The paradigm below is one example of how this major may be completed. Students may use their elective credits to explore other majors or to enroll in skill-building courses in mathematics, reading, writing and/or study skills. With planning, students may use these credits to complete a minor, enroll in a practicum or internship, or study abroad.
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It is the responsibility of the student to complete all major and university requirements. Please refer to the university catalog for additional information regarding this major. Course title and content is subject to change. Not all courses are offered each semester or year. Please consult with your major advisor for the most current information.
*Students enrolled in the Lasallian Honors Program should consult the program director for the appropriate sequence of courses.
**Students can take these courses, in any combination, during either the fall or spring semester.
(From the 2011-13 Catalog)
The following courses are required for graduation.
A. Mass Communication Core
All of the following:
AR103 - Art Foundations I (3 credits)
Foundations I is a study of the principles and elements of two-and three-dimensional design. It is also an introduction to drawing, color theory, and painting for the professional. The course is conducted in a studio-lecture format.
AR303 - Graphic Design I (3 credits)
An introductory study of the principles, tools, and techniques of design for publishing and advertising. It includes a study of typography, designer’s and printer’s vocabulary, and the aesthetics of graphic design. This course is taught on the computer using the most widely used software applications in publishing and printing.
Prerequisite: AR103.
E295 - Practical Grammar (2 credits)
The purpose of this course is to teach students to identify basic and advanced grammatical structures. Students are asked to apply this grammatical knowledge to exercises that require them to edit for grammar and punctuation.
Offered spring semester. Prerequisite: E120 or equivalent.
MC111 - Introduction to Mass Communication (3 credits)
A study of the history, production methods, and social and economic factors of the mass media. This course gives students an understanding of print media, broadcast media and public relations by analyzing the technical development and social impact of media.
MC201 - Reporting I (3 credits)
Principles and practice in journalistic writing and related skills and theory, including style and conventions of journalistic writing, news judgment criteria, techniques for interviewing, ethical dimensions. Extensive writing in and out of class.
Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: keyboard fluency and either E120 or E220.
Exploration of and experience in the professional skills needed to produce news and public relations materials. Includes copy editing, grammar, style and headline writing; organization and structure of texts in news and public relations; computerized editing functions.
Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: MC111 and MC201. Students who take MC201 and MC301 must take them prior to, not concurrently with, MC308 unless permission is granted by instructor of MC308.
Prerequisites:
MC111 Introduction to Mass Communication
MC201 Reporting I
MC488 - Contemporary Issues in Mass Communication (3 credits)
An examination of contemporary ethical situations regarding the media professional’s role in determining guidelines to provide the public with relevant contextual material. Emphasis in this course is placed upon an understanding of the limits and guarantees of the First Amendment, the four major theories of the press and the practice of communications as part of a community.
Offered fall semester only. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
MC497 - Internship: Media Communications (1-17 credits)
An opportunity for qualified juniors or seniors to participate in a field experience under the guidance and supervision of competent professionals.
Prerequisite: consent of mass communication coordinator.
B. All of the following:
MC230 - Principles of Public Relations (3 credits)
Theory, history, and practice of public relations in society; consideration of public relations programs, the process of influencing public opinion, the responsibilities of the public relations practitioner, ethics of public relations practice, and professional public relations organizations.
Offered spring semester only. Prerequisite: MC111.
MC301 - Reporting II (3 credits)
Hands-on experience in identifying, pursuing, and writing news stories; principles and practice in writing various news-story types.
Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC111 and MC201.
MC314 - Public Relations Writing (3 credits)
Intensive writing in the forms characteristic of public relations; practice in writing news releases, fact sheets, newsletters, company periodicals, brochures, annual reports, and corporate advertising.
Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC111, MC201 and MC230.
MC400 - Public Relations Research (3 credits)
This course provides students with an understanding of terms and applications of both quantitative and qualitative public relations research, measurement and evaluation. Students learn what public relations practitioners do to research and evaluate PR campaigns, and then conduct research projects.
This course is usually taken in the junior or senior year, but must be taken prior to enrollment in MC443. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC230 and ST132.
MC443 - Case Studies in Public Relations (3 credits)
Public relations case studies in various organizations including the application of public relations techniques to representative problems and communication materials for various media are planned and prepared.
Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: MC111, MC230, MC314, and junior or senior standing.
C. Three credits selected from the following:
AR344 - Photo and Digital Imaging (3 credits)
This is an advanced course which combines the skills acquired in AR243 Photography with the knowledge gained in AR303 Graphic Design I. The course utilizes the scanner, digital cameras, CDs and the imaging program, Adobe Photoshop, for the creation of new expressions of art.
Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: AR243 and AR303.
AR403 - Graphic Design II (3 credits)
This course provides more defined and specific graphic design problems. Emphasis is placed on working with computer applications and pre-press preparation. The student designs a personal portfolio as a final project.
Offered spring semester. Prerequisite: AR303 and AR304.
CS102 - Business Computer Applications (3 credits)
This course provides in-depth coverage of Microsoft Excel and Access in the context of business applications. Excel topics include formulas and functions, charting, large datasets, pivot tables and what-if analysis. Access topics include relational database concepts, database design, basic query construction, and report generation. This course combines online and hands-on learning.
Prerequisite: AC222 for business majors.
MC298 - Field Exploration (1-3 credits)
Practical application of various media communications techniques.
Prerequisite: consent of mass communication coordinator.
MC331 - Reporting Governmental Affairs (3 credits)
An examination of units of local and state government and their coverage in the news media; projects designed to familiarize students with the workings of governmental and quasi-governmental agencies.
Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: MC111, MC201 and MC301.
This course provides students with an understanding of legal and ethical issues involving print and broadcast media and the Internet, including libel, obscenity, invasion of privacy, shielding of sources, freedom of the press, copyright, and government regulation.
This course must be taken in the junior or senior year. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC111 and MC201.
MC498 - Special Topics in Media Communications (1-3 credits)
Examinations of specific media-related issues and practices; such courses, when offered, are offered on the basis of student and faculty interest and availability of appropriate faculty to teach those courses.
MG219 - Principles of Management (3 credits)
This first course in management stresses an understanding of the management functions as an integral part of the business organization. Attention is given to planning, leading, organizing, controlling and other aspects of the managerial process.
Prerequisite: mathematics competency.
MK217 - Principles of Marketing (3 credits)
This beginning course in marketing develops an understanding of the marketing function and its central importance to the business organization. Attention is paid to a variety of marketing topics including products, channels and distribution, pricing, promotion, buyer behavior, and ethical issues in marketing.
Prerequisite: mathematics competency.
MK372 - Advertising and Promotions (3 credits)
This course examines the role of advertising and promotions in influencing target markets. Topics include planning an integrated marketing communication campaign, media planning and selection, creative concept development, measuring advertising effectiveness, determining advertising budgets, and uses of promotion tools to meet objectives.
Prerequisite: MK217.
S110 - Sociological Imagination (3 credits)
The nature and foundations of society and the individual, the main forces that strengthen and weaken social groups and the conditions that transform social life is examined in this course.
