Special requirements
The overview section of the Robertson School of Media and Culture 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 both a minimum cumulative GPA and a minimum 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 public relations students
MASC 101, MASC 205 and MASC 210, 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 205, 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 public relations
Course | Title | Hours |
| 30 |
| |
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 |
| |
MASC 205 | Introduction to Public Relations Writing | 3 |
MASC 210 | Public Relations | 3 |
MASC 333 | Integrated Communication Writing | 3 |
MASC 336 | Social Media for Public Relations | 3 |
MASC 337 | Public Relations Strategy | 3 |
MASC 425 | Public Relations Research Methods | 3 |
MASC 439 | Agency | 3 |
| |
| 6 |
ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives) 1 | 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 |
ENGL 304 | Persuasive Writing | 3 |
HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
MKTG 301 | Marketing Principles | 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 |
or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics |
| 3 |
2 | 1-3 |
| 0-6 |
| 3 |
| 11-22 |
Total Hours | 120 |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Public relations electives
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
| Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics ()
or Algebra with Applications | 3 |
POLI 103 | U.S. Government and Politics () | 3 |
UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I () | 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Spring semester | |
ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics () | 3 |
HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
MASC 210 | Public Relations | 3 |
MASC 274 | Diversity in the Media | 3 |
UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II () | 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 |
Sophomore year |
Fall semester | |
ENGL 215
| Reading Literature ()
or Reading Technology, Media and Culture | 3 |
MASC 205 | Introduction to Public Relations Writing | 3 |
STAT 208
| Statistical Thinking ()
or Basic Practice of Statistics | 3 |
UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication () | 3 |
| 2-3 |
| Term Hours: | 14-15 |
Spring semester | |
ENGL 304 | Persuasive Writing | 3 |
MASC 300 | Technical Prowess | 3 |
MASC 333 | Integrated Communication Writing | 3 |
MASC 337 | Public Relations Strategy | 3 |
MASC 380 | Media and Culture | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Junior year |
Fall semester | |
MASC 336 | Social Media for Public Relations | 3 |
MASC 408 | Communications Law | 3 |
MASC 499 | Career Minded | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Spring semester | |
MASC 390 | Ethical Problems in Mass Media | 3 |
MKTG 301 | Marketing Principles | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Senior year |
Fall semester | |
MASC 425 | Public Relations Research Methods | 3 |
MASC 493 | Fieldwork/Internship | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Spring semester | |
MASC 439 | Agency | 3 |
MGMT 310 | Managing People in Organizations | 3 |
| 3 |
| 6 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
| Total Hours: | 120-121 |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.