Journalism and Mass Communications (BA)
The major in Journalism and Mass Communications is designed to prepare students for a variety of career opportunities, both in and outside of mass media. Students gain strong written and verbal communication skills, one of the most valuable skill sets all employers seek in graduates. Our majors also master a variety of technical skills including web coding, video production, podcasting, photography, digital, print, and visual design, content production, content management systems, such as WordPress, social media management, and familiarization with high-end programs, such as Adobe Premiere, and After Effects.
Project-based, hands-on learning allows our students to learn leadership and organization skills, which are crucial for designing, developing, and implementing strategic campaigns. This focus on learning also introduces students to a variety of important skills that are transferable to nearly all career fields: problem solving and decision making, public speaking, presentation skills, relationship management, media, and public relations.
Our faculty constantly evaluates the ever-changing professional world and offer special topics classes on emerging skills and subjects. Many of these specialized classes are based on students' interests. Journalism and mass communication courses also focus on academic topics, such as media literacy, political communications, media law and ethics, propaganda and persuasion, and signs and symbols. All department faculty have academic degrees, but more importantly, they all have professional experience in the subjects they teach.
Students become active decision-makers in producing the student-run publications The Circuit and bccircuit.com (student news), and The Raven (the college yearbook), as part of their practicum experiences.
International Students
The JMC department welcomes and encourages international students (students whose primary language is not English) to seek a major or minor in the department. However, because of the intensive language requirements, all international students must submit proof of language proficiency to the department before taking writing courses or declaring a major or minor in Journalism and Mass Communications. International students are required to declare a major/minor before the start of their second semester in the program. Language proficiency is met by achieving the appropriate score as required by the College for admission. (See section of catalog titled International Students.)