Program Overview

---

Media and Professional Communications (BA)

The CGS Media and Professional Communications major provides students with a rigorous education in the theories of mass media process, history, and ethics as well as the opportunity to specialize in one of three professional practice areas: Corporate/Community Relations; Writing for the Professions, and Digital Media.

Requirements

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credits for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in media and professional communications. Of this total, the major consists of 36 credits distributed as follows: 12 credits of required core courses and 24 credits of specialization courses, including an internship.

Core Courses: (12 Credits)

• COMMRC 0320 - MASS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY
  • Format: F2F and Web
• COMMRC 1121 - HISTORY OF MASS MEDIA
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGWRT 0610 - INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALISM AND NONFICTION
• PUBSRV 1455 - LAW, ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY IN THE MASS MEDIA
  • Format: Hybrid

Specializations: (24 Credits)

Choose one of the three specialization tracks that follow:

TRACK 1: Corporate/Community Relations

Engaging with stakeholders -- whether the customers, the general public or investors -- is important for any business. This option prepares you for communicating with a company's many audiences.

Upon completion of this track, you will be able to navigate professional relationships with various audiences and in a variety of industries and contexts.

REQUIRED COURSES: (9 CREDITS)

• BUSERV 1940 - MARKETING FUNDAMENTALS
  • Note: CBA students may use BUSMKT 1040 in place of BUSERV 1940.
• COMMRC 1111 - THEORIES OF PERSUASION
  • Format: Web
• COMMRC 1182 - MEDIA RELATIONS
  • Note: Formerly COMMRC 1732: Special Topics: Public and Media Relations (SEC 77XX)
  • Format: Hybrid

INTERNSHIP: (3 CREDITS)

Choose one of these two options:

• CGS 1900 - CHOOSING YOUR PATH: INTERNSHIP SEMINAR
  • Format: Web
• THEA 1484 - DIRECTED PROJECT BUSINESS MGT

ELECTIVES: (12 CREDITS)

Select four courses from the list of approved electives.

• COMMRC 1102 - ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
  • Format: F2F and Web
• COMMRC 1125 - MEDIA THEORY
• COMMRC 1181 - HEALTH COMMUNICATION
  • Note: Formerly COMMRC 1730
  • Format: F2F and Web
• COMMRC 1732 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION
  • Approved Topic: New Media Technologies
• ENGCMP 0410 - WRITING IN THE LEGAL PROFESSIONS
• ENGCMP 0420 - WRITING FOR THE PUBLIC
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Fall 2025
• ENGCMP 0515 - PERSAUSIVE WRITING IN ADVERTISING
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 0520 - INTEGRATING WRITING AND DESIGN
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Fall 2025
• ENGCMP 0550 - TOPICS IN PUBLIC/PROFESSIONAL WRITING
• ENGCMP 0560 - WRITING ARGUMENTS
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Fall 2025
• ENGCMP 0600 - INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING
• ENGCMP 0610 - COMPOSING DIGITAL MEDIA
• ENGCMP 0641 - WRITING FOR CHANGE
• ENGCMP 1103 - PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 1104 - CORPORATE STORYTELLING
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Fall 2024
• ENGCMP 1112 - PROFESSIONAL USES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 1120 - HISTORY AND ETHICS OF ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 1270 - PROJECTS IN BLACK RHETORIC
• ENGCMP 1400 - GRANT WRITING FOR NONPROFITS
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 1401 - WRITING FOR FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT
• ENGCMP 1420 - WRITING PROPOSALS FOR BUSINESS
• ENGWRT 0550 - FUNDAMENTALS OF NEWS REPORTING
• ENGWRT 0710 - INTRO TO AUDIO STORYTELLING
• ENGWRT 1330 - INTERMEDIATE NONFICTION: SCENE AND POINT-OF-VIEW
• ENGWRT 1403 - TOPICS IN NON-FICTION: ELECTRONIC MEDIA
• FMST 1890 - THE BUSINESS OF BROADCASTING
• PSY 0105 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
  • Format: F2F and Web
• PSY 1635 - ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
• PUBSRV 1200 - PRACTICES OF NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT
  • Format: Web
• PUBSRV 1310 - DIVERSITY ISSUES IN PUBLIC SERVICE
  • Format: F2F and Hybrid
• SOC 0490 - MASS MEDIA
• URBNST 0512 - NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING

Program Planning Checklist

Use the Corporate & Community Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.

TRACK 2: Writing for the Professions

Businesses of all kinds need skilled wordsmiths, from technical writers to copywriters, to help them communicate their message; this concentration helps you focus on the written word in a corporate setting.

Upon completion of this track, you will be able to produce high-quality and effectively written works that either analyze writing in a specific genre or field (health, law, grants, reviews, media, marketing, public relations, newspaper or magazine features) or demonstrate mastery of the form (genre).

REQUIRED COURSES: (6 CREDITS)

• COMMRC 1114 - FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS
  • Note: COMMRC 1114 may be substituted with either COMMRC 1161 Communication Ethics 3 cr or, if not used as an elective, ENGCMP 1103 Public Relations Writing 3 cr.
• Select one of these two options:
  • ENGCMP 0400 - WRITTEN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
    • Format: F2F and Web
  • ENGWRT 1330 - INTERMEDIATE NONFICTION: SCENE AND POINT-OF-VIEW

INTERNSHIP: (3 CREDITS)

Select one of these two options:

• CGS 1900 - CHOOSING YOUR PATH: INTERNSHIP SEMINAR
  • Format: Web
• ENGWRT 1370 - JOURNALISM BOOT CAMP: WRITE NOW

ELECTIVES: (15 CREDITS)

Select five courses from the list of approved electives.

• COMMRC 1182 - MEDIA RELATIONS
  • Note: Formerly COMMRC 1732: Special Topics: Public and Media Relations (SEC 77XX)
  • Format: Hybrid
• COMMRC 1181 - HEALTH COMMUNICATION
  • Note: Formerly COMMRC 1730
  • Format: F2F and Web
• COMMRC 1732 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION
  • Approved Topics: New Media Technologies (SEC 10XX)
• ENGCMP 0410 - WRITING IN THE LEGAL PROFESSIONS
• ENGCMP 0420 - WRITING FOR THE PUBLIC
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Fall 2025
• ENGCMP 0515 - PERSAUSIVE WRITING IN ADVERTISING
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 0520 - INTEGRATING WRITING AND DESIGN
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Fall 2025
• ENGCMP 0550 - TOPICS IN PUBLIC/PROFESSIONAL WRITING
• ENGCMP 0560 - WRITING ARGUMENTS
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Fall 2025
• ENGCMP 0600 - INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING
• ENGCMP 1111 - PROFESSIONAL WRITING IN GLOBAL CONTEXTS
• ENGCMP 1112 - PROFESSIONAL USES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 1400 - GRANT WRITING FOR NONPROFITS
  • Format: F2F and Web
• ENGCMP 1401 - WRITING FOR FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT
• ENGCMP 1420 - WRITING PROPOSALS FOR BUSINESS
• ENGWRT 0550 - FUNDAMENTALS OF NEWS REPORTING
• ENGWRT 1370 - JOURNALISM BOOT CAMP: WRITE NOW
• ENGWRT 1377 - MEDIA LITERACY: WRITING AND READING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
• ENGWRT 1391 - WRITING THE REVIEW
• ENGWRT 1393 - SPORTS WRITING
• ENGWRT 1399 - TOPICS IN NON-FICTION: NEWSPAPER
• ENGWRT 1403 - TOPICS IN NON-FICTION: ELECTRONIC MEDIA
• ENGWRT 1750 - SENIOR SEMINAR IN NONFICTION

Program Planning Checklist

Use the Writing for the Professions Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.

TRACK 3: Digital Media

Todays media organizations produce content for multiple platforms; this option introduces you to the many ways -- from audio and video to graphic design -- you can create and share a story.

Upon completion of this track, you will have developed production skills along with a formal understanding of media fundamentals in genres such as photography and film.

REQUIRED COURSES: (9 CREDITS)

Complete three courses from the list below:

• COMMRC 1122 - MEDIA CRITICISM
  • Format: F2F and Web
• FMST 0800 - FILMMAKING 1: FUNDAMENTALS
• Choose one of the following two:
  • ENGFLM 0355 - VISUAL LITERACY
    • Format: Web
    • Note: Cross-listed with FMST 0100
  • ENGFLM 0401 - IMAGES, ICONS, AND IDEAS
    • Note: Cross-listed with FMST 0130

INTERNSHIP: (3 CREDITS)

• CGS 1900 - CHOOSING YOUR PATH: INTERNSHIP SEMINAR
  • Format: Web

ELECTIVES: (12 CREDITS)

Select four courses from the list of approved electives.

• COMMRC 0575 - INTRODUCTION TO RADIO PRODUCTION
• COMMRC 1105 - TELEVISION AND SOCIETY
• COMMRC 1125 - MEDIA THEORY
• COMMRC 1126 - MEDIA AND CONSUMER CULTURE
  • Format: F2F and Web
• CS 0134 - WEB SITE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
• ENGCMP 0425 - DIGITAL HUMANITY
  • Note: Cross-listed with HAA 0425
• ENGCMP 1130 - PROJECTS IN DIGITAL COMPOSITION
• ENGCMP 1201 - DIGITAL NARRATIVE AND INTERACTIVE DESIGN
• ENGFLM 0400 - INTRODUCTION TO FILM
  • Note: Cross-listed with FMST 0120
• ENGFLM 1390 - CONTEMPORARY FILM
  • Note: Cross-listed with FMST 1275
• ENGFLM 1485 - FILM AND POLITICS
  • Note: Cross-listed with FMST 1410
• ENGFLM 1683 - KEEPING IT REAL: DOCUMENTARY FILM AND NONFICTION
  • Note: Cross-listed with HAA 1820 and FMST 1540
• ENGFLM 1695 - HORROR FILM
  • Note: Cross-listed with FMST 1525
• ENGLIT 0354 - WORDS AND IMAGES
• ENGLIT 0550 - INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
• ENGWRT 0650 - READINGS IN JOURNALISM
• ENGWRT 0710 - INTRO TO AUDIO STORYTELLING
• ENGWRT 1377 - MEDIA LITERACY: WRITING AND READING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
• GSWS 1210 - GENDER AND THE DIGITAL
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Spring 2024
• HAA 0090 - INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY ART
• HAA 0470 - PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
  • Format: F2F and Web
• MUSIC 1444 - ELECTRONIC BEAT MAKING & SONG WRITING
  • Format: F2F and Web, available as of Spring 2026
• PS 1836 - POLITICS THROUGH FILM
• PSY 1080 - PSYCHOLOGY AND THE MEDIA
• SA 0110 - VISUAL THINKING
• SA 0130 - DRAWING STUDIO 1
• SA 0180 - PHOTO STUDIO 1
• SA 1270 - DIGITAL STUDIO: IMAGING
• SOC 0490 - MASS MEDIA
• Film production courses:
  • FMST 0802 - PHOTOGRAPHY 1
  • FMST 0805 - ANIMATION 1
  • FMST 0826 - POST-PRODUCTION
  • FMST 0830 - BUSINESS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND MULTIMEDIA
  • FMST 0835 - ELEMENTS OF AUDIO PRODUCTION
  • FMST 0845 - FILMMAKING 2: SIGHT AND SOUND
  • FMST 0850 - DIGITAL EFFECTS 1
  • FMST 1885 - BROADCASTING
  • FMST 1860 - ELEMENTS OF SCREENWRITING
    • Note: Cross-listed ENGWRT 1132
  • FMST 1846 - FILMMAKING 3: STORY TO SCREEN
  • FMST 1885 - BROADCASTING
  • FMST 1890 - THE BUSINESS OF BROADCASTING
  • FMST 1898 - TELEVISION NEWS PRACTICUM: PITT TO THE POINT
    • Note: FMST 1898 may be used in place of CGS 1900 for qualifying students. Consult with a CGS advisor.

Program Planning Checklist

Use the Digital Media Track checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.

Program Notes

English composition (ENGCMP) courses and writing-intensive courses (officially designated as W courses in the catalog) that are taken for the Media and Professional Communications major must be passed with a grade of C or higher (grades of C- or lower are not acceptable).

Internships

The world of communications is fast-paced and dynamic, and an internship puts you right in the center of the action. At Pitt, you will gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside communications professionals in a corporate setting or behind-the-scenes at a media company. Or you could delve deep into a business project or jumpstart your writing skills at journalism bootcamp.

Global Experiences / Study Abroad

Today, communication is a global phenomenonand an international experience can give you an edge. We encourage CGS students to consider spending a break, semester, or summer abroad. Many of our partner locations offer English literature, film, and other courses related to media and communication.

Need Advising for This Program

Requirements are subject to change. Check with a CGS academic advisor before registering.