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The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded in Mass Communication, with concentrations in Advertising, Communication Studies, International Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations.

The Mass Communication Program offers students an interdisciplinary foundation in the basic theory and skills necessary to become media practitioners and more informed media consumers.

Students have the opportunity to pursue internships and independent projects that allow them to have real world experience in the mass media professions. Graduates of this program have gone on to a variety of careers in the media field, including those in advertising, corporate communication, public relations, journalism, and broadcasting. Students interested in graduate studies have also advanced to graduate schools across the country.

Students attaining the degree in Mass Communication must complete 36 hours of coursework in the Mass Communication area. All students must complete the 12-hour core requirements. In addition, students must complete 12 hours in one of the four concentrations.

In addition to the 12-hour core and 12-hour concentration, students are also required to complete an additional 12 hours of elective coursework in Mass Communication for a total of 36 hours.

Here are the courses currently offered as part of the program:
Public Communication (MCom 110)
Intro to Mass Communication (MCom 111)
Co-Operative Education (MCom 200)
Persuasive Communication (MCom 201)
Communication Theory (MCom 211)
Interpersonal Communication (MCom 205)
Intro to Advertising (MCom 220)
News Reporting (MCom 240)
Public Relations (MCom 270)
Business & Professional Communication (MCom 284)
Intercultural Communication (MCom 290)
Communication & Group Decision-Making (MCom 303)
Argumentation & Debate (MCom 306)
Advertising Copywriting (MCom 323)
Advertising Media Planning (MCom 330)
TV Commercial (MCom 333)
International Advertising and Public Relations (MCom 335)
Advertising & Public Relations Campaign (MCom 339)
The Community Newspaper (MCom 340)
Magazine & Feature Story (MCom 341)
Newspaper Editing & Production (MCom 345)
Media Management (MCom 346)
Broadcast News Writing (MCom 360)
Publicity Methods (MCom 370)
Media and International Relations (MCom 375)
Organizational Communication (MCom 384)
Communication Strategies-Global Econ (MCom 285X)
Media Law & Ethics (MCom 390)
Senior Seminar in Mass Communication (MCom 395)
Internship (MCom 398)
Independent study (MCom 399)

Summary of Requirements
(36 SEMESTER HOURS)

MASS COMMUNICATION CORE

MCom 110 Public Communication 3*
MCom 111 Introduction to Mass Communication 3
MCom 211 Communication Theory 3
MCom 395 Senior Seminar in Mass Communication 3

CONCENTRATION

Choice of 12 semester hours in one of the five concentrations listed below

ADVERTISING

MCom 220 Introduction to Advertising 3
MCom 323 Advertising Copywriting 3
MCom 330 Advertising Media Planning 3
MCom 339 Advertising and PR Campaigns 3

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

MCom 201 Persuasive Communication 3
MCom 205 Interpersonal Communication 3
MCom 303 Comm. and Group Decision Making Or
MCom 306 Argumentation and Debate 3
MCom 384 Organizational Communication Or
MCom 346 Media Management 3

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

MCom 265 Intercultural Communication 3
MCom 335 International Advertising and Public Relations 3
MCom 355 International Journalism 3
MCom 375 Media and International Relations 3

JOURNALISM

MCom 240 News Reporting 3
MCom 341 Magazine and Feature Writing 3
MCom 345 Newspaper Editing and Production 3
MCom 390 Media Law and Ethics Or
MCom 241 Photojournalism 3

PUBLIC RELATIONS

MCom 270 Public Relations 3
MCom 346 Media Management Or
MCom 339 Advertising and PR Campaigns 3
MCom 370 Publicity Methods 3
MCom 384 Organizational Communication 3

MASS COMMUNICATION ELECTIVES ______________ 12

FREE ELECTIVES _____________________________36

FOREIGN LANGUAGE__________________________6

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Engl C101 Composition and Rhetoric 3
Math C105 Intermediate Algebra 3
or C108 Ideas of Mathematics
Hum C201/203 Humanities I & II 6
SoSc C201/202 Social Science I & II 6
FA C101 Fine Arts 3
Sci C101, C102 Natural Science 6
Or C201
InSt C101 Integrated Studies/Oral Comm. 3
Caps C390 Capstone Seminar 3
Liberal Arts Electives 7

Total Semester Hours_______________________120

Suggested Program (Advertising)

FIRST SEMESTER

Engl C101 Composition and Rhetoric 3
Hum C201 Humanities I 3
MCom 110 Public Communication 3
Foreign Language 101 3
Elective 3

SECOND SEMESTER

Math C105 Intermediate Algebra
Or Math C108 Ideas of Mathematics 3
Hum C202 Humanities II 3
MCom 111 Introduction to Mass Communication 3
Foreign Language 102 3
Elective 3

THIRD SEMESTER

SoSc C201 Social Science I 3
FA C101 Fine Arts 3
MCom 211 Communication Theory 3
MCom 220 Introduction to Advertising
Or MCom 270 Public Relations 3
Foreign Language 103 3

FOURTH SEMESTER

Sosc C202 Social Science II 3
InSt C101 Integrated Studies/Oral Comm. 3
MCom 323 Advertising Copywriting
Or MCom 370 Publicity Methods 3
Mass Communication Elective 3
Foreign Language 104 3

FIFTH SEMESTER

Sci C101 Natural Science Core 3
MCom 330 Advertising Media Planning 3
Mass Communication Elective 3
Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3

SIXTH SEMESTER

Sci C102 Natural Science Core 3
MCom Advertising and PR Campaigns 3
Mass Communication Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Elective 3

SEVENTH SEMESTER

Caps C390 Capstone Seminar
Or MCom 395 Senior Seminar in Mass Communication 3
Mass Communication Elective 3
Electives 6
Liberal Arts Elective 3

EIGHTH SEMESTER

Caps C390 Capstone Seminar
Or MCom 395 Senior Seminar in Mass Communication 3
Electives 12

Total Semester Hours _____________________________ 120

* Credits

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What can one do with a BA in Mass Communication?
Q: Are there internship opportunities?
Q: Are there opportunities for hands on experience on campus?
Q: I am interested in UB's Mass Communication Program. Whom should I contact?

Q: What can one do with a BA in Mass Communication?

A: Graduates with a BA in Mass Communication can go on to a variety of careers in the media field, including those in advertising, corporate communication, public relations, journalism, and broadcasting. Recent graduates have found jobs in leading national advertising agencies and news services. Students interested in graduate studies can advance to graduate schools.

Q: Are there internship opportunities?

A: Yes! There are more internship opportunities than students have time for. Our students gain real-world experience (while getting course credit) by working at such places as Channel 8, the Connecticut Post, Manson and Manson, and the Governor's Office in Bridgeport. Students are encouraged to have at least two internship experiences before they graduate.

Q: Are there opportunities for hands on experience on campus?

A: Yes! we have a number of communication-related extracurricular activities on campus. Most majors spend some of their time working on the Scribe, our student newspaper. Other majors are members of the UB chapter of the American Advertising Federation, which each year enters a national advertising competition. Students can also find opportunities to work at the University Art Gallery and some other offices to improve their skills in communication areas.

Q: I am interested in UB's Mass Communication Program. Whom should I contact?

A: You can call the Department Director Dr. Yanmin Yu at +1 203 576 4157 or 203 576 4966, send a fax to 203 576 4967, or e-mail her at yanmin@bridgeport.edu.