Overview
Our Media Track was developed in conjunction with new courses in media relations writing, media relations campaigns, and media analysis. The goal of this track is to provide students with practical, hands-on experience with media relations applications and strategies, new media technologies, and current and emerging mass communication practices. This track provides professional skills in media management and public relations. You will be introduced to old and new technologies as well as more challenging issues related to research of new communication technologies.
Media analysis (CMST 4898) will teach you to critically analyze media messages; explore how political, social, and economic forces affect media messages; and discuss how media content affects media users. In media relations writing (CMST 3757) and media relations campaigns (CMST 3717), you will learn how to write press releases and ad content for different types of media and how to plan and implement a public relations, marketing, and advertising campaign using a variety of mass media outlets. Because media relations campaigns and information technology skills are often applied in business settings, you will take a course in organizational cultures (CMST 4859) to prepare you to use your media skills in diverse organizational settings.
Possible Careers
- Advertising
- Agent (e.g., sports, entertainment)
- Web Designer/Director
- Writer
- Community Relations
- News Service Researcher
- Public Relations Manager
- Market Research
- Information Management
- Media Buyer/Ad Sales
- Audience/Media Research
Complementary Minors
- Advertising/Public Relations
- Art & Technology
- Language
- Graphic Design
- Information Systems Programming
- Integrated Technologies
- Journalism
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Multimedia and Web Design
- Photography
- Professional and Technical Writing
- Telecommunication Studies
Students majoring in communication studies must successfully complete all core courses and one of the specified tracks for a total of 39 semester hours in CMST. Students must complete 18 credits of 3000- and 4000-level courses in the CMST major. Students must also complete all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree, including the completion of an approved academic minor.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Competencies | 12 | |
| Writing 1 | ||
| Writing 2 | ||
| Communication Foundations | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 6 | |
| Natural Science | 7 | |
| Social Science | 6 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness | 6 | |
| General Education Elective or First Year Experience Course (e.g., CCAC 1500) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1550 | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 2600 | 4 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 2655 | Communication in Groups and Organizations | 3 |
| CMST 2656 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| CMST 3700 | Designing Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 4899 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Media Track | ||
| CMST 3717 | Intro to Media Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| CMST 3756 | Interviewing | 3 |
| CMST 3757 | Media Relations Writing | 3 |
| CMST 4850 | Social Media Campaigns | 3 |
| CMST 4851 | New Communication Media | 3 |
| CMST 4859 | Organizational Cultures | 3 |
| CMST 4898 | Media Analysis | 3 |
| Minor Requirements (note that some minors require more than 18 credits) | 18 | |
| Electives (note that students must complete 48 hours of upper division courses; 37xx and above) | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3 |
| MATH XXXX Approved General Education | 3 | |
| AH XXXX Arts & Humanities | 3 | |
| NS XXXX Natural Science GER + lab | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 2656 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| SPA XXXX GER Social & Personal Awareness | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 2655 | Communication in Groups and Organizations | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| SPA XXXX GER Social & Personal Awareness | 3 | |
| NS XXXX GER Natural Science | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1550 | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 3756 | Interviewing | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| AH XXXX GER Arts & Humanities | 3 | |
| SS XXXX GER Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 2600 | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 3700 | Designing Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 3717 | Intro to Media Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| CMST 4859 | Organizational Cultures | 3 |
| SS XXXX Social Sciences GER | 3 | |
| Upper-division General Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 3757 | Media Relations Writing | 3 |
| CMST 4898 | Media Analysis | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| GER XXXX General Education Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 4850 | Social Media Campaigns | 3 |
| CMST 4851 | New Communication Media | 3 |
| Upper-division Minor course | 3 | |
| Upper-division General Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-division General Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 4899 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Upper-division Minor course | 3 | |
| Upper-division General Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-division General Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 12 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Regardless of track, students graduating with a B.A. degree in communication studies will:
- differentiate between key theories and concepts in communication
- find, interpret, evaluate, and synthesize academic research in communication studies
- demonstrate verbal and nonverbal competence
Students completing their degree in communication studies are uniquely qualified to enter the job market and compete effectively throughout their careers for advancement and promotion.
Through course offerings and applied learning experiences, the communication studies program combines a rich liberal arts emphasis with a much needed specialized professional and career focus for undergraduate students.