Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Mass Communications B.A./B.S.


Becoming a major

To become a major, a student must have a 2.0 GPA based on at least 30 credit hours; pass MC 110 with a grade of C or higher.  Students must pass the School’s Composition Skills Tests (CST) with a score of 70% or higher. Students who initially fail the CST may retake the exam up to two additional times during regularly scheduled examination periods.

Transfer students who have completed at least 30 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA are eligible to apply for admission to the School during their first semester upon successful completion of the CST and upon completion of a transfer course equivalent to MC 110 with a grade of C or better.

Students with a minimum 2.5 GPA transferring fewer than 30 credit hours to K-State must complete enough K-State credit hours at the 100-level or above to total 30 credit hours, and they must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA on K-State coursework in order to be considered for admission.  A passing CST score is required, and MC 110 (or its transferable equivalent) must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Students transferring fewer than 30 credit hours to K-State must complete enough K-State credit hours at the 100-level or above to total 30 credit hours, and they must achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA on K-State coursework in order to be considered for admission.  A passing CST score is required, and MC 110 (or its transferable equivalent) must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Admission to the major will be granted when the above requisites have been met.  To apply, a student must submit an application to declare sequence and outside concentration.  The application forms may be obtained from the School’s website.

Mass communications major and outside specialty area

Requirements for a mass communications major consist of 39 credit hours in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. No more than 6 credit hours from the following classes may be counted as electives within the 39 credit hours required in the major: MC 111, 112, 120, 180, or 210. National accreditation standards require all mass communication graduates to complete at least 72 credit hours of course work outside the school.

A student must fulfill the general requirements  of the College of Arts and Sciences for either the BA or the BS degree.

To graduate, a student must achieve a 2.5 GPA in courses within the school. In addition, K-State requires a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all course work (a C average) to graduate.

A curriculum guide for majors and pre-majors is available in the school office and on the website for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Students in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications must complete the requirements of one of the school’s options in journalism and digital media, advertising, and public relations.

Beyond this, students are also required to develop an area of expertise outside of journalism and mass communications, which entails taking a minimum of 15 credit hours in another department on campus. Students can meet this requirement by completing one of the following plans:

Outside concentration

Option 1
A minimum of 15 credit hours of course work taken in another department or academic program will satisfy the outside concentration requirement. At least two of the courses must be advanced courses (numbered at the 500-level or higher) or classes with a prerequisite in the same department or program.

Up to two courses used to fulfill general College of Arts and Sciences requirements, but not ENGL 100, ENGL 110, ENGL 125, ENGL 200, COMM 105, or COMM 106, may be counted toward completion of the outside concentration.

Option 2
A minimum of 15 credit hours of related course work from two or more departments or academic programs will satisfy the outside concentration requirement. Students choosing a ”custom” outside concentration such as this must have their course work plan approved by their faculty advisor in JMC. At least two of the courses must be advanced courses (numbered at the 500-level or higher) or classes with a prerequisite in the same department or program. Custom concentrations will be reviewed by the associate director for undergraduate studies. If the associate director has doubts about the appropriateness of approval, the question will be taken to the school’s curriculum committee.

Up to two courses used to fulfill general College of Arts and Sciences requirements, but not ENGL 100, ENGL 110, ENGL 125, ENGL 200, COMM 105, or COMM 106, may be counted toward completion of the outside concentration.

Other ways to develop the outside concentration requirement

Complete a minor
Students who declare a minor entirely within a single department or academic program are expected to complete the academic requirements of the minor. Students who declare an interdisciplinary minor are expected to compete the academic requirements of the minor. Completion of a minor satisfies the outside concentration requirement.

Complete a secondary major
Students who declare and complete a secondary major—a major that is interdisciplinary and not within a single department—automatically satisfy the outside concentration.

Complete a ”dual”major
Students who declare and complete a second or ”dual”major in another department or academic program automatically satisfy the outside concentration.

Credit through quiz-out

Any student may apply to test out of professional practice courses in journalism and mass communications by presenting to the appropriate sequence head a portfolio, tapes, or other suitable evidence of performance that would allow assessment of course-related experience. After review of the material, the sequence head may refer the application to the appropriate instructor who will determine the number of credit hours, if any, and the method of examination or evaluation to be employed to determine whether credit shall be given. Such credit shall be granted on a Credit/No Credit basis. No more than 12 semester credit hours may be earned through quiz-out and at least 24 of the student’s journalism credit hours must be K-State resident hours.

Transfer course work

Students may transfer a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in the major. Courses in journalism and mass communications above the 12-hour maximum will not be accepted as electives outside the major and will not be accepted as part of the graduation requirement. No journalism and mass communications course will transfer to K-State without a grade of C or better.

When transfer students present an accumulation of credits in courses that consist of laboratory work, the school may accept a maximum of 3 credit hours for all such work, equivalent to courses such as Media Practicum.

Bachelor’s degree requirements

Journalism and Digital Media


Electronic Focus (39-45 credit hours)


  • Electives (at least 3 hours at 500-level or above) Credits: 9-15

A minimum total credit hours required for graduation: (120)