Overview
Do you have a fascination with developing content and utilizing various social media platforms to their fullest? If so, then the Social Media Track will help you attain your future career goals. The Social Media Track consists of two certificates: one in content creation and the other in social media management.
In the content creation certificate, you’ll learn how to construct websites; explore the principles of media image management and repair; and learn how to use photographs and video to convey messages.
For the social media management certificate, you’ll learn how to manage personal and professional social media messages; how to evaluate client-based projects; and delve into future social media forms , and their issues of authorship, community, identity, interactivity, and visuality.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| GE: Mathematics *Any GE approved Math, MATH 2623/2623C recommended | 3-5 | |
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (7 s.h) *Two different Natural Science classes, one MUST include a lab | 7 | |
| Social Science (6 s.h.) | ||
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory required for major | 3 |
| GE: Social Science Course | 3 | |
| General Education Elective (9 s.h.) | ||
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication required for major | 3 |
| GE Elective Course | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CMST 1500 | Exploring Communication | 3 |
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 2654 | Community Engagement & Relations | 3 |
| CMST 2655 | Communication in Groups | 3 |
| CMST 2656 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| CMST 3700 | Designing Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 3756 | Interviewing | 3 |
| CMST 4896 | Communication Internship | 3 |
| or CMST 4859 | Organizational Cultures | |
| Required Support Courses | ||
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| MCOM 2624 | Communication Technology - Photo and Video | 3 |
| MCOM 3780 | Presentational Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL 3743 | Introduction to Public, Professional and Technical Writing | 3 |
| Community Engagement & Organization Track Requirements | ||
| Upon completion of these requirements students will earn certificates in Advocacy & Influence and Media Relations. | ||
| CMST 3717 | Intro to Media Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| CMST 3754 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 3 |
| or CMST 3754C | CE Argumentation and Advocacy | |
| CMST 3757 | Media Relations Writing | 3 |
| CMST 5860 | Persuasion and New Media | 3 |
| Pick 2 additional CMST electives 3700 level or higher | 6 | |
| Senior Capstone (3 s.h.) | ||
| CMST 4899 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Free Electives *Hours will vary based on what is needed for 120 SH | 25 | |
| Student must complete a minimum of 39 SH of Upper-Level Courses (3700-5800) | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-124 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| CMST 1500 | Exploring Communication | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| GE: Math Course *Any approve GE: Math, MATH 2623/2623C recommended | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 2600 or CMST 2630 | Communication Theory or Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 2656 or CMST 2655 | Interpersonal Communication or Communication in Groups | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| GE: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 2630 or CMST 2600 | Social Media Literacy or Communication Theory | 3 |
| CMST 2655 or CMST 2656 | Communication in Groups or Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| CMST 2654 or MCOM 2624 | Community Engagement & Relations or Communication Technology - Photo and Video | 3 |
| GE: Natural Science | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MCOM 2624 or CMST 2654 | Communication Technology - Photo and Video or Community Engagement & Relations | 3 |
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| GE: Lab Science | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 3790 | Personal Brand Communication | 3 |
| MCOM 3780 | Presentational Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 3740 | Social Media Communication | 3 |
| GE: Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 3700 or CMST 3756 | Designing Communication Research or Interviewing | 3 |
| ENGL 3743 | Introduction to Public, Professional and Technical Writing | 3 |
| CMST 3757 | Media Relations Writing | 3 |
| CMST 4896 or CMST 4859 | Communication Internship or Organizational Cultures | 3 |
| GE Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 3756 or CMST 3700 | Interviewing or Designing Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 4850 | Social Media Campaigns | 3 |
| CMST 4851 | New Communication Media | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 4899 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | |
| GE Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Regardless of track, students graduating with a B.A. degree in communication studies will:
1. Collect, analyze, and report qualitative and quantitative data, demonstrating information literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving.
2. Effectively employ mediated communication technologies, including their features, functions, and applications, to competently communicate across different mediums.
3. Create professional, coherent, organized, and persuasive oral and written messages, which adapt to various purposes, audiences, and platforms.
4. Embrace individual and cultural differences, respect diverse perspectives, and create messages that accommodate differences to be prepared for multicultural workplaces.
5. Develop skills in leadership, professionalism, conflict management, and teamwork in preparation for career readiness.
6. Apply communication theory and concepts to personal and professional contexts, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, team, organizational, and mediated.