Mass Communication, Public Relations Emphasis, BA

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Requirements

Students declaring a major in Mass Communication must have and maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.75. Students must make a “C” or better in all Mass Communication courses. The liberal arts curriculum at Tougaloo College requires that students earn 124 hours to complete graduation requirements. This includes 34-36 General Education Requirements. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. Students must choose from six (6) areas of emphasis directly related to the study of mass communication: Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, Radio and Television Broadcasting, Visual Art and Social Practice, or Performance.

All majors will complete 42-45 hours of required courses and 12 - 27 or 12 - 72 hours in the emphasis area. Students may choose up to four areas of emphasis. Mass Communication majors are required to take all courses in sequential order.

Public Relations

The public relations program provides practical, real-world training and experience in the planning and implementation of comprehensive public relations strategies and tactics. Specific technical skills are mastered through a well-sequenced core set of courses that provide each graduate with a portfolio of work, professional experience, and significant interaction with real clients and brands. Positions in the field of public relations include social media manager; communications director; newsletter editor; special events coordinator; publicity director; speechwriter; crisis management consultant; media relations manager; researcher and public relations director for corporations, education, government, and nonprofit organizations. Students majoring in public relations may earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relation. Students are required to take all courses in sequential order. Students need a minimum of 124 semester hours.

Curriculum Outcomes Redesigned for Engagement (CORE)/General Education Requirements

Click to see the Curriculum Outcomes Redesigned for Engagement (CORE)/General Education Requirements.

Required Courses for Mass Communication:

COM 101 - Introduction to Mass Communication 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 111 - Introduction to Mass Communication Theory 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 112 - Basic News Writing 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 113 - Voice and Diction 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 114 - Multimedia Workshop 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 115 - Reporting Principles and Practices 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 211 - Research and Writing in Mass Communication 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 212 - Media Ethics and Social Responsibility 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 311 - Mass Communication Law 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 312 - Graphics For Promotional Media 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 313 - Photography For the Mass Media 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 411 - Internship 3-6 Semester Hour(s)
COM 414 - Seminar In Mass Communication 3 Semester Hour(s)

Mass Communication Electives (6 hours required)

COM 412 - Persuasion 3 Semester Hour(s)
COM 413 - Mass Media in Society 3 Semester Hour(s)

Total: 42-45 hours

Public Relations (COP)

COP 111 - Principles of Public Relations 3 Semester Hour(s)
COP 211 - Public Relations Writing 3 Semester Hour(s)
COP 311 - Public Relations Case Studies 3 Semester Hour(s)
COP 312 - Public Relations Campaigns 3 Semester Hour(s)

Total: 12 hours

Additional Information

Course Numbering

Course numbers identify the level of the course. The following sequences of numbers have been assigned to courses in the Department of Mass Communication.

100 Freshman Level
200 Sophomore Level
300 Junior Level
400 Senior Level

Students who are at the freshman/sophomore level will not be allowed to enroll in courses at the junior/senior level unless all prerequisites have been met.

Course Abbreviations

The following course abbreviations will be used to identify emphasis areas within the Department of Mass Communication:

COM Core Courses (all students are required to take these courses)
COJ Journalism Emphasis
COP Public Relations Emphasis
COA Advertising Emphasis
COB Radio and Television Broadcasting Emphasis
CPF Performance
CAR Visual Art and Social Practice

The Degrees in The Department of Mass Communication are the following:

B.A. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Advertising
B.A. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Radio-Television Broadcasting
B.A. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations
B.A. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Journalism
B.A. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Visual Art and Social Practice, only with the Public Relations emphasis
B.A. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Performance, only with the Radio Television Broadcasting emphasis

English Prerequisites

The program for Mass Communication majors is designed for students to have a career where writing, research, critical thinking, analytical writing, and oral communication skills will be the foundation. All Mass Communication majors must earn a C or better in ENG 101 and ENG 102 before enrolling in COA 111 , COB 111 , COJ 111 , COP 111 , CPF 111 , CAR 221 , & COM 211 .

Curriculum Outcomes Redesigned for Engagement (CORE)/General Education Requirements

Tougaloo College requires a total of 124 credit hours to graduate. All students are required to take 37-39 credit hours of CORE general education courses, as outlined below:

SSS 101 - Student Success Seminar 2 Semester Hour(s)
SSS 102 - Student Success Seminar 2 Semester Hour(s)
ENG 101 - College Composition I 3 Semester Hour(s)
or
ENG 103 - Advanced College Composition I 4 Semester Hour(s)
ENG 102 - College Composition II 3 Semester Hour(s)
or
ENG 104 - Advanced College Composition II 4 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 100 - Diaspora Studies I 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 102 - Diaspora Studies II 3 Semester Hour(s)
MAT 103 - Pre Cal I 3 Semester Hour(s)
or
MAT 106 - Contemporary Math 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 220 - Total Wellness 3 Semester Hour(s)
Modern Languages 101 and 102 6 Semester Hour(s) (Choose one language and take two semesters - French or Spanish)
ENG 201 - Introduction to World Literature 3 Semester Hour(s)

All students are required to select any two courses from below:

GEN 200 - The New Jim Crow 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 201 - Advocates for Children, Families, & Communities 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 210 - The Secret of Life 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 211 - Race, Gender, & Medicine 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 221 - Human Wellness through Arts and Spirituality 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 230 - Evolution of Education 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 231 - Social Media & Society: Likes, Links, Timelines, & Tweets 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 240 - Black Like Me: The Black Body and the Media 3 Semester Hour(s)
GEN 241 - Rewrite Mississippi: Narratives of Hate and Harmony in Mississippi 3 Semester Hour(s)

Students majoring in one of the Social Science disciplines are required to take a Social Science CORE General Education course and a Natural Science CORE General Education course (i.e., GEN 200: The New Jim Crow and GEN 210: The Secret of Life or GEN 221: Race, Gender & Medicine).

Students majoring in one of the Humanities disciplines are required to take a Natural Science CORE General Education course (i.e., GEN 210: The Secret of Life or GEN 211: Race, Gender & Medicine) and any other above CORE General Education course.

Critical Notes:

Some students may be advised or required to pass developmental, precollege, non-degree credit course based on their ACT score.
ENG 100, ENG 300, and MAT 091 are requirements for those students who demonstrate a need. Credits earned from developmental courses do not count toward hours required for graduation.
Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required CORE general education courses.
Students have the option to “test out” of modern languages at the elementary levels and earn credit toward graduation.