School of Arts & Humanities · Bachelor’s degree
Mass Communication: Journalism
Report, write, and design the stories people read.
Love to write and ask questions? MVU’s journalism concentration gives you hands-on training in news gathering, reporting, photography, copy editing, and publication design for newspapers, magazines, and the web.
120
credit hours to graduate
48–51
credit hours in the major
On campus
in Marshall, Missouri
4 years
at a full-time pace
Why journalism at MVU
Hands-on from the start
Learn the craft of print and web journalism by doing it.
Report and write
Practice news reporting, sports reporting, freelance writing, and digital journalism.
Photos and design
Learn photojournalism, print media design, and magazine production.
Edit and manage
Copy edit, help manage a publication, and complete a print internship.
Is this program for me?
This program may be a great fit if you want to…
- Write for newspapers, magazines, or the web.
- Cover news, sports, and your community.
- Design and edit publications.
- Build a portfolio of published work.
What will I learn to do?
Skills you’ll practice and grow
- Spot legal and ethical issues in media and resolve them.
- Gather and report news and take news photos.
- Explain the history and terms of the print industry.
- Design print media with industry tools.
- Help manage a publication.
How the degree works
How your 120 credit hours add up
Here’s how the degree is built. Your advisor helps you choose courses each term.
01
General education core
At least 42 credit hours across writing, speaking, math, science, social science, and the humanities.
02
Mass communication core
15 credit hours: media and culture, broadcasting, news reporting, media law and ethics, and a senior portfolio.
03
Journalism courses
Reporting, editing, design, photography, sports reporting, an internship, and 6 hours of electives.
04
Electives or a minor
Use the rest of your 120 hours for electives, a minor, or even a second major.
Good to know: As a senior, you’ll assemble a portfolio of your best work, including student media and internship work, and take an in-house exam.
Explore the curriculum
What you’ll study
Here are the courses in the major. Your advisor helps you plan the order.
Mass communication core (15 credit hours)
- MASC 150 Introduction to Media & Culture
- MASC 205 Introduction to Broadcasting
- MASC 210 Basic News Reporting
- MASC 400 Media Law and Ethics
- MASC 485 Senior Portfolio
Journalism courses
- MASC 220 Print Media Design
- MASC 225 Photojournalism
- MASC 301 Magazine Production
- MASC 305 Digital Journalism
- MASC 310 Advanced News Reporting
- MASC 315 Copy Editing
- MASC 350 or MASC 355 Fall Sports Reporting, or Spring Sports Reporting
- MASC 370 Freelance Writing
- MASC 403 Internship: Print
- 6 credit hours of mass communication electives
General education core (at least 42 credit hours)
- Social and behavioral science (9 hours) from at least two subjects, including one constitution course: HIST 104, HIST 105, or POLS 100
- Written communication (6 hours): ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition, plus ENGL 160 or HONR 190
- Oral communication (3 hours), such as COMM 100 Public Speaking & Introduction to Communication
- Natural science: 7 hours from at least two subjects, including a lab (BS); 3 hours (BA and BFA)
- Mathematics (3 hours)
- Humanities and fine arts: 9 hours (BS) or 12 hours (BA and BFA) from at least three subjects, covering the arts and creativity, ethics, and culture and society
- Additional general education from any area, to reach at least 42 hours
- Plus one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Service Learning (SL) course, which can overlap with other requirements
Graduation requirements
- Complete at least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Earn a major GPA of 2.0 or higher, with no grade below C and no pass/fail grades in the major.
- Complete at least 36 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses.
- Complete your last 30 credit hours, and at least 12 hours of your major, at MVU.
- Complete the major assessment requirement.
- Apply for graduation and pay the $100 graduation fee.
Getting started
Three steps to begin
Applying to MVU is free, and most students finish the application in a few minutes.
02
Send your transcripts
Send your high school transcript, plus official transcripts from any college or dual credit courses. Transferring? See the transfer steps.
03
Plan how you’ll pay
Explore scholarships, grants, and loans on Tuition & Financial Aid, or request information for current tuition.
How do the mass communication concentrations differ?
All three share the same core. Journalism focuses on print and web publications, broadcast focuses on radio and television, and multimedia journalism covers every platform.
Can I add a minor or a second major?
Yes. A minor is optional and appears on your transcript; it must be in a different subject than your major. You can also double major by completing all the requirements for both majors. You’ll receive one diploma.
What do I need to graduate?
- At least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- A C or higher in every major course.
- At least 36 upper-division credit hours.
- Your last 30 credit hours at MVU.
- An application for graduation and the $100 graduation fee.
Talk with the Dean
Have questions about courses, student media, or how to plan your degree? Reach out. We’re happy to talk through your goals.
Mass Communication: Journalism
