Mass Communication

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The Department of Communication and Journalism offers three different BA degrees. These degrees are in: Communication, Mass Communication and Journalism. The department also offers minors in Communication and in Public Relations. The Mass Communication major prepares students for careers in the electronic media in Maine and nationwide. Firmly grounded in the liberal arts, it provides students with a background in history, legal, regulatory, ethical and management issues necessary for a career in mass communication or for graduate study. Faculty are established scholars who draw on extensive professional experience and ongoing contacts with media organizations and associations in the state and beyond. An Active internship program encourages students to become acquainted with working in mass communication organizations and thus have demonstrable work experience, professional contacts and an understanding of the industry before they enter the job market.

General Skills and Education Requirements:
The program emphasizes a broad liberal arts curriculum. In keeping with national accreditation standards, students are required to complete approximately 75% of degree coursework outside the major including the following curriculum of general education and skills courses.

Foundation Courses:

History: 6 credits

ONE of the following sequences:

HTY 103 - United States History I Credits: 3
and
HTY 104 - United States History II Credits: 3
or
HTY 105 - History of European Civilization I Credits: 3
and
HTY 106 - History of European Civilization II Credits: 3
or
HTY 107 - East Asian Civilization I Credits: 3
and
HTY 108 - South and Southeast Asian Civilization Credits: 3

Behavioral Science: 6 credits

PSY 100 - General Psychology Credits: 3

Plus one of the following:

ANT 101 - Introduction to Anthropology: Human Origins and Prehistory Credits: 3
ANT 102 - Introduction to Anthropology: Diversity of Cultures Credits: 3
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3

Political Science: 6 credits

POS 100 - American Government Credits: 3
Plus one other POS course

Economics

ONE of the following:

ECO 120 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
ECO 121 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
INT 105 - (ECO, REP) Environmental Policy Credits: 3
INT 110 - (ECO, REP) Modern Economic Problems Credits: 3

Arts and Humanities: 12 credits

In literature and philosophy with a minimum of three credits in each subject.

Communication: 3 credits

ONE of the following:

CMJ 102 - Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
CMJ 103 - Fundamentals of Public Communication Credits: 3
CMJ 106 - Oral Communication of Literature Credits: 3

Language: 6 credits

From French, German, Spanish or other language.

Department Course Requirements:

To satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits of CMJ courses. Students are encouraged to consider a second major or a minor.

For students transferring equivalent courses from other colleges, a minimum of 24 credits of CMJ courses must be taken for the degree, regardless of the number of equivalent courses accepted in transfer. The faculty will determine equivalency (if any) of transfer courses in the discipline. Some JMC courses require the completion of one or more prerequisite courses.

A grade of “C-” or better is required in all CMJ courses submitted to satisfy departmental requiements for the major. A passing grade is required in all departmental “Foundation Courses”.

Core Requirements

CMJ 100 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3
CMJ 211 - History of Mass Communication Credits: 3
CMJ 236 - Writing for the Mass Media Credits: 3
CMJ 375 - Mass Media Law and Regulation Credits: 3
CMJ 489 - Seminar in Media Ethics and Issues Credits: 3

Major Course Requirements

CMJ 250 - Introduction to Advertising Credits: 3
CMJ 314 - International Mass Communication Credits: 3
CMJ 376 - Programming and Criticism of Electronic Media Credits: 3
CMJ 380 - Advertising, Media and Society Credits: 3
CMJ 412 - Electronic Media Management Credits: 3

Suggested curriculum for BA in Mass Communication

First Year - First Semester

CMJ 100 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3
ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
French, German, or Spanish course

HTY 103 - United States History I Credits: 3
or
HTY 105 - History of European Civilization I Credits: 3
or
HTY 107 - East Asian Civilization I Credits: 3
PSY 100 - General Psychology Credits: 3

First Year - Second Semester

CMJ 102 - Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
or
CMJ 103 - Fundamentals of Public Communication Credits: 3
or
CMJ 106 - Oral Communication of Literature Credits: 3
French, German, or Spanish course

CMJ 211 - History of Mass Communication Credits: 3
HTY 104 - United States History II Credits: 3
or
HTY 106 - History of European Civilization II Credits: 3
or
HTY 108 - South and Southeast Asian Civilization Credits: 3
POS 100 - American Government Credits: 3

Second Year - First Semester

ANT 101 - Introduction to Anthropology: Human Origins and Prehistory Credits: 3
or
ANT 102 - Introduction to Anthropology: Diversity of Cultures Credits: 3
or SOC 101 (see below)
CMJ 236 - Writing for the Mass Media Credits: 3
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
or ANT 101 or ANT 102 (see above)
General Education Science or Mathematics/Statistics Credits: 6
Literature or Philosophy Credits: 3

Second Year - Second Semester

CMJ 250 - Introduction to Advertising Credits: 3
CMJ 314 - International Mass Communication Credits: 3
General Education Science or Mathematics/Statistics Credits: 3
Literature or Philosophy Credits: 3

ECO 120 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
or
ECO 121 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
or
INT 105 - (ECO, REP) Environmental Policy Credits: 3
or
INT 110 - (ECO, REP) Modern Economic Problems Credits: 3

Third Year - First Semester

CMJ 375 - Mass Media Law and Regulation Credits: 3
General Education Science or Mathematics/Statistics Credits: 3
POS Elective Credits: 3
Literature or Philosophy Credits: 6

Third Year - Second Semester

CMJ 376 - Programming and Criticism of Electronic Media Credits: 3
CMJ 380 - Advertising, Media and Society Credits: 3
Electives ** Credits: 6

Fourth Year - First Semester

CMJ 412 - Electronic Media Management Credits: 3
CMJ 489 - Seminar in Media Ethics and Issues Credits: 3
Electives ** Credits: 9

Fourth Year - Second Semester

Electives ** Credits: 15

** May be used to meet remaining General Education requirements in Human Values and Social Contexts, College B.A. requirements for 9 credits of upper level courses, or department requirements for 6 credits of cultural diversity/international perspective.