Mass Communications B.A./B.S.

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Becoming a major

To become a major, a student must have a 2.5 GPA based on at least 30 credit hours at the 100-level or higher. MC 110 with a grade of C or higher must be completed. Students must pass the School’s Composition Skills Tests (CST) prior to applying to be a major. Students who initially fail the CST may retake the exam up to two additional times during regularly scheduled examination periods.

Transfer students must have completed at least 30 credit hours at the 100-level or higher with a minimum 2.5 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 with a transfer GPA below 2.5 GPA who bring in 30 or more credit hours must earn a 2.5 GPA on at least 15 credit hours above the 100 level at K-State. MC 110 (or its transferable equivalent) must be completed with a grade of C or better, and the CST must be completed with a passing score in order to be considered for admission.

Students without the requisite 2.5 GPA, and who have fewer than 30 transfer credit hours, must complete 30 K-State credit hours and achieve a 2.5 GPA, pass the CST, and receive credit for MC 110 or an equivalent class with a grade of C or better in order to be considered for admission.

Admission to the major will be based on academic achievement, writing, skills, and promise for success in the major. To apply, a student must submit an application packet to the school by September 15 or March 15. The application forms may be obtained from the School’s website. Students who are not admitted after a second application should meet with the pre-major advisor to discuss academic options.

While awaiting eligibility to become a major, all freshman and new transfer students from other institutions are eligible to be pre-majors and enroll in Mass Communication in Society (MC 110), which is the required first course in the major. Other courses open to pre-majors include: Journalism in a Free Society (MC 111), Web Communication in Society (MC 112), Principles of Advertising (MC 120), Fundamentals of Public Relations (MC 180), and Visual Communication in Mass Media (MC 210). Enrollment is restricted in other courses in the major.

Students may take restricted courses and advanced courses only if they meet the prerequisites. Students who expect to fulfill one or more prerequisites in a current semester may provisionally enroll on the expectation they will be eligible to take the course the following semester.

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 87 credit hours of course work outside the school, with at least 65 credit hours of that course work in the basic liberal arts and sciences.

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.

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.