Program Overview

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Mass Communications

College of Humanities and Sciences

The Mass Communications program at Virginia Commonwealth University is designed to prepare effective and skilled communicators through quality instruction, advising, and student services based on real-world applications. The program is offered through the Robertson School of Media and Culture, which advances the knowledge and practice of a multidisciplinary and evolving media environment.

Concentrations

The program offers several concentrations, including:

• Advertising/Creative
• Advertising/Strategic
• Journalism/Broadcast
• Journalism/Digital
• Media Production
• Public Relations

Program Description

The Robertson School of Media and Culture prepares students for careers in the media industry through research, professional service, and scholarship in applied communications. The school values truth, ethics, creativity, innovation, collaboration, cultural diversity, shared governance, and community engagement.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program can pursue careers in various fields, including:

• Advertising agencies
• Marketing departments of corporations or service organizations
• Media companies
• Print and video newsrooms
• Digital news
• Magazines
• Special interest publications
• Film and television production
• Sports media
• Local or national production studios
• Online productions
• Public relations firms

Change of Major Requirements

To change their major to Mass Communications, students must:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5+
• Complete the change of major module
• Pass MASC 101 with a minimum grade of C
• Pass one of the concentration-specific classes listed below:
  • If pursuing the Advertising concentration, pass MASC 201 with a minimum grade of C
  • If pursuing the Media Production concentration, pass MASC 255 with a minimum grade of C
  • If pursuing the Public Relations concentration, pass MASC 210 with a minimum grade of C

Bachelor-Level Job Titles

Some potential job titles for graduates of the program include:

• Art Director
• Broadcast News Analyst
• Development/Fundraising Manager
• Digital Specialist
• Grant Writer
• Media Relations Coordinator
• Nonprofit Communications Manager
• Radio and Television Announcer
• Videographer
• Visual Effects (FX) Artist

Graduate and Professional Level Job Titles

Some potential job titles for graduates of the program at the graduate or professional level include:

• Copywriter
• Creative Brand Manager
• Director of Digital Media
• Experience Designer

Professional Associations and Resources

Some professional associations and resources relevant to the program include:

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
• Advertising Educational Foundation
• American Association of Advertising Agencies
• American Press Institute

Degree Requirements

The program offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with concentrations in:

• Advertising/Creative
• Advertising/Strategic
• Journalism/Broadcast
• Journalism/Digital
• Media Production
• Public Relations

Plan of Study

The plan of study for the program includes a variety of courses in media and culture, as well as electives and concentration-specific classes.

Requirements

Some requirements for the program include:

• Highest level of math required: STAT 208
• Science required: Natural Sciences requirement only
• Foreign language requirements: Yes
• Additional tuition/fees: No
• GPA requirements: 2.5+ cumulative GPA, 2.5+ major GPA

Year 1: Explore

In the first year of the program, students are encouraged to:

• Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around their interests and goals
• Map out a full degree course plan in the DegreeWorks Student Educational Planner
• Meet with a writing consultant to hone their writing skills
• Schedule an appointment with their academic advisor to review their CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives
• Sharpen their study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center
• Take MASC 101 and maintain a 2.5+ cumulative GPA
• Explore local communications agencies to discover which concentration is a good fit for their career goals

Year 2: Experience

In the second year of the program, students are encouraged to:

• Consider planning for an accelerated program
• Explore innovation and business
  on-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center
• Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide
• Schedule an appointment with their advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan their required REAL experience
• Take UNIV 200 in fall and a concentration requirement in spring
• File a request/petition to declare their concentration
• Maintain 2.5+ major and cumulative GPAs

Year 3: Experience

In the third year of the program, students are encouraged to:

• See their academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning
• Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help
• Use LinkedIn Learning to enhance their business, software, technology, and creative skills
• In consultation with their faculty mentor, strategically choose their 300-400 level MASC elective to help them earn skills for their post-VCU dream job

Year 4: Excel

In the fourth year of the program, students are encouraged to:

• Choose REAL electives to diversify their skillset and round out their degree
• Schedule an appointment with their academic advisor the semester before they graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met
• Attend a graduation workshop a semester before their anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met
• Take their 400-level MASC classes and complete their internship in their senior year
• Become a mentor to a freshman or sophomore MASC major