Mass Communications (B.A.)
In Mass Communications, students prepare to work as professionals in public relations, advertising, journalism or telecommunications. The degree program balances a broad knowledge of the liberal arts and natural sciences with the professional and theoretical preparation needed by today's media professionals. Bloomsburg offers:
Relevant course work in the competency areas of writing, professional skills and theoretical foundations.
Internship experiences at off-campus sites necessary to complete the student's professional training.
Professional experience with four campus media: The Voice, the competitive, weekly student newspaper; Spectrum, the nationally recognized, full-color regional magazine; BUTV, student-produced television programming; WBUQ -FM, student managed radio station featuring call-in and music programs.
Active local chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the National Broadcasting Society-Alpha Epsilon Rho (NBS-AERho).
To earn a Bachelor of Arts, majors must complete the necessary semester hours in three competency areas: writing, professional skills and theoretical foundations.
All majors take foundation courses in mass communications and the popular arts, newswriting, medial law and ethics, and either social foundations of mass media or research methods in mass communications.
Those on the telecommucations track study video production, video editing, broadcast journalism, RTF authorship theory and practice, programming and management, and can study sports, documentary, corporate video or dramatic/comedy production.
In the journalism track, studies include courses in online journalism, editing, feature writing, magazine editing and production, public affairs reporting, and broacast journalism.
In the public relations track, you'll take courses in public relations theory and pratice, publicity and public relations, PR cases and problems, as well as options in video production, feature writing, online journalism, introduction to business, economics, marketing principles and practices and advertising mangement
As a capstone, you participate in a mass communications seminr, practicum or internship
Practica and Internships - Students are encouraged to participate in practica or internships during which they are expected to practice the technical aspects of their specialties. Semester hours earned are in addition to the core and specialty areas. Internships are available on and off campus; some are paid. With approval, students may take both an off-campus internship and an on-campus practicum to be as well prepared technically as possible. Some practica are available on student productions such as The Voice, Bloom News, Spectrum magazine and a range of other campus communications activities. In areas of advertising and public relations, students gain experience with The Voice and Spectrum magazine and they enter major regional and national competitions. The publications provide opportunities for sales management and account development.
Recommended Preparation - High school students interested in communication-related careers should become involved in school media. These media can include newspapers, yearbooks, magazines, radio, video or television production and programs.
The committed student can gain valuable experience through volunteer efforts with community groups such as chambers of commerce, tourism offices and other non-profit organizations.
Admission Requirements - Admission to the Mass Communications program is the chair's approval and is limited to approximately 60 students, who should have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Acceptance into the program depends, however, not only on the GPA, but also on past experience and potential. Students should exhibit strong writing, visual and creative qualities and a record of interest and participation in media-related extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to make a case for their admission in the light of previous experience even if they feel their GPAs alone may not justify admission. Students will be notified of their acceptance as Mass Communications majors as quickly as possible. Students are expected to have declared their majors no later than the time they have accumulated approximately 60 semester hours.
Campus Media
Students have the opportunity to write for a number of university publications. These include the campus student newspaper, The Voice; the four-color regional magazine, Spectrum; the student yearbook, The Obiter; the annual student handbook, The Pilot; BUTV and WBUQ-FM.
Spectrum is a full-color regional magazine published twice a year within the department. Spectrum has earned numerous national awards, including the American Scholastic Press Association's "Outstanding Magazine in the Country."
The Voice is a student newspaper with a circulation of 4,500. About 40 to 50 students work on the paper each semester. They participate in all management decisions. Students enjoy full editorial control and operate all newspaper departments.
The Mass Communications department operates three television studios for formal course work and to provide hands-on experience with modern broadcast equipment. In cooperation with BUTV/Radio Services, the department encourages students to participate in campus broadcast activities including student-produced programs, local telethons, charity drives, televised town council meetings and sporting events.
Bloom News is a weekly half-hour student-produced news program cablecast live and rebroadcast over local community channels. Students manage all editorial functions, studio production activities and all post-production work.
Students also staff a campus radio station, WBUQ-FM. The FM station has acquired the minimum local audience necessary for recognition by Arbitron, the country's major radio audience rating service. Students participate in station management, programming and as on-air personalities for student-produced music and talk programs.