CORE COURSES:
COMM 101 Introduction to Mass Communication - 4 hours
Introduction to and history of mass media, including radio, television, publishing, film, advertising, and print. Discussion of contemporary issues involving the mass media.

COMM 215 Writing for the Media - 4 hours
Introduction to news, news values, and the fundamentals of news writing across media. Practice in story organization, interviewing, and revision.

COMM 220/420 Media Praticum - 2 hours each time
Supervised, hands-on experience in media through positions with The Collegian Reporter, KMSC and/or MCTV. Students may take 220 and/or 420 3 times for a maximum of 6 hours.

COMM 311 Law of Mass Communication - 4 hours
Study of First Amendment issues, including libel and privacy. The course develops an important area of knowledge for persons planning careers in mass communication, but will also be of interest to media consumers because of the role law plays in shaping media content.

COMM 411 Theories of Mass Communication - 4 hours
Analysis of past and contemporary theories in communication; discussion of media effects and media issues. (Capstone experience and writing proficiency for Mass Communication majors.)

COMM 431/433 Media Internship - 1-6 hours (4 required)
A supervised work experience in media which allows students to bring together theoretical knowledge, skills and attitudes developed in the classroom with practical experiences in the work place. (Capstone experience for Mass Communication majors.)

COMM 430 Senior Thesis - 4 hours
A directed course of study to demonstrate the advanced student's proficiency in an area of media criticism agreed upon by the students and the instructor. Topics may come from any area of mass communication, or be combined with production work.

ELECTIVES
COMM 104 Audio Production - 4 hours
Students produce projects designed to acquaint them with the genres, styles and production techniques of audio in various media, with particular attention to the radio industry. Live broadcasts on KMSC required.

COMM 105 TV Studio Production - 4 hours
Principles and practice in preparing and executing television studio presentations. Participation in MCTV recommended.

COMM 206 Field Video - 4 hours
The techniques of manipulating single-camera lighting, sound and non-linear editing during pre-production, production and post production.

COMM 225/425 Seminar in Mass Media - 4 hours
Exploration of a subject of particular interest or timeliness, including contemporary issues, media law, history, and/or production.

COMM 247 History of the News Media - 4 hours
Survey of mass media, focusing on the evolution of mass communication, developments in the craft of journalism since the introduction of the electronic media in 1922, and the cultural impact of the media throughout history.

COMM 300 News and Feature Writing - 4 hours
Examination and practice in researching, organizing, writing and producing news and feature articles. Analysis of long–form journalism, literary journalism and criticism.

COMM 306 Advanced Field Video - 4 hours
Application of advanced field video production techniques with emphasis on camera techniques, and practice on long-term video production projects in a variety of genres.  Emphasis on digital editing, producing and script writing.

COMM 320 News Design - 4 hours
Fundamentals of news editing, layout and design with an emphasis on digital image editing, digital photography and computer–aided design to deliver information.

COMM 324 Electronic Journalism - 4 hours
An introduction to producing news stories and features for radio, television and the web. Live newscasts on KMSC required.

COMM 330 Public Relations - 4 hours
Principles and practice of public relations in commercial and noncommercial fields; publicity and promotion campaigns emphasized.

Graduates
The Mass Communication BA prepares students to pursue careers at newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, public relations and advertising agencies, or for graduate work in advanced media studies.

A sample of jobs recent graduates hold includes:

• Director of Marketing and Alumni Relations, Iowa State University
• News anchor, KCAU-TV, Sioux City, Iowa
• Sports Editor, The LeMars Daily Sentinel
• Trade Marketing Manager, ConAgra Foods
• Reporter/Producer, South Dakota Public Television
• Record Company Representative, Los Angeles
• Eric Wylie Productions, Cedar Rapids
• Promotions Director, Air America, Minneapolis
• Producer/Director and mid-day host, KGBI Omaha, NE
• Assistant Director of the Kansas City Art Institute Media Center

Our alumni have also been accepted into graduate programs in history, English, women's studies, philanthropy and development, and photography (in addition to mass communication) at institutions such as Bradley University, the University of Iowa, George Washington University, Chapman University School of Film and Television in Los Angeles, Middlebury College, and the University of Nebraska.