | Elective 1 | 3 |
| MCOM Major Elective | 3 | Elective 1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- 1
MCOM course is recommended.
Strategic Public Relations Track Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 101 | 3 | MCOM 210 | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 5 | 3 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 11 | 3 |
| Core 6 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 253 | 3 | MCOM 357 (Core 9) | 3 |
| Core 7 | 4 | Core 8 | 4 |
| Core 10 | 3 | Core 14 | 3 |
| Core 13 | 3 | Track Elective (MCOM 214 recommended) | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | MCOM Major Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 333, 371, or 415 | 3 | MCOM 333, 371, or 415 | 3 |
| MCOM 360 | 3 | MCOM 419 | 3 |
| MCOM 390 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| MCOM 453 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Track Elective | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| MCOM Major Elective | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective 1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- 1
MCOM course is recommended.