Mass Communication-Public Relations

Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded in Mass Communication, with concentrations in Journalism, Communication Studies, International Communication, Advertising, Sports Communication, and Public Relations. The Program includes a variety of course offerings in New Media.

Hear from a student in the Mass Communications program

The Mass Communication Program offers students an interdisciplinary foundation in the basic theory and skills necessary to become media practitioners and more informed media consumers.

Students have the opportunity to pursue internships and independent projects that allow them to have real world experience in the mass media professions. Graduates of this program have gone on to a variety of careers in the media field, including those in advertising, corporate communication, public relations, journalism, and broadcasting. Students interested in graduate studies have also advanced to graduate schools across the country.

The Public Relations concentration prepares graduates with the skills needed to represent and articulate the position of a client in a way that is understandable and even compelling. Public Relations practitioners can take complicated and make them understandable to the general public or to a targeted audience. Creativity as well as strong oral and written communication skills are essential. Public Relations specialists possess the ability to understand the disposition and the expectations of a targeted audience. They learn to empathize with it and respond to it. Public Relations specialists find employment opportunities in the corporate sector, in government agencies, in public relations firms and in not-for profits.

Learning Outcomes

The Mass Communication Program prepares students to be able to do the following:

To demonstrate effective speaking and listening skills for communication in personal, public, and media areas.

To demonstrate effective writing skills for communication in personal, public, and media areas.

To demonstrate the ability to observe events, gather information, write news reports and news releases, report on events, and edit other people’s writings.

To demonstrate the ability to understand the media critically and recognize how media shape and are shaped by politics, society, culture, economics, and daily lives.

To demonstrate the ability to recognize the power of persuasion and ethical responsibilities of communicators in communication at all levels.

To demonstrate an understanding of the roles of communication in fostering interaction and interdependence across gender, race, and culture.

To demonstrate the ability to apply communication theories to analyze contemporary problems.

To demonstrate an understanding of the history, development, and practice of the print media, electronic media, and the new media.

* Note for all College of Public and International Affairs majors, a portfolio is collected to track progress in programmatic outcomes

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline July 1 is the last date to apply for the Fall Semester which begins late August/early September;November 1 is the last date to apply for the Spring Semester which begins mid-January Tuition fee

• USD 30965 Year (National)
• USD 30965 Year (International)

Start date September 2015 Credits 120
Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

Example Advertising program schedule:

FIRST SEMESTER

• Engl C101 Composition and Rhetoric 3
• Hum C201 Humanities I 3
• MCom 110 Public Communication 3
• Foreign Language 101 3
• Elective 3

SECOND SEMESTER

• Math C105 Intermediate Algebra
• Or Math C108 Ideas of Mathematics 3
• Hum C202 Humanities II 3
• MCom 111 Introduction to Mass Communication 3
• Foreign Language 102 3
• Elective 3

THIRD SEMESTER

• SoSc C201 Social Science I 3
• FA C101 Fine Arts 3
• MCom 211 Communication Theory 3
• MCom 220 Introduction to Advertising
• Or MCom 270 Public Relations 3
• Foreign Language 103 3

FOURTH SEMESTER

• Sosc C202 Social Science II 3
• InSt C101 Integrated Studies/Oral Comm. 3
• MCom 323 Advertising Copywriting
• Or MCom 370 Publicity Methods 3
• Mass Communication Elective 3
• Foreign Language 104 3

FIFTH SEMESTER

• Sci C101 Natural Science Core 3
• MCom 330 Advertising Media Planning 3
• Mass Communication Elective 3
• Elective 3
• Liberal Arts Elective 3

SIXTH SEMESTER

• Sci C102 Natural Science Core 3
• MCom Advertising and PR Campaigns 3
• Mass Communication Elective 3
• Liberal Arts Elective 3
• Elective 3

SEVENTH SEMESTER

• Caps C390 Capstone Seminar
• Or MCom 395 Senior Seminar in Mass Communication 3
• Mass Communication Elective 3
• Electives 6
• Liberal Arts Elective 3

EIGHTH SEMESTER

• Caps C390 Capstone Seminar
• Or MCom 395 Senior Seminar in Mass Communication 3
• Electives 12

Total Semester Hours 120

Summary of Requirements

(36 SEMESTER HOURS)
MASS COMMUNICATION CORE

• MCom 110 Public Communication 3*
• MCom 111 Introduction to Mass Communication 3
• MCom 211 Communication Theory 3
• MCom 395 Senior Seminar in Mass Communication 3

PUBLIC RELATIONS

• MCOM 270 Public Relations 3

Take FOUR course from the following:

• MCOM 201 Persuasive Communication 3
• MCOM 346 Media Management 3
• MCOM 384 Organizational Communication 3
• MCOM 339 Advertising and PR Campaigns 3
• MCOM 370 Publicity Methods 3

• MASS COMMUNICATION ELECTIVES ______________12
• FREE ELECTIVES________________________________36
• FOREIGN LANGUAGE ____________________________6
• GENERAL EDUCATION____________________________40-42

TOTAL 120

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 TOEFL paper-based test score : 500 TOEFL iBT® test : 61

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

You can demonstrate proof of English Language competency by meeting any one of the criteria listed below:

1. A letter certifying completion of level 6 at the University’s English Language Institute (ELI).
Attainment of a satisfactory score on the University of Bridgeport’s English Language Assessment Battery (ELAB).

2. A minimum TOEFL score of 500 (PBT), 173 (CBT), or 61 (IBT) for undergraduates and a minimum score of 550 (PBT), 213 (CBT), or 80 (IBT) for graduates (post-graduates).

3. A minimum IELTS (Cambridge Testing) Band score of 6.0 for Undergraduates and a minimum Band score of 6.5 for graduates (post-graduates).

4. A transcript from an accredited American university indicating a grade of “C” or better in one semester of college English Composition.

5. Critical Reading SAT score of 400 or above; or ACT English score of 19 or above.

6.An official letter certifying completion of ELS (English Language Service) through level 112.

7.An official letter certifying completion of CSE (The Center for English Studies) through level 7.5.

8. A Michigan English Assessment Battery (MELAB) score of 69 or above for undergraduates and score of 77 or above for graduates.

9. A Prueba de Aptitud Academica (PAA) English achievement score of 500 or above.

10. A level of “Advanced” on the English Language Proficiency Test of the College Board.

11. An official “O” level or “A” level Certificate indicating a grade of “C” or better in English.

12. An EIKEN score of Grade 2A or above for undergraduates and a score of Grade Pre-1 or above for graduates.

13. A score of 4 or better on the “English A” Higher Level examination in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

14. WAEC, WASSE, CXC, etc. – Score of “C” or better on English Language exam.

15. A minimum Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) score of 44 for undergraduates and a minimum PTE Academic score of 53 for graduates (post-graduates).

You must demonstrate English language competency in one of the ways listed above. If you don’t demonstrate English language competency in one of these ways prior to registration, you will be given the University English Language Assessment Battery (ELAB) test upon arrival. If you pass at a satisfactory level, you may begin classes.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

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