Mass Communications

Minor Requirements

The Mass Communications minor consists of 21 credits distributed as follows:

• COM 1050 Introduction to Mass Communications (3 credits)
• COM 2570 Writing for Mass Communications Media I (3 credits)
• COM 3110 Mass Communications Law (3 credits)
• 12 credits of any COM electives

A minor in Sports Media is also available.

What We Offer

The principles of communication never change, but they can be applied in diverse ways. The faculty at Methodist University complement one another in skills and backgrounds. Our professors have worked on movie sets both in front of and behind the camera. They are also skilled in audio production, radio announcing, public speaking, computer graphics, and all aspects of modern computer-based communication. They also have relationships with local media companies and can offer many possibilities for internships and job referrals. Success in any endeavor is never guaranteed, but the more skills one acquires, the better one’s ultimate position becomes.

The Course Structure

What do our graduates do? That depends entirely on them. Our program is intended to be flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of paths. We establish a core of general theory classes, but beyond that students may choose from a number of electives. Our students study advertising, video production, web page and multimedia design, graphics and animation, performance for the camera, radio production, print journalism, and much more. We also structure the prerequisites in such a way as to keep all courses open to the student whenever possible.

Internships

How do you learn communications technology? By using it. How do you learn to be a communications specialist? By being one. Our students have enormous opportunities for internships. They learn by doing in a variety of supervised environments. Ultimately many of our interns become full-time employees and have numerous opportunities to prove themselves. If one believes in one’s self, horizons always expand.

Mission

The purpose of the Mass Communications program is to prepare students to work in the mass media in a number of possible capacities. We also help students become more aware of how the media affects their lives and how they can best help use it to serve the society of tomorrow. Because mass communications is such a vast and diverse discipline, we offer four separate concentrations with a common core of required classes. Students are encouraged to specialize, but be knowledgeable in as many other areas as possible.

Goals

• Graduates will be competent and ready for entry-level employment in their respective fields.
• Graduates will be knowledgeable in the area of computer-based communications and will achieve competence in computer graphics, multimedia design, computer-based video production, and interactive communications.
• Graduates will be competent in written, oral, and visual communication as well as in critical thinking.
• Students will become more critical consumers of information and information technologies and will become more aware of the planning process and techniques involved in the production of a variety of media products.
• Degree(s) Awarded: B.A., B.S. With approval of the Mass Communications Program Director comparable or substitute courses may be used to fulfill major and minor requirements for a B.A or B.S. degree in Mass Communications.