Degrees programs/curriculums/majors: Mass Communication, B.A.M.C. - Louisiana State University

Apr 03, 2025

2015-2016 General Catalog

Digital Advertising
Journalism

Political Communication
Public Relations

Areas of Concentration

Students majoring in mass communication must complete at least 39 hours in mass communication courses, including 21 hours of core courses–MC 2000 , MC 2010 , MC 2015 , MC 2035 , MC 3080 , and MC 4090 –and all of the requirements under one of the areas of concentration listed below: digital advertising, journalism, political communication, or public relations.

* Students choosing French, German, or Spanish as their foreign language will take four to eight hours, depending on placement.

**MC 2000 is a required course and is counted as a general education social science course.

Digital Advertising

CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS

SEMESTER 1: “C” or better in ENGL 1001 ; 2.5 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
SEMESTER 2: “C” or better in MC 2000 ; 2.8 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
SEMESTER 3: “B” or better in MC 2010 ; “C” or better in MC 2035 ; 3.0 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
SEMESTER 4: “C” or better in ENGL 2000 and MC 2015 ; Admission to the School.

Semester 1

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 1001 ; 2.5 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
ENGL 1001 English Composition (3)
MATH 1021 College Algebra (3) or
MATH 1029 Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (3)
MC 2000 Introduction to Mass Media (3)
General Education course - Arts (3)
First Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 2

CRITICAL: “C” or better in MC 2000 ; 2.8 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
MC 2010 Media Writing (3)
MC 2035 Digital Brands (3)
Second Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 3

CRITICAL: “B” or better in MC 2010 ; “C” or better in MC 2035 ; 3.0 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
ACCT 2000 Survey of Accounting (3) or
ACCT 2001 Introductory Financial Accounting (3)
MC 2015 Visual Communication (3)
MC 2040 The Advertising Industry in Society (3)
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 4

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 2000 and MC 2015 ; Admission to the School.
EXST 2201 Introduction to Statistical Analysis (4)
ENGL 2000 English Composition (3)
HIST 2055 The United States to 1865 (3)
MC 3080 Mass Media Law (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 5

ECON 2030 Economic Principles (3) ²
HIST 2057 The United States from 1865 to the Present (3)
MC 3035 Quantitative Audience Analysis (3)
MC 3036 Qualitative Audience Analysis (3)
Approved Social Sciences or Humanities course (3)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 6

MC 3031 Digital Advertising Creative Strategies (3)
MKT 3401 Principles of Marketing (3)
MC 4090 Media Ethics and Social Responsibility (3)
Approved Social Sciences or Humanities courses (6)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 7

MC 4040 Advertising Problems (3)
Approved MC Elective (3000-level) (3)
General Education course - Social Sciences (3)³
Approved Electives (6)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 8

MC 4045 Advertising Campaigns (3)
Approved Electives (9)

Total Semester Hours: 12

120 Total Sem. Hrs.

¹ - If two course sequence is taken in the physical sciences, the additional three hour course must be taken from the life sciences, and vice versa.

² - ECONOMICS option: ECON 2000 and ECON 2010 (six hours) may be taken instead of ECON 2030 (three hours).

³ - Six-hour General Education SOCIAL SCIENCE requirement is MET if student chooses GEOG 1001 /GEOG 1003 or ECON 2000 /ECON 2010 sequence; else, must complete one additional Gen. Ed. Social Sciences course.

Journalism

CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS

Semester 1

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 1001 ; 2.5 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
ENGL 1001 English Composition (3)
MC 2000 Introduction to Mass Media (3)
General Education course - Analytical Reasoning (from mathematics) (3)
General Education course - Arts (3)
First Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 2

CRITICAL: “C” or better in MC 2000 ; 2.8 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
MC 2010 Media Writing (3)
Second Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)
General Education course - Analytical Reasoning (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 3

CRITICAL: “B” or better in MC 2010 ; “C” or better in MC 2035 ; 3.0 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
ACCT 2000 Survey of Accounting (3) or
ACCT 2001 Introductory Financial Accounting (3)
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
MC 2015 Visual Communication (3)
MC 2035 Digital Brands (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 4

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 2000 and MC 2015 ; Admission to the School.
ECON 2030 Economic Principles (3) ³
ENGL 2000 English Composition (3)
MC 2005 Introduction to Journalism (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹
Approved Elective (3)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 5

MC 3103 Advanced Print Newsgathering (3) or
MC 3104 Advanced Broadcast Newsgathering (3)
HIST 2055 The United States to 1865 (3)
Approved Social Sciences or Humanities Courses (6)
Free Elective (3)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 6

MC 3080 Mass Media Law (3)
MC 3005 In-depth Reporting (3)
HIST 2057 The United States from 1865 to the Present (3)
Approved Social Sciences or Humanities course (3)²
Free Elective (3)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 7

MC 4090 Media Ethics and Social Responsibility (3)
General Education course - Arts (3)
Journalism Elective (choose one from the following):
MC 4280 Television News Producing (3)
MC 4260 Long-Format Video Production (3)
MC 4250 Public Affairs Reporting (3)
MC 3002 Feature Writing (3)
Approved Electives (6)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 8

MC 4500 Advanced Journalism (3) ⁴
MC Elective (3)
Approved Electives (7)

Total Semester Hours: 13

120 Total Sem. Hrs.

¹- If two course sequence is taken in the physical sciences, the additional three hour course must be from the life sciences, and vice versa.

² - Six hour General Education Social Science requirement is met if student chooses GEOG 1001 /GEOG 1003 or ECON 2000 /ECON 2010 sequence; otherwise, must complete one additional General Education Social Science course.

³- ECONOMICS option: ECON 2000 and ECON 2010 (6 hours) may be taken instead of ECON 2030 (3 hours).

⁴ - In order to take MC 4500 (Adv Journalism) in Sem. 8, you MUST TAKE MC 3005 and MC 3103 /MC 3104 as prerequisites.

Political Communication

CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS

Semester 1

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 1001 ; 2.5 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
ENGL 1001 English Composition (3)
MATH 1021 College Algebra (3) or
MATH 1029 Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (3)
MC 2000 Introduction to Mass Media (3)
General Education course - Arts (3)
First Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 2

CRITICAL: “C” or better in MC 2000 ; 2.8 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
MC 2010 Media Writing (3)
MC 2035 Digital Brands (3)
Second Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 3

CRITICAL: “B” or better in MC 2010 ; “C” or better in MC 2035 ; 3.0 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
MC 2015 Visual Communication (3)
General Education course - Analytical Reasoning (3)
Approved Social Sciences or Humanities course (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 4

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 2000 and MC 2015 ; Admission to the School.
ECON 2030 Economic Principles (3) ³
ENGL 2000 English Composition (3)
HIST 2055 The United States to 1865 (3)
EXST 2201 Introduction to Statistical Analysis (4)
MC 3504 Introduction to Political Communication (3)

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 5

MC 3510 Political Communication Research (3)
HIST 2057 The United States from 1865 to the Present (3)
POLI 2051 American Government (3) or
POLI 2053 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) or
POLI 2057 Introduction to International Politics (3) or
4000-level POLI course (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹
MC Elective (3)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 6

MC 3080 Mass Media Law (3)
Approved Social Sciences of Humanities courses (6)²
Approved Electives (6)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 7

MC 3505 Media and Policy Processes (3)
MC 3520 Political Communication Writing (3)
MC 4090 Media Ethics and Social Responsibility (3)
Approved Social Sciences or Humanities courses (6)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 8

MC 4520 Advanced Seminar in Political Communication (3)
MC Elective (3)
Approved Electives (6)

Total Semester Hours: 12

120 Total Sem. Hrs.

To ensure your ability to graduate in 8 semesters, you are encouraged to see a Manship School counselor each semester to review your schedule.

¹ - If two course sequence is taken in the physical science, the additional three hour course must be from the life sciences, and vice versa.

² - Six hour General Education SOCIAL SCIENCE requirement is MET if student chooses GEOG 1001 /GEOG 1003 or ECON 2000 /ECON 2010 sequence; otherwise, must complete one additional General Education Social Science course.

³ - ECONOMICS option: ECON 2000 and ECON 2010 (6 hours) may be taken instead of ECON 2030 (3 hours).

Public Relations

CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS

Semester 1

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 1001 ; 2.5 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
ENGL 1001 English Composition (3)
MC 2000 Introduction to Mass Media (3)
General Education course - Analytical Reasoning (from mathematics) (3)
General Education course - Arts (3)
First Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 2

CRITICAL: “C” or better in MC 2000 ; 2.8 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
MC 2010 Media Writing (3)
MC 2035 Digital Brands (3)
Second Course in Foreign Language Sequence (4)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 16

Semester 3

CRITICAL: “B” or better in MC 2010 ; “C” or better in MC 2035 ; 3.0 Cumulative and LSU GPA.
ACCT 2000 Survey of Accounting (3) or
ACCT 2001 Introductory Financial Accounting (3)
HIST 1001 Western Civilization to 1500 (3) or
HIST 1003 Western Civilization Since 1500 (3) or
GEOG 1001 Human Geography: Americas and Europe (3) or
GEOG 1003 Human Geography: Africa and Asia (3)
MC 2015 Visual Communication (3)
MC 3010 Introduction to Public Relations (3)
General Education course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 4

CRITICAL: “C” or better in ENGL 2000 and MC 2015 ; Admission to the School.
ENGL 2000 English Composition (3)
HIST 2055 The United States to 1865 (3)
MC 3001 Public Relations Writing and Applications (3)
General Education Course - Analytical Reasoning (3)
General Education Course - Natural Sciences (3)¹

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 5

ECON 2030 Economic Principles (3) ³
HIST 2057 The United States from 1865 to the Present (3)
MGT 3200 Principles of Management (3)
MC 4020 Public Relations Research (3)
Approved Social Science or Humanities course (3)²

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 6

MC 3080 Mass Media Law (3)
MKT 3401 Principles of Marketing (3)
MC Elective (3)
Approved Social Sciences or Humanities courses (6)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 7

MC 4002 Strategies for Public Relations and Social Media (3)
MC 4090 Media Ethics and Social Responsibility (3)
General Education course - Social Sciences (3)
Approved Elective (3)
Approved MC Elective (3000-level) (3)

Total Semester Hours: 15

Semester 8

MC 4005 Public Relations Campaigns (3)
Approved Electives (10)

Total Semester Hours: 13

120 Total Sem. Hrs.

To ensure your ability to graduate in 8 semesters, you are encouraged to see a Manship School counselor each semester to review your schedule.

¹ - If two course sequence is taken in the physical science, the additional three hour course must be from the life sciences, and vice versa.

³ - ECONOMICS option: ECON 2000 and ECON 2010 (6 hours) may be taken instead of ECON 2030 (3 hours).