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ApplyBA in Mass Communication (Multi-Platform Journalism) | BA in Mass Communication (Film) | BA in Mass Communication (Public Relations and Advertising) | BA in Mass Communication (Broadcast Production) | BA in Agricultural Communication (Mass Communication & Agricultural Sciences) | Minor in Mass Communication | Mass Communication Teaching Concentration | Course Descriptions
Chair: Jean Bodon (936) 294-4419
Faculty Members: Jean Bodon, Janet Bridges, Tom Garrett, Debbie Hatton, Robin Johnson, Richard Kosuowei, Nam Kim, Ruth Massingill, Mel Strait, Christopher White
Adjunct Faculty Members: Cheryl Eschenfelder, Frank Krystyniak. Karen Lee, Ann Meador, Philip Logan, Jenna Jackson, Joe Leydon
Endowed Chair Faculty Members: Kelli Arena, Peter Roussel
Staff: Hollie Davis, LeeAn Muns, Steve Sandlin
Information: (936) 294-1341; Dan Rather Communications Building 123
Website: https://www.shsu.edu/~com_www/
The Mass Communication Program at Sam Houston State University offers a unique educational experience. In daily, one-on-one contact with faculty from a variety of theoretical and practical backgrounds, students are exposed to a combination of hands-on production classes, professional development classes, and traditional theory/criticism classes. Our graduates develop 1) general media literacy skills that are increasingly required in our media-saturated contemporary experience and 2) specific skill-sets especially applicable to the emerging technologically-driven marketplace.
There are five MCOM degree plans or emphases: Multi-Platform Journalism, Broadcast Production, Film, Public Relations & Advertising, and Agricultural Communication. Graduates can enter a variety of fields, including but not limited to video production, print and television news, broadcast and cable sales, media management, advertising, digital media production, promotions/public relations, and corporate media. In addition, students may supplement their degrees with educational requirements that allow them to become certified media-specialists in public school systems with a concentration in Mass Communication Teaching. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the MCOM Department’s internship program.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Mass Communication is to acquire, synthesize, and disseminate knowledge related to print, broadcast, cable, online, and other forms of electronic communication for the purpose of producing media literate, socially aware, professionally competent graduates.
Program emphasis is on the preparation of ethical and technologically proficient communication professionals who are capable of making a positive impact on their environment and on society. Our graduates will acquire the skills for today’s media marketplace and also develop the broader, theoretical background for:
- Negotiating convergence in the communication fields;
- Communicating with and servicing diverse populations;
- Understanding the economic and political pressures on professional integrity; and
- Intelligently assessing and interpreting unfolding events in a media saturated experience.
Academic Programs
- BA in Mass Communication (Multi-Platform Journalism)
- BA in Mass Communication (Film)
- BA in Mass Communication (Public Relations and Advertising)
- BA in Mass Communication (Broadcast Production)
- BA in Agricultural Communication (Mass Communication & Agricultural Sciences)
- Minor in Mass Communication
- Mass Communication Teaching Concentration
Highlights
The Department of Mass Communication offers a comprehensive blend of courses, including but not limited to global communication, film production and theory, media production and reporting, audience assessment, media sales, mass communication theory and history, and writing for print, broadcast, and digital media, and other professional development areas. The curriculum introduces students to each of the four emphasis areas during their first year in the mass communication program. During the remaining three years, students can register for classes in digital audio and video editing, film production and directing, feature writing, research techniques, communication law, media marketing, scriptwriting, global communication, and broadcast journalism. Students with a major or minor in the MCOM Department will have the opportunity to work with departmental media: 90.5 KSHU-FM, 90.5.2 El Gato, Cable Channel 7, The Houstonian newspaper, student news, and Priority One PR as part of their college experience.
Suggested Free Electives
Students in Mass Communication should select a specialized area of free elective classes compatible with their professional goals. In choosing an appropriate set of free electives, students should discuss their career plans with an advisor. For example, free electives in Management and Marketing are desirable for Public Relations & Advertising. History, English, foreign languages, Art, Theatre, Sociology, and other social sciences and fine arts are helpful to all emphases. Students with a Multi-Platform Journalism emphasis could benefit from free electives in Political Science or History.
Career Opportunities
There are a variety of career opportunities in the Mass Communication field. Some graduates pursue traditional positions in the mass media marketplace (reporting/editing/writing for newspapers, television stations, radio stations, or magazines). MCOM graduates may also pursue careers with public relations and advertising agencies, with corporate communication programs and within government, hospital, and other institutional settings. Graduates can affiliate with nonprofit agencies or move into sales and other promotional positions. Increasingly, graduates have been teaching in high schools, pursuing advanced graduate studies, and working in interactive media.
Student Organizations and Activities
The Department supports student chapters of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the National Broadcasting Association (NBS), the Texas Association of Broadcast Students (TABS), the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Internships and Study Abroad
Junior and senior level students who meet requirements may enroll in semester-long professional internships. MCOM students have interned at national media outlets such as CBS News, Entertainment Tonight, ESPN, David Letterman, The Jerry Springer Show, MTV, The Cannes Film Festival, South by Southwest, and Disney World; regional media outlets including KTLA-TV in Los Angeles; KHOU-TV in Houston, The Conroe Courier, The Victoria Advocate, Pierpont Public Relations, the Houston Symphony; and at specialized institutional sites such as the Texas State Senate.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for outstanding undergraduate students continuing in the program. Most scholarship deadlines are March 1 for the following academic year.
Please contact the Department of Mass Communication or visit: https://www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/scholarship.html#masscommunication.
Program Specific Requirements
All students in the Mass Communication program will complete a departmental four-course core that provides a foundation for success in a variety of media fields. To help students understand the contemporary media environment, the core includes an analysis of media and society. Because specific skills are required in the media marketplace, the applied Writing for Mass Media and T.V. & Film Production courses are part of the departmental core. A course in mass media law and ethics examines legal issues pertinent to the print, electronic, and emerging digital press.
All Mass Communication majors and minors must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in each Mass Communication courses, and successfully pass the departmental required competency writing and production tests.
Curriculum
Multi-Platform Journalism
The Multi-Platform Journalism track provides students with the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively through the traditional print and broadcast media, as well as the emerging digital media. Skills emphasized include information gathering, writing, and presentation/dissemination techniques. The Muti-Platform Journalism track prepares students for careers in journalism and mass communication. Journalistic writing, and visual and online communication make-up the foundation of the professional program. The Multi-Platform Journalism track gives students a solid foundation in reporting news for television, radio, online, and print.
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Mass Communication: Multi-Platform Journalism
| Bachelor of Arts - Major in Mass Communication: Multi-Platform Journalism | ||
|---|---|---|
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | 1st year |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) | 8 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| PHIL 2303 | 3 | |
| ARTS 1360, ARTS 2360, or ARTS 2370 | 3 | |
| ECON 2300, ECON 2301, or ECON 2302* | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 14 | |
| Advanced Liberal Arts Electives | 13 | |
| Major Core | ||
| MCOM 1330 | 3 | |
| MCOM 1332 | 3 | |
| Writing Enhanced Mass Comm Courses | 6 | |
| MCOM 2371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4371 | 3 | |
| Track Electives | ||
| MCOM 1371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 2362 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3026 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3361 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3364 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3372 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4361 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4365 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3360 or MCOM 3366 or MCOM 3371 or MCOM 4364 or MCOM 4398 or MCOM 4399 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Film
The Film Production Track provides students interested in digital cinema with the basics of film production and the visual lexicon. This includes fundamental film production and post-production skills, as well as, an examination of contemporary and historical films in terms of style and context. This knowledge allows the student to have an appreciation of the tasks involved in filmmaking, developing skills to critically examine film texts and prepares students for an exciting career in the filmmaking industry
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Mass Communications: Film
| Bachelor of Arts - Major in Mass Communication: Film | ||
|---|---|---|
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | 1st year |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) | 8 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| PHIL 2303 | 3 | |
| ARTS 1360, ARTS 2360, or ARTS 2370 | 3 | |
| ECON 2300, ECON 2301 or ECON 2302* | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 14 | |
| Advanced Liberal Arts Electives | 13 | |
| Major Core | ||
| MCOM 1330 | 3 | |
| MCOM 1332 | 3 | |
| Writing Enhanced Mass Comm Courses | 6 | |
| MCOM 2371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4371 | 3 | |
| Track Electives | ||
| MCOM 3226 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3373 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3378 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3379 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4398 | 3 | |
| Minor or Specialized Area | ||
| (Departmental approval) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| Notes | ||
| *Courses may be counted in two separate requirements. | ||
| Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate. | ||
| Select at least 6 liberal arts hours from liberal arts courses listed at end of this section. | ||
Public Relations & Advertising
The Public Relations & Advertising emphasis prepares students for both agency work and leadership positions in corporate and/or nonprofit environments. While writing and presentation skills are essential, emphasis is on application of these writing and presentation skills for managing communication with individuals and groups in organizations. Students in the Public Relations & Advertising emphasis complete the MCOM four-course core and the professional seminar plus courses in public-relations & advertising principles, public-relations & advertising writing, and either strategic planning or campaigns for public relations and advertising. They also complete Communication Research Methods, MCOM electives, and one course in marketing.
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Mass Communication: Public Relations & Advertising
| Bachelor of Arts - Major in Mass Communication: Public Relations & Advertising | ||
|---|---|---|
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 | |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Sciences) | 8 | |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) | 3 | |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | |
| Component Area VI (US History) | 6 | |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| PHIL 2303 | 3 | |
| ARTS 1360, ARTS 2360, or ARTS 2370 | 3 | |
| ECON 2300, ECON 2301, ECON 2302* | 3 | |
| MKTG | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 14 | |
| Advanced Liberal Arts Electives | 13 | |
| Major Core | ||
| MCOM 1330 | 3 | |
| MCOM 1332 | 3 | |
| MCOM 2371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4371 | 3 | |
| Writing Enhanced Mass Comm Courses | 6 | |
| Track Electives |
||
| MCOM 2382 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3381 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3383 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3385 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3388 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4382 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4383 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4389 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| Notes | ||
| *Courses may be counted in two separate requirements. | ||
| Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate. | ||
| Select at least 6 liberal arts hours from liberal arts courses listed at end of this section. | ||
Broadcast Production
Students completing the Broadcast Production emphasis prepare for decision-making and technical responsibilities in broadcast, cable, and alternative video production. Technical, artistic, and management skills combine to ensure that quality electronic content is presented in an effective, appropriate, and engaging manner, within budget.
Broadcast production students complete the MCOM four-course core, the professional seminar, and four of the courses in the Broadcast Production emphasis: audio production, introductory visual communication, beginning single camera/nonlinear editing, TV studio production, and MCM electives. In addition broadcast production students complete a scriptwriting course for fiction and nonfiction and an advanced production course where they create and produce programming for the departmental television station. Every broadcast-production student will work at the radio and television stations during his/her college tenure and each will write, produce, shoot and edit his/her own television or radio programs for the stations.
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Mass Communication: Broadcast Production
| Bachelor of Arts - Major in Mass Communication: Broadcast Production | ||
|---|---|---|
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | 1st year |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) | 8 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| PHIL 2303 | 3 | |
| ARTS 1360, ARTS 2360, or ARTS 2370 | 3 | |
| ECON 2300, ECON 2301, or ECON 2302* | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 14 | |
| Advanced Liberal Arts Electives | 13 | |
| Major Core | ||
| MCOM 1330 | 3 | |
| MCOM 1332 | 3 | |
| MCOM 2371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 1371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3372 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3373 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4375 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4373 | 3 | |
| Track Electives | ||
| MCOM 3326 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3351 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3371 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3377 | 3 | |
| MCOM 3378 | 3 | |
| MCOM 4398 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
