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.

Required Courses
MCOM 101INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION3
MCOM 210INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING3
MCOM 360LAW AND ETHICS IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 13
or MCOM 361 LAW AND ETHICS IN JOURNALISM
Select two of the following:6
MCOM 333
SOCIAL MEDIA AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION 1
MCOM 371
MEDIA AUDIENCES AND ANALYTICS 1
MCOM 415
MASS MEDIA GRAPHICS 1
Major Electives
Select two of the following:6
MCOM 310
UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY THROUGH MASS MEDIA
MCOM 327
EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM AND MASS MEDIA
MCOM 352
MEDIA CRITICISM
MCOM 380
PODCASTING
MCOM 385
MASS MEDIA AND SOCIETY
MCOM 420
MEDIA AND HEALTH COMMUNICATION
MCOM 431
PUBLIC OPINION AND THE PRESS
MCOM 479
SPECIAL TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION
MCOM 494
STUDY ABROAD IN MASS COMMUNICATION
MCOM 496
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN MASS COMMUNICATION 2
Non-MCOM courses (maximum one course may be counted toward the major):
COMM 304
PERSUASION
COMM 315
BUSIN & PROF COMM
EMF 221
PRINCIPLES OF FILM AND MEDIA PRODUCTION
IDFA 470
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARTS, MEDIA, AND COMMUNICATION
IDFA 471
SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIAL ACTION
Track Requirements
Select one of the tracks listed below.21
Total Units42

Journalism Track

Track Required Courses
MCOM 258INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL JOURNALISM3
MCOM 341DIGITAL PUBLISHING3
MCOM 358EDITING FOR MEDIA WRITERS 33
or MCOM 383 NEWS REPORTING
Select one of the following:3
MCOM 407
MULTIMEDIA REPORTING CAPSTONE 3
MCOM 458
MAGAZINE PUBLISHING 3
MCOM 481
BROADCAST JOURNALISM II 3
Track Electives:
Select three of the following:9
MCOM 356
FEATURE WRITING
MCOM 381
BROADCAST JOURNALISM I
MCOM 391
PHOTOJOURNALISM I
MCOM 402
SPORTS JOURNALISM
MCOM 409
LITERARY JOURNALISM
MCOM 461
INTERNSHIP IN JOURNALISM 2
MCOM 477
SPECIAL TOPICS IN JOURNALISM
Total Units21

Advertising Track

Track Required Courses
MCOM 214PRINCIPLES OF ADVERTISING3
MCOM 323ADVERTISING MEDIA PLANNING3
MCOM 325ADVERTISING COPYWRITING3
MCOM 390MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH3
MCOM 447ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS3
Track Electives
Select two of the following:6
MCOM 253
PRINCIPLES OF STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS
MCOM 330
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT PLANNING
MCOM 357
PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING
MCOM 358
EDITING FOR MEDIA WRITERS
MCOM 419
CORPORATE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
MCOM 440
ADVERTISING MEDIA SALES
MCOM 443
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
MCOM 451
PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
MCOM 453
STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS
MCOM 460
INTERNSHIP IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 2
MCOM 478
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Total Units21

Strategic Public Relations Track

Track Required Courses
MCOM 253PRINCIPLES OF STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS3
MCOM 357PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING3
MCOM 390MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH3
MCOM 419CORPORATE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT3
MCOM 453STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS3
Track Electives
Select two of the following:6
MCOM 214
PRINCIPLES OF ADVERTISING
MCOM 323
ADVERTISING MEDIA PLANNING
MCOM 325
ADVERTISING COPYWRITING
MCOM 330
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT PLANNING
MCOM 358
EDITING FOR MEDIA WRITERS
MCOM 440
ADVERTISING MEDIA SALES
MCOM 443
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
MCOM 447
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
MCOM 451
PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
MCOM 460
INTERNSHIP IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 2
MCOM 478
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Total Units21
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 Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 101 (Core 6)3MCOM 2103
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 33Core 5 3
Core 43Core 113
Elective13Core 123
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 2583MCOM 3413
Core 74Core 84
Core 103Core 9 (MCOM 356 is recommended)3
Core 133Core 143
MCOM Major Elective3Elective3
 16 16
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 333, 371, or 4153MCOM 333, 371, or 4153
MCOM 358 or 3833MCOM 360 or 3613
Track Elective3Track Elective3
Elective13Elective13
Elective13Elective13
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 407, 458, or 4813MCOM Major Elective3
Track Elective3Elective13
Elective13Elective13
Elective 13Elective13
Elective13Elective11
 15 13
Total Units 120
1

MCOM course is recommended.

Advertising Track Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 101 (Core 6)3MCOM 2103
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 33Core 5 3
Core 43Core 113
Elective13Core 123
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 2143MCOM 3253
Core 74Core 84
Core 103Core 9 (MCOM 357 recommended)3
Core 133Core 143
Track Elective (MCOM 253 recommended)3MCOM Major Elective3
 16 16
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 3233MCOM 333, 371, or 4153
MCOM 360 or 3613MCOM 3903
MCOM 333, 371, or 4153Elective 13
Elective13Elective 13
Elective13Elective13
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 4473Elective 13
Track Elective3Elective 13
MCOM Major Elective3Elective 13
Elective13Elective13
Elective13Elective11
 15 13
Total Units 120
1

MCOM course is recommended.

Strategic Public Relations Track Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 101 (Core 6)3MCOM 2103
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 33Core 53
Core 43Core 113
Elective13Core 123
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 2533MCOM 357 (Core 9)3
Core 74Core 84
Core 103Core 143
Core 133Track Elective (MCOM 214 recommended)3
Elective13MCOM Major Elective3
 16 16
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 333, 371, or 4153MCOM 333, 371, or 4153
MCOM 3603MCOM 4193
MCOM 3903Elective13
Elective13Elective13
Elective13Elective13
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
MCOM 4533Elective13
Track Elective3Elective13
MCOM Major Elective3Elective13
Elective13Elective 13
Elective13Elective11
 15 13
Total Units 120
1

MCOM course is recommended.

 
  1. Students should be able to identify and apply strategic practices related to their discipline/profession. 
  2. Students should know how to apply appropriate research methods to collect and analyze data in their discipline.
  3. Students should be able to apply professional writing practices appropriate to their discipline.