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The Richard T. Robertson School of Communication offers a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with concentrations in one of four areas: advertising, journalism, media production or public relations. The media production concentration prepares students for behind-the-scenes careers in film, television, video, online and other media creating compelling stories and messages.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following:
Mass communications core learning outcomes
- Apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, in a global context, and for the country in which the institution that invite ACEJMC is located
- Demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications
- Demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts
- Present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies
- Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
- Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work
- Effectively and correctly apply basic numerical and statistical concepts
- 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 communications professions in which they work
Media production concentration-specific outcome
- Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for media production professions, audiences and purposes they serve
Special requirements
The overview section 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 media production students
MASC 101, MASC 255 and MASC 285, each with a minimum grade of C; and completion of general education courses UNIV 111, UNIV 200, 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 285, 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 media production
| 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 200 | Technical Prowess I | 3 |
| MASC 300 | Technical Prowess II | 3 |
| MASC 310 | Audience Insights | 3 |
| MASC 391 | Career Minded | 3 |
| MASC 395 | Communication Ethics and Law | 3 |
| MASC 400 | Integrated Communication Lab | 3 |
| MASC 493 | Fieldwork/Internship | 3 |
| • Major electives | ||
| MASC (300-500 level) 1 | 6 | |
| Concentration requirements | ||
| MASC 255 | Media Production Foundation | 3 |
| MASC 285 | Scriptwriting | 3 |
| MASC 367 | Media Production I | 3 |
| MASC 410 | Media Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MASC 415 | Media Production II | 3 |
| MASC 483 | The Documentary | 3 |
| MASC 484 | Media Foundry | 3 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives) 2 | 3 |
| ENGL 215 | Reading Literature (ENGL 215, ENGL 217, ENGL 250 and NEXT 240 satisfy BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for 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 | |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| PHTO 290 | Photography for Non-majors | 1-3 |
| 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 | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| AI literacy course 4 | 3 | |
| Literature course (300-500 level) except ENGL/TEDU 386 | 3 | |
| POLI, HIST or URSP (300-500 level) 5 | 3 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 26 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| MASC 101 | Mass Communications | 3 |
| MATH 131 or MATH 141 | Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (satisfies open elective) or Algebra with Applications | 3 |
| POLI 103 | U.S. Government and Politics (satisfies general education AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics (satisfies general education AOI for global perspectives) 1 | 3 |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| MASC 200 | Technical Prowess I | 3 |
| MASC 255 | Media Production Foundation | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course (select BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ENGL 215 or NEXT 240 | Reading Literature (either satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine art and AOI creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) or Reading Technology, Media and Culture | 3 |
| MASC 285 | Scriptwriting | 3 |
| MASC 300 | Technical Prowess II | 3 |
| STAT 208 or STAT 210 | Statistical Thinking (either satisfies general education quantitative foundations) 2 or Basic Practice of Statistics 2 | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| MASC 310 | Audience Insights | 3 |
| PHTO 290 | Photography for Non-majors | 3 |
| AI literacy course 3 | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| MASC 367 | Media Production I | 3 |
| MASC 391 | Career Minded | 3 |
| MASC 395 | Communication Ethics and Law | 3 |
| Literature course (300-500 level) except ENGL/TEDU 386 | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| MASC 410 | Media Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MASC 415 | Media Production II | 3 |
| MASC elective (300-500 level) 4 | 3 | |
| POLI, HIST or URSP course (300-500 level) | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| MASC 400 | Integrated Communication Lab | 3 |
| MASC 483 | The Documentary | 3 |
| MASC elective (300-500 level) 4 | 3 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| MASC 484 | Media Foundry | 3 |
| MASC 493 | Fieldwork/Internship | 3 |
| Open electives (300-500 level if needed) | 8 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.