Communication, Mass Communication, BA

Program Description:

The completion of the mass communication curriculum in the communication department leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Communication students gain an understanding of human communication through the acquisition of skills in speaking, critical thinking.

The Bachelor of Arts in communication is suitable for students who wish to enter a communication-related career or for individuals interested in personal development. The department offers majors in mass communication, organizational communication, and communication studies. Study in organizational communication is appropriate for students seeking careers in training and development or other organizational communication specialties. Study in mass communication is appropriate for students interested in journalism, media management and production, and public relations. The communication studies program allows students to select courses from all of the communication majors to meet their specific needs.

The communication major can expect to take both theoretical and practical courses and to study communication from both the traditional point of view and through experience. Consequently, students are advised to take advantage of the communication activities in the department, college, and university. These activities include cable television, WWSU-FM radio station, The Guardian (student newspaper), the Public Relations Club, cooperative education, and involvement in Dayton area professional organizations.

Mass Communication

The mass communication major will complete both theoretical and applied courses. The media curriculum requires students to demonstrate competencies related to communication and media, writing, performance, and production, with emphasis on ethics and critical thinking. As media communication continue to evolve, the curriculum will embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and social changes presented by emerging technologies of communication and information.

Communication Honors Program

The communication honors program provides outstanding students with opportunities to pursue advanced study. To enter the program, students must complete 40 credit hours in communication and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.0 overall. Departmental honors will be awarded when the student completes the required number of hours for a major in communication, including at least 12 credit hours in approved communication honors courses. Students must complete a departmental honors project and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.5 GPA in communication courses while they are in the honors program.

Faculty:

Professors Gaines, Spirek (chair)

Associate Professor John

Assistant Professor Peterson, Thompson

Lecturer Baxter

Program Requirements:

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2: Mathematics: 3 Hours

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Additional Core Courses: 6 Hours

Required:

COM 1010 - Essentials of Public Address Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Departmental Requirements: 38 Hours

COM 1010 - Essentials of Public Address Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 1040 - Introduction to Human Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 1520 - Mass Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 2560 - Basic Media Writing Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 3450 - Public Relations: Principles and Practice Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 3680 - Photographic Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4640 - Broadcast Criticism Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 3660 - Advanced News Writing Credit Hour(s): 4
COM 4490 - Survey of Communication Research Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4710 - Topics in Communication Credit Hour(s): 3 (take twice)
COM 4110 - Performance for the Media Credit Hour(s): 4
COM 4620 - Mass Media: Law and Regulation Credit Hour(s): 3

III. Related Requirements

IV. College Requirements: 18 Hours

Foreign Language: 12 Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one language:

Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Japanese, American Sign Language or other.

Methods of Inquiry

Quantitative Methods: 3 Hours

COM 4490 - Survey of Communication Research Credit Hour(s): 3

Qualitative Methods: 3 Hours

One Course from:

PHL 2150 - Inductive Logic Credit Hour(s): 3
PHL 2230 - Symbolic Logic I Credit Hour(s): 3
PHL 3230 - Symbolic Logic II Credit Hour(s): 3
PHL 4710 - Philosophy of Physical Science Credit Hour(s): 3
PHL 4720 - Philosophy of Social Science Credit Hour(s): 3

V. Electives: 30 Hours

Total: 124 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.