Mass Communication
Examines how meaning develops in messages in the mass media, including the history of mass media, the critical analysis of media, and how media shape the communication process.

Select three courses from this track from at least two different departments.  At least two should be completed before enrolling in COM 495.

ANT 382 - Anthropology of Visual Culture
CIS 220 - Intro to Film and Media Studies
[CIS Batten Professor Courses]
ENG 293 - Film as Narrative Art 
ENG 393 - Studies in Literature and the Visual Arts
HIS 255 - American Popular Culture
HIS 448 - The 1950s:  A Critical Decade   
HIS 451 - African American Cultural History 
MUS 228 - Film Music
POL 111 - American Politics  
POL 326 - Politics and Film
POL 467 - Political Manipulation of the News  
PSY 356 - Children and Television Media

Additional information:
The above list, while as complete as possible, is not exhaustive.  Every semester, as new courses are developed and extant courses revised, there are often courses not on this list that could be approved as electives in the Communication Studies concentration.  In addition, some departments offer special topics courses that might be approved as electives for the Communication Studies concentration.  Please check with the faculty liaison for the most current, complete listing of approved electives when planning a program of study.  If there is a question about when a particular elective will be offered next, please consult the department offering that course.  COM 390:  Special Topics in Communication Studies and COM 395:  Independent Study may count toward any of the above tracks, as appropriate.

No more than two courses in the concentration may also be in the student’s major field of study.  Only one course may be transferred from another institution. Only one independent study may be included in the concentration.  No courses taken pass/fail may be applied to the concentration.  A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in all courses applied towards the concentration.