The Richard T. Robertson School of Communication Culture offers a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with concentrations in one of four areas: advertising, journalism, media production or public relations. The journalism concentration provides students with the skills and practice necessary for careers in the news media.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following:
Mass communications core learning outcomes
- Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communication professions in which they work
- Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness
- Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communication professions in which they work
- Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts
- Think critically, creatively and independently
- Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications
- Understand and apply the principles and laws appropriate to the communication professions in which they work, including copyright and trademark law
- Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically
- Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information
Journalism/digital concentration-specific outcome
- Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the digital journalism profession, audiences and purposes they serve
Special requirements
The overview section of the Robertson School of Communication explains the requirements for students to be admitted to, and remain in, the foundation program or a specific concentration in the school.
Students must earn a total of 45 credits in classes at the 300-level and above, including upper-level mass communications course work. To graduate from the mass communications program, students must have a cumulative and major GPA of 2.5 and must earn a minimum grade of C in their senior-level capstone courses. The mass communications curriculum includes the foundation and specific concentrations.
Foundation course work for journalism students
MASC 101 and MASC 203, each with a minimum grade of C; and completion of general education courses UNIV 111, UNIV 112, POLI 103, ECON 203, STAT 208 or STAT 210, and a course from the scientific and logical reasoning area of inquiry. Completion of both ECON 210 and ECON 211 may substitute for ECON 203.
To enroll in MASC 203, students must receive departmental permission.
To enroll in a mass communications course, majors must have earned a minimum grade of C in all courses prerequisite for that course.
Degree requirements for Mass Communications, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in journalism/digital
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| MASC 101 | Mass Communications | 3 |
| MASC 274 | Diversity in the Media | 3 |
| MASC 300 | Technical Prowess | 3 |
| MASC 380 | Media and Culture | 3 |
| MASC 390 | Ethical Problems in Mass Media | 3 |
| MASC 408 | Communications Law | 3 |
| MASC 493 | Fieldwork/Internship | 3 |
| MASC 499 | Career Minded | 3 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| MASC 203 | Journalism Writing | 3 |
| MASC 303 | Reporting for Print and Web | 3 |
| MASC 305 | Copy Editing | 3 |
| MASC 363 | Introduction to Broadcast Writing | 3 |
| MASC 367 | Beginning Media Production | 3 |
| MASC 475 | Capital News Service | 6 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives) 3 | 3 |
| ENGL 215 | Reading Literature (Note: not all options satisfy general education BOK for humanities/fine art and AOI creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) | 3 |
| or ENGL 201 | Western World Literature I | |
| or ENGL 202 | Western World Literature II | |
| or ENGL 203 | British Literature I | |
| or ENGL 204 | British Literature II | |
| or ENGL 205 | American Literature I | |
| or ENGL 206 | American Literature II | |
| or ENGL 211 | Contemporary World Literature | |
| or ENGL 217 | Reading New Literature | |
| or ENGL 236 | Women in Literature | |
| or ENGL 250 | Reading Film | |
| or ENGL 291 | Topics in Literature | |
| or ENGL 295 | Introduction to Creative Writing | |
| or NEXT 240 | Reading Technology, Media and Culture | |
| HIST 103 & HIST 104 | Survey of American History I and Survey of American History II | 6 |
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| POLI 103 | U.S. Government and Politics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking (either satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| POLI or URSP course (300 level or higher) | 3 | |
| Experiential fine arts 4 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| History course (300 level or higher) | 3 | |
| Literature course (300 level or higher) except ENGL/TEDU 386 or TEDU 387 | 3 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 17-28 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
These capstone courses may not be taken simultaneously without permission from the instructor.
Six credits of MASC 475, which is repeatable, will satisfy the capstone requirement.
Completion of both ECON 210 and ECON 211 may substitute for ECON 203; ECON 210 satisfies the same general education categories.
Courses offered by the School of the Arts
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| MASC 101 | Mass Communications | 3 |
| MATH 131 or MATH 141 | Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (either is a prerequisite for STAT 208; counts as open elective) or Algebra with Applications | 3 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| General education course (select BOK for natural sciences and/or AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics (satisfies general education and AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| POLI 103 | U.S. Government and Politics (satisfies general education AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Experiential fine arts | 2-3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15-16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ENGL 215 or NEXT 240 | Reading Literature (either satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) or Reading Technology, Media and Culture | 3 |
| HIST 103 | Survey of American History I | 3 |
| MASC 203 | Journalism Writing | 3 |
| STAT 208 or STAT 210 | Statistical Thinking (either satisfies general education quantitative foundations) or Basic Practice of Statistics | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| HIST 104 | Survey of American History II | 3 |
| MASC 300 | Technical Prowess | 3 |
| MASC 303 | Reporting for Print and Web | 3 |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| MASC 363 | Introduction to Broadcast Writing | 3 |
| MASC 367 | Beginning Media Production | 3 |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| History course (300-level or higher) | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| MASC 274 | Diversity in the Media | 3 |
| MASC 305 | Copy Editing | 3 |
| MASC 380 | Media and Culture | 3 |
| POLI or URSP course (300-level or higher) | 3 | |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| MASC 390 | Ethical Problems in Mass Media | 3 |
| MASC 408 | Communications Law | 3 |
| MASC 475 | Capital News Service | 6 |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| MASC 493 | Fieldwork/Internship | 3 |
| MASC 499 | Career Minded | 3 |
| Literature course (300 level or higher) except ENGL/TEDU 386 or ENGL 387 | 3 | |
| Open elective | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 120-121 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.