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

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.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)

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• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• ART-1010 Introduction to Art Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• MUS-1010 Music Appreciation Credits: 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• PHL-1010 Introduction to Philosophy: The Art of Questioning Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology (CyberWATCH common course equivalent: CW120) Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement) or
• ART-1570 Introduction to Computer Graphics Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement)

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• MAT-1130 Mathematical Ideas Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Elective) or
• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Elective)

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• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• HST-1510 History of African Americans to 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• PSY-1010 General Psychology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• POS-1010 American National Government Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Elective) or
• ECN-1030 Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3 Credits (Social Science General Education Elective)

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• TRF-1310 Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• EGL-1020 Composition II: Writing About Literature Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective) or
• EGL-1100 Composition II: Writing About Issues and Ideas Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective) or
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing for Business Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective) or
• EGL-1340 Writing About Technical Topics Credits: 3 (English General Education Elective)

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• EGL-1040 Media Writing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• TRF-1330 Television Production I Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science No Lab General Education Elective) or
• PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 3 (Science No Lab General Education Elective) or
• PSC-1050 Introduction to Physical Geology Credits: 3 (Science No Lab General Education Elective) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography Credits: 3 (Science No Lab General Education Elective)

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• TRF-1410 Introduction to Audio Production Credits: 3 (Program Elective; Critical Course) or
• THE-1150 Technical Theatre Credits: 3 (Program Elective; Critical Course)

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• BIO-1010 General Biology Credits: 4 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography  3 Credits (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective) or
• GEO-1020 Physical Geography Lab Credits: 1 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective) or
• PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy  3 Credits (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective) or
• PSC-1020 Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory Credits: 1 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective) or
• BIO-1080 Reproductive Biology Credits: 4 (Science w/ Lab General Education Elective)

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• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image Credits: 1 (Program Elective)
• COM-1130 Interviewing Credits: 3 Credits (Program Requirement)
• TRF-2330 Television Production II Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• SOC-2010 Social Problems Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement)
• TRF-2310 Introduction to Film Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• SPH-2070 Voice and Diction Credits: 3 Credits (Program Requirement)

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• BMT-2750 Leadership Development Credits: 3 Credits (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• ART-2700 Art Survey I Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• ART-2720 African-American Art Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective) or
• ART-2730 Integrated Arts Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Elective)

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• SPH-2230 Intercultural Communication Credits: 3 Credits (Program Requirement)

Program Total: 60 Credits

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.