All mass communication students complete a 39-credit major that includes a broad range of courses across the discipline, including advertising, journalism, broadcasting, interpersonal communication and our capstone course, Senior Production, in which students working in groups of three or four produce an original 12- to 15-minute documentary. Students also complete an 18-credit minor in order to study a sub-field in depth. Minors include journalism, broadcasting, advertising/public relations and digital media.
The department offers a good mix of skills courses across the discipline. Students are required to write, shoot video, edit (both the printed word and video), create advertisements, design web sites, learn graphics software, improve their public speaking, and learn what it takes to succeed in the constantly changing mass communication fields. These skills are put into practice through participation in student media that includes newspaper, yearbook, television and podcasting operations, all of which are enhanced through several social media and digital platforms. Students are also required to complete at least one internship, although many have two or even three internships behind them before graduating.
This skill-building is complemented by giving students proper context in courses such as Mass Communication Law, Media Ethics and Film Appreciation.
Employers tell us constantly that they want not only the skills listed above, but also what we call the soft skills, including time management, ability to meet deadlines, ability to work with a wide range of personalities and teams, ability to stay calm under pressure, problem-solving, flexibility/adaptability and leadership. Employers also tell us our students succeed in large part, due mostly to the fact that they have to juggle multiple demands at once for most of their time at MSU.
2023-2024
The 2023-24 mass communication degree plan is available here.
The 2023-24 multimedia production minor degree plan is available here.
A sample four-year plan is available here.
Students who are majoring in a field other than mass communication may complete a minor within the department. The requirements for these minors can be found by clicking the links below:
We also have the following signature minors available:
2022-2023
The 2022-23 mass communication degree plan is available here.
The 2022-23 multimedia production minor degree plan is available here.
A sample four-year plan is available here.
Students who are majoring in a field other than mass communication may complete a minor within the department. The requirements for these minors can be found by clicking the links below:
We also have the following signature minors available:
2021-2022
The 2021-22 mass communication degree plan is available here.
The 2021-22 multimedia production minor degree plan is available here.
A sample four-year plan is available here.
Descriptions of all courses can be found in the 2021-2022 MSU catalog on the Registrar’s page, which is available here.
Students who are majoring in a field other than mass communication may complete a minor within the department. The requirements for these minors can be found by clicking the links below:
We also have the following signature minors available:
We offer opportunities for learning communities and undergraduate research.
Students may also study mass communication in London as part of our Study Abroad program.