Mass Communication, A.A.

Program Description

The Mass Communication Associate of Arts degree is recommended for students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a wide range of mass communications and media programs.  Students learn the foundations, history, economics, and job opportunities of the mass media industries, and how media affects society and culture.  Training is provided in writing for media, the terminology and techniques of television studio and field production, audio production for mass media, the basics of film analysis, and the theory and practice of interviewing.  Additionally, students learn effective communication techniques in social media production and the theory and practice of broadcast news content and delivery. 

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Mass Communication Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree will be able to:

• Discuss the history, major theories and concepts of mass media and its influence on society.
• Apply effective visual, written, spoken, and non-verbal communication methods in messages to different audiences.
• Analyze how the various fields in mass communication are structured and function.
• Create media products utilizing a variety of mass communication technologies.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Instititutional Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Requirement)
• TRF-1310 Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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

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• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement) or
• ART-1570 Introduction to Computer Graphics Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image Credits: 1 (Program Requirement)
• TRF-1330 Television Production I Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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

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• MAT-1130 Mathematical Ideas Credits: 3 (Math Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Math Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• MAT-1250 Applied College Algebra Credits: 3 (Math Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• EGL-1040 Media Writing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• GEO-1010 Physical Geography Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• TRF-1410 Introduction to Audio Production Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• TRF-1510 Introduction to Emerging Media Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• HST-1510 History of African Americans to 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• HST-1530 History of African Americans since 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• PSY-1010 General Psychology Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• POS-1010 American National Government Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• ECN-1030 Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective) 

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

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• COM-1130 Interviewing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• TRF-2330 Television Production II Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• THE-2070 Voice and Diction Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• TRF-2040 Introduction to Broadcast News Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

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• SOC-2010 Social Problems Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Requirement)
• TRF-2310 Introduction to Film Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• COM-2230 Intercultural Communication Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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

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.

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