General Studies A.A. with Area of Concentration in Mass Communication

Program Description

The Mass Communication Concentration prepares students for career positions in film, television, video, radio, and other digital and mass media industries. Most students who complete this program transfer to four-year colleges and universities to earn a bachelor’s degree in one of a wide range of communications and media programs. Students should be acquainted with the program requirements of their desired transfer institution when making course selections. Students should consult with academic advisors and mass communication faculty for transfer opportunities.

Graduates of the Mass Communication Concentration will be able to:

• Think critically about how mass media influence society
• Communicate effectively using visual, written, spoken, and non-verbal methods
• Understand how the various fields in mass communication are structured and function
• Have an understanding of how technologies associated with mass communication are used

General Education Courses (31 Credits)

The list of general education courses appears in the General Education List . Some programs recommend or require specific courses to fulfill general education requirements. Please check your program’s sequence of study for this information.

• English Composition

• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing 3 Credits
• EGL-1020 Composition II: Writing About Literature 3 Credits

• Humanities

• SPH-1090 Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits
• Any General Education Humanities course at the 2000 level  3 Credits

• Mathematics

• MAT-1120 Finite Mathematics 3 Credits (or higher)

• Social Sciences

• Any General Education Social Science History course at the 2000 level  3 Credits
• Any General Education Social Science course other than History 3 Credits

• Science with a Lab

• Any General Education Science course with a Lab 4 Credits

• Science

• Any General Education Science course without a Lab 3 Credits

• Institutional Requirement Computer Literacy

• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology 3 Credits

Area of Concentration (29 Credits)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience 1 Credit (Institutional Requirement)
• EGL-1040 Media Writing 3 Credits
• SPH-1130 Interviewing 3 Credits
• SPH-2230 Intercultural Communication 3 Credits
• SPH-2070 Voice and Diction 3 Credits
• TRF-1310 Introduction to Mass Communication 3 Credits
• TRF-1330 Television Production I 3 Credits
• TRF-2310 Introduction to Film 3 Credits
• TRF-2330 Television Production II 3 Credits

Sequence of Study - Mass Communication Concentration A.A.

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Program Total: 60 Credits

Asterisk (*) denotes a general education course.

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.