Program Overview

George Polk School of Communications

The George Polk School of Communications offers a range of academic programs, including the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Broadcasting.

BFA Broadcasting

The 120-credit Bachelor of Fine Arts in Broadcasting opens students to the world of digital radio, digital video, webcasting, and multimedia. This major prepares students for careers as varied as documentary producers, television writers, web video producers, news anchors, writers, radio broadcasters, and interview hosts.

Major Requirements

The major requirements for the BFA in Broadcasting include:

• BDST 11: Production Essentials: Audio (3 credits)
• BDST 12: Production Essentials: Video (3 credits)
• CMA 2: Mass Media in America (3 credits)
• CMA 4: Media Literacy: Behind the Message (3 credits)
• JOU 5: Writing Across Media Platforms (3 credits)
• CMA 10: Media Law and Ethics (3 credits)
• ORC 1: Public Speaking (3 credits)
• One of the following co-related courses:
  • ART 4: Introduction to Computer Graphics (3 credits)
  • CIN 24: Intro to Documentary Production (3 credits)
  • CGPH 16: Digital Imaging (3 credits)
• Required Broadcasting Courses:
  • BDST 4: Digital Audio Production (3 credits)
  • BDST 6: Intermediate Television Production: Studio (3 credits)
  • BDST 30: Producing: Concept to Audience (3 credits)
  • BDST 25: Intermediate Television Production: Field (3 credits)
  • BDST 34: Advanced Digital Audio Production (3 credits)
  • BDST 46: Video for the Web (3 credits)
  • BDST 54: Creating the Television Newscast (3 credits)
  • BDST 57: Advanced Digital Editing (3 credits)
  • JOU 3: Basic Reporting (3 credits)
  • JOU 52: Interviewing Skills for the Media (3 credits)
  • BDST 27: Applied Television (3 credits)
• Required Broadcasting Senior Research/Honors Tutorial (choose one):
  • BDST 91: Senior Research in Broadcasting (3 credits)
  • BDST 385: Honors Tutorial (3 credits)
  • BDST 386: Honors Tutorial (3 credits)
• Required Broadcasting Senior Project/Honors Thesis (choose one):
  • BDST 92: Senior Project & Portfolio (4 credits)
  • BDST 389: Honors Thesis (4 credits)
  • BDST 390: Honors Thesis (4 credits)
• Elective Broadcasting Courses (six credits from the following):
  • JOU 41: Newspaper Laboratory (3 credits)
  • BDST 27: Advanced Applied TV (3 credits)
  • BDST 30: Producing Television (3 credits)
  • BDST 34: Advanced Digital Audio (3 credits)
  • PR 38: Social Media Tools (3 credits)
  • CIN 9: Screenwriting (3 credits)
  • BDST 63: Applied Radio News (3 credits)
  • BDST 64: Applied Radio News (3 credits)
  • BDST 65: Applied Radio: On-Air (3 credits)
  • BDST 66: Applied Radio: Sportsdesk (3 credits)
  • BDST 87: Internship (3 credits)
  • BDST 88: Internship (3 credits)
  • BDST 89: Advanced Independent Study in Electronic Media (1 credit)

Courses

The following courses are part of the BFA in Broadcasting program:

• BDST 4: Digital Audio Production
• BDST 6: Intermediate Television Production: Studio
• BDST 11: Production Essentials: Audio
• BDST 12: Production Essentials: Video
• BDST 25: Intermediate Television Production: Field
• BDST 27: Applied Television
• BDST 30: Producing: Concept to Audience
• BDST 34: Advanced Digital Audio Production
• BDST 46: Web Video Production
• BDST 54: Producing the Television Newscast
• BDST 57: Advanced Digital Imaging
• BDST 63: Applied Radio: Newsroom
• BDST 64: Applied Radio: Newsroom
• BDST 65: Applied Radio: On-Air
• BDST 66: Applied Radio: Sports
• BDST 87: Internship
• BDST 88: Internship
• BDST 89: Advanced Independent Study in Broadcasting
• BDST 91: Senior Research in Broadcasting
• BDST 92: Senior Project
• BDST 385: Honors Tutorial
• BDST 386: Honors Tutorial
• BDST 389: Honors Thesis
• BDST 390: Honors Thesis
• CGPH 16: Digital Imaging
• CIN 9: Screenwriting I
• CIN 24: Video Documentary Workshop II
• CMA 2: Mass Media in American Society
• CMA 4: Media Literacy: Behind the Message
• CMA 10: Media Law and Ethics
• JOU 3: Basic Reporting
• JOU 5: Writing for Radio, TV and Web
• JOU 41: Newspaper Laboratory
• JOU 52: Interviewing Skills for Media
• ORC 1: Public Speaking
• PR 38: Social Media Tools

Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

The BFA in Broadcasting program is designed to meet the following Institutional Learning Outcomes:

• ILO 1: Creative and Reflective Capacities
• ILO 2: Historical and Intercultural Awareness
• ILO 3: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning
• ILO 4: Oral and Written Communication
• ILO 5: Information and Technological Literacies
• ILO 6: Critical Inquiry and Analysis
• ILO 7: Ethical Reasoning and Civic Engagement

Academic Programs

The George Polk School of Communications offers the following academic programs:

• BFA Acting for Theatre, Film & Television
• BFA Broadcasting
• BA Communications
• BS Communications
• BFA Film
• BFA Film & Television
• BA Journalism
• BFA Journalism
• MFA Creative Writing and Publishing