Electives
The Carolina Core, Additional SJMC General Education Requirements, Minor/Cognate and Electives outside of the SJMC must include at least 72 semester hours in academic subjects. Students with fewer than 72 hours in general education courses must take enough electives to fulfill the 72-hour minimum. No elective courses of a remedial, developmental nature may apply as credit toward the 72-hour minimum.
Additional Required Courses for Mass Communications (39 Hours)
Select three of the following principles courses: (9 Hours)
• JOUR 201 - Principles of Public Relations
• JOUR 202 - Principles of Advertising and Brand Communications
• JOUR 203 - Principles of Visual Communications
• JOUR 204 - Principles of Journalism
Three required courses from among the following: (9 Hours)
• JOUR 205 - History and Philosophy of the Mass Media
• JOUR 306 - Theories of Mass Communications
• JOUR 501 - Freedom, Responsibility, and Ethics of the Mass Media
• JOUR 506 - Mass Media Criticism
• JOUR 542 - Public Opinion and Persuasion
SJMC Electives of the Students’ Choice: At least 3 hours and no more than 6 hours must be from skills courses (12 hours)
Choose one of the University’s Leadership with Distinction Pathways: Global Learning, Research, Civic Engagement, or Community Service. Courses listed under each pathway are examples that address the pathway’s learning outcomes. Except for the required courses identified, other relevant courses that address the pathway outcomes may be substituted per approval of advisor.
A. Global Learning (6 Hours)
B. Research (6 Hours)
- JOUR 332 - Mass Communications Research (required)
- One approved SJMC research elective
C. Civic Engagement (6 Hours)
D. Community Service (6 Hours)
Capstone portfolio course (3 Hours)
Additional requirements for those seeking the Leadership Distinction designation:
The major in Mass Communications aligns with Graduation with Leadership Distinction. All students pursuing the Leadership Distinction designation will be assigned a faculty mentor from the Mass Communications sequence with whom they will be required to meet at least once per semester during their academic career. Further information on Graduation with Leadership Distinction can be obtained through the Office of USC Connect.
Minor (18 hours)
A student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications may choose to complete a minor consisting of 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. A minor form must be completed and approved by the school after the student has completed 30 hours of course work.
Cognate (12 Hours)
A student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications may choose to complete a cognate. A cognate requires a minimum of 12 hours of courses in other departments related to the student’s major and/or career goals. Cognate courses may be taken in one or more departments depending on the interest and requirements of the student, but must have approval of the student’s adviser. Journalism courses may not be used in the cognate. At least 6 of the 12 hours must be at the 300-level or higher. No 100 level courses may be used in the cognate.