Mass Communication

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Mass Communication is to enable students to think critically and to communicate clearly, effectively and ethically. The department is committed to helping students strive for great thoughts, meaningful interaction and powerful communication. Department courses and programs promote the intersection of faith and learning, acquainting students with the ways modern philosophies and popular thinking coincide and/or conflict with Christian thought.

Academic Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication is offered with tracks in Broadcasting, Graphic Design and Public Relations. The Broadcasting and Graphic Design tracks provide students with a unique educational opportunity through a partnership between Rochester College and Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts.

The Broadcasting track incorporates the technical training in either radio and/or video production at Specs Howard School with in-depth explorations of theory and scholarship in media at Rochester College. The curriculum is designed to help students expand their understanding of communication, and develop essential skills needed to succeed and advance within the media industry. Broadcasting students also gain supervised field experience in a radio or television internship.

The Graphic Design track trains students in the fields of graphic and web design at Specs Howard School combined with thorough study and analysis of media at Rochester College. The curriculum will help students think critically and communicate clearly, effectively and ethically. This unique combination will prepare students for work in graphic design, which is a growing field with the advent of interactive websites, pod-casting, Internet streaming and other cutting edge technologies. At Specs, students learn the theory and history of design combined with typography, branding, packaging, digital imaging, interactive and web design using Adobe Creative Suite. Graphic Design students also gain supervised field experience in an internship.

The Public Relations track prepares graduates for work as communication specialists with businesses and organizations. This program prepares students to skillfully manage the many different tasks that a public relations professional handles, ranging from communication strategy, media relations, writing and designing news releases, newsletters and other publications to planning special events. Students who major in public relations take selected courses related to media, marketing and communication. They also gain practical public relations experience in Public Relations Campaigns and Strategies class, where they develop and implement a PR plan and portfolio for a real-world client. Students also gain supervised field experience in a public relations internship.

Minors are offered in media and public relations. Study in either of these areas is a valuable complement to other academic programs. A mass communication concentration also is offered in the interdisciplinary studies program.

Career Opportunities

Broadcasting students will be prepared for careers in many areas of the broadcast and communication industries, including on-air talent, producers, writers, editors, camera operators, video technicians, etc. Graphic design students can enter many areas of the design field, including layout artists, prepress managers, web designers, flash designers and multimedia designers. Public Relations graduates will be equipped to work as public relations professionals for a variety of organizations, including corporations, nonprofits and agencies. Students desiring to further their formal education will be well prepared for the rigors of graduate school.

Academic Criteria

Mass Communication majors must earn a C in all required departmental courses. If students earn a C-or below in a required course they must repeat the course.