BA Mass Communication

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). Our program offers a curriculum that introduces students to the broad framework of mass communication, emphasizing what is common and fundamental to advertising, digital media, electronic media, journalism and public relations.

The mission of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication is to pursue excellence. Our programs strive to cultivate strong professional, research, theoretical, critical and ethical skills in a diverse and engaging environment that prepares students to be socially responsible media professionals, scholars and citizens. Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication or a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Advertising , Digital Media Innovation , Electronic Media , Journalism , or Public Relations.

Students may gain experience by working in student media, such as the University Star, KTSW 89.9 FM, Bobcat Update,  Bobcat Promotions, and through internships outside the school. They also have the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate competitions through organizations such as the American Advertising Federation, Public Relations Society of America, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, College Broadcasters, Inc, and the Society of Professional Journalists.

To earn a Bachelor of Science degree students must complete 120 semester hours, which includes the general education core curriculum requirements, B.S. support coursework requirements, 40 hours in the major, and a minor outside the school.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, students must complete 120 semester hours, which includes the general education core curriculum requirements, B.A. degree requirements, 33 hours in Mass Communication, and a minor outside the school.

For the Bachelor of Science degree community college transfer students may apply no more than 13 semester credit hours of mass communication transfer courses to the major portion of their degree. Transfer students from four-year institutions may apply no more than 19 semester credit hours of mass communication transfer courses to the major portion of their degree. Regardless of transfer coursework at least 21 hours of the major coursework must be earned at Texas State.

For the Bachelor of Arts degree community college transfer students may apply no more than 13 semester credit hours of mass communication transfer courses to the major portion of their degree. Transfer students from four-year institutions may apply no more than 15 semester credit hours of mass communication transfer courses to the major portion of their degree.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) will accept up to a 13 hour semester credit hour (15 hours from the Journalism field of study) block of coursework from the Communication Field of Study* from Texas two-year colleges towards any major in the SJMC. The SJMC will accept up to a 19 hour SCH block of coursework from Texas four-year colleges and universities toward any BS major in the SJMC and up to a 13 hour SCH block of coursework toward the BA major in the SJMC.

* Coursework from the first three sub-areas of the Communication field of study. These are (1) Advertising/Public Relations, (2) Journalism/Mass Communication and (3) Radio & Television Broadcasting/Broadcast Journalism. The curriculum in the fourth sub-area of Communication falls under another major and degree program at Texas State and would be applied to that major and degree accordingly, but not to degree programs in the SJMC.

The Advertising program is dedicated to teaching students the strategic and creative skills necessary to solve clients' real world, real time, business problems. To that end, the Advertising program offers courses that cover the major job descriptions of advertising and marketing such as creative development, social media management and contend development, strategic research and planning, business strategy and account management, ad media planning, buying and analytics. Through the sequence of courses, students are exposed to various job opportunities within the field and learn the skills necessary to become a professional in an advertising agency, company or specialized communications firm. Further, students may participate in Texas State's national, award winning AAF (American Advertising Federation) National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team. 

The Digital Media Innovation (B.S.) program immerses students in the breadth of digital knowledge to prepare them for new and emerging media roles. These roles, requiring advanced technology skills and digital perspective, include news application developers, multimedia experience producers, social media editors, engagement managers and data analysts, and can include positions in traditional media organizations, technology companies and media start-ups. Students in this sequence focus on digital strategy and experimentation associated with new models of storytelling and innovative applications of media.

The Electronic Media (B.S.) program offers courses designed to prepare students for careers in broadcasting, cable, satellite, and streaming. The courses emphasize journalism, audio and video production, management, and programming by combining skills instruction with decision-making opportunities, which students put into practice while working for student media. Electronic media sequence students receive hands-on experience while working for radio station KTSW, a cable access television channel, and online. Students are also encouraged to seek internships in professional media organizations off-campus.

The Mass Communication (B.A.) program offers students the opportunity to acquire a broad, flexible education aimed at a comprehensive understanding of the changing dynamics of mass communication in society. Whether it's telling a story through multiple platforms, building a personal brand, or engaging in research, the major helps prepare students to reach across the various communication disciplines for new insight, skills, forms of expression, and expanding employment opportunities in mass media.

The Journalism (B.S.) program prepares students to be multimedia, digital and print journalists with a solid foundation in writing, data analysis, editing and ethics in a career that is crucial to a democratic society. It offers students the opportunity to improve their storytelling, interviewing and research skills as well as develop the strategy and problem-solving skills required of today's workforce. Students are expected to produce professional quality work and are encouraged to gain additional experience through campus media outlets, including the University Star newspaper, and to seek internships with media organizations off campus. 

The Public Relations (B.S.) program prepares students for rewarding careers in the management of communication across all media platforms. The program focuses on research, innovation, and problem solving in a diverse and global society through creative and strategic thinking and the highest legal and ethical standards. Students have opportunities to practice their skills in Bobcat PRomotions, the student-run public relations agency, and in internships in Texas and major cities in the United States.

Any student pursuing a B.S. degree in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication may add a concentration in Sports Media. Students who elect to add a concentration can apply the 9-hour concentration towards the 12 hours of advanced MC electives required of the B.S. degree.