Mass Communication, Advertising-Public Relations Concentration, B.S.

Advertising and public relations are distinct fields; these programs help students prepare for positions in advertising agencies and departments, media sales and management, advertising production and design, public relations agencies and departments, and organizational and employee relations.

Recommended Curriculum

Freshmen/sophomores in all concentrations should follow this general outline of courses; selection of junior and senior courses should be made in consultation with the advisor. Majors must have a C (2.00) or better in all mass communication courses.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Natural Sciences (2 prefixes) 8 credit hours
JOUR 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions 3 credit hours
JOUR 2710 - Media Writing 3 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 prefixes) 6 credit hours

Subtotal: 29 Hours

Sophomore

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (2 prefixes) 6 credit hours
Consult advisor for course(s) in major 3 to 6 credit hours
Mathematics 3 credit hours
Minor electives 6 credit hours *
Choose 6 hours from:
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 27-30 Hours

NOTE:

* All students in the School of Journalism are required to complete two 15-18 hour minors, at least one of which must be in the liberal arts and sciences. Students in any School of Journalism concentration may not minor in any area of the College of Mass Communication. A computer literacy course is required. Students may choose from CSCI 1150, INFS 2200, or INFS 3100. CSCI 1000 will not meet this requirement.

Advertising

Although students in advertising are primarily oriented toward either the creative or management side of the business, they essentially take the same courses in advertising. Creative students usually minor in liberal arts areas such as English and art. In addition to the required liberal arts minor, management students usually complete their second minor in a business area such as marketing.

Advertising students take the following required courses. Students should check the prerequisites for each course.

Admission to Candidacy

To be admitted to candidacy, the student must meet the following requirements:

45 hours completed before applying for candidacy
Grade of C (2.00) or better in each of the following:

EMC 1020 /JOUR 1020 /RIM 1020

JOUR 2710

ADV 3020

ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020

Math course satisfying General Education Mathematics requirement

Minimum overall GPA in all school and university coursework of 2.50.

Advertising Required Courses:

Practicum/Internship or Upper-Division Elective (1-3 credits)

JOUR 3580 - MC Practicum 1 to 3 credit hours
JOUR 4000 - MC Internship 1 to 3 credit hours
Journalism upper-division elective

Total hours in the college: 37-39

Public Relations

Students in public relations may choose the general program or a specialty in the recording industry; both programs require 37-39 credits. By the junior year, students should choose one minor in the liberal arts and sciences, plus 15 hours, approved by their major advisors, in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business. With permission of the advisor or the director of the School of Journalism, a student may replace the 15 hours in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business with a minor in the basic or applied sciences or a second minor in the liberal arts and sciences.