BA Mass Communication & Journalism
Kentucky State University offers a dynamic Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) that equips students with the skills and knowledge needed for successful careers in journalism, public relations, digital media, and professional communication. MCJ students must complete 120 undergraduate credit hours to graduate. Within those hours, all majors complete a 21-hour MCJ Core Curriculum, followed by additional specialized coursework in one of three concentrations: Multimedia Journalism, Public Relations, or Speech Communication. These concentrations allow students to customize their academic journey in alignment with their interests and professional goals, through courses that emphasize writing, media literacy, critical thinking, and hands-on communication practice.
Students gain real-world experience through internships, media production labs, and student-run outlets like The Thorobred News, as well as opportunities in podcasting, public speaking, and digital storytelling. The program also offers minor programs in both Mass Communication and Journalism and Speech Communication, along with certificate options in Digital Communication, Journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Public Relations, Interdisciplinary Persuasion, Speech Communication, and Sports Communication. These versatile academic pathways prepare graduates to communicate effectively across traditional and emerging media platforms, making them well-positioned for a variety of careers in the ever-evolving communication industry.
Students pursuing a MCJ Bachelor’s degree will choose from one of the three concentrations: Multimedia Journalism, Public Relations, or Speech Communication.
MCJ students need 120 undergraduate hours to graduate. Within the 120 hours, all MCJ majors will complete a 21-hour MCJ Core Curriculum, and then take additional courses within his or her area of concentration.
Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JOU 204 | Journalism | 3 |
| JOU 210 | Intro to Mass Communication | 3 |
| JOU 322 | Intro Digital Photojournalism | 3 |
| JOU 364 | Desktop/Web Publishing | 3 |
| JOU 365 | Adv Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| JOU 366 | Public Relations Seminar | 3 |
| JOU 367 | Television/Radio Production | 3 |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 (Fall) | Hours | |
| FYE 118 | First Year Experience | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Comp I | 3 |
| JOU 210 | Intro to Mass Communication | 3 |
| COM 103 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Select one General Education Arts Course | 3 | |
| Introduction to Art | ||
| Introduction to Music | ||
| Introduction to Theatre | ||
| Intro to Literature | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 2 (Spring) | ||
| JOU 204 | Journalism | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Comp II | 3 |
| MAT 111 or MAT 115 |
Acceler. Contemp. Mathematics or College Algebra |
3 |
| Select Humanities | 3 | |
| Cultural Responsiveness | ||
| Business and Society | ||
| Western Civilization | ||
| Intro to African American Hist | ||
| Select one General Education Behavioral Science Course | 3 | |
| Financial Literacy | ||
| Prin of Economics I | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Term 3 (Fall) | ||
| JOU 322 | Intro Digital Photojournalism | 3 |
| Select one General Educational Global/Civic Course | 3 | |
| Global Perspect Ag/Food/Env | ||
| American Civil Rights Movement | ||
| World Politics | ||
| American Government | ||
| Select one General Education Natural Science Course | 3-4 | |
| Life Science | ||
| Chemistry in Context | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chem I Laboratory |
||
| Survey Gen/Organic/Biochemi | ||
| Physical Sciences I | ||
| JOU 302 | Student Media Workshop I | 1 |
| Select one General Education Behavioral Science Course | 3 | |
| Financial Literacy | ||
| Prin of Economics I | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| Term 4 (Spring) | ||
| JOU 365 | Adv Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| JOU 364 | Desktop/Web Publishing | 3 |
| JOU 302 | Student Media Workshop I | 1 |
| COM/JOU Advised Elective | 3 | |
| Media Literacy | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Intro to Sports Communication | ||
| Audio Production | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Race/Class/Gender in the Media | ||
| Evolution of Journalism | ||
| African American Media | ||
| The Media in Film | ||
| Communication Law/Ethics | ||
| Journalism II | ||
| Television/Radio Production II | ||
| Student Media Workshop II | ||
| Adv Digital Photojournalism | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Term 5 (Fall) | ||
| JOU 362 | News Editing | 3 |
| JOU 302 | Student Media Workshop I | 1 |
| JOU 367 | Television/Radio Production | 3 |
| COM/JOU Advised Elective | 3 | |
| Media Literacy | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Intro to Sports Communication | ||
| Audio Production | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Race/Class/Gender in the Media | ||
| Evolution of Journalism | ||
| African American Media | ||
| The Media in Film | ||
| Communication Law/Ethics | ||
| Journalism II | ||
| Television/Radio Production II | ||
| Student Media Workshop II | ||
| Adv Digital Photojournalism | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Elective/Certificate Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Term 6 (Spring) | ||
| JOU 363 | Magazine and Features Writing | 3 |
| JOU 373 | Broadcast Announcing | 3 |
| Select TWO minor required courses | 6 | |
| Elective/Certificate Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Term 7 (Fall) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Practicum in Print Journalism | ||
| Practicum in Broadcast Journal | ||
| Practicum in Public Relations | ||
| JOU 366 | Public Relations Seminar | 3 |
| Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Select THREE elective/certificate courses | 9 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Term 8 (Spring) | ||
| Select TWO minor required courses | 6 | |
| Select THREE elective/certificate courses | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120-121 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 (Fall) | Hours | |
| FYE 118 | First Year Experience | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Comp I | 3 |
| COM 103 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| JOU 210 | Intro to Mass Communication | 3 |
| Select one General Education Arts Course | 3 | |
| Introduction to Art | ||
| Introduction to Music | ||
| Introduction to Theatre | ||
| Intro to Literature | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 2 (Spring) | ||
| JOU 204 | Journalism | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Comp II | 3 |
| MAT 111 or MAT 115 |
Acceler. Contemp. Mathematics or College Algebra |
3 |
| Select one General Education Humanities Course | 3 | |
| Cultural Responsiveness | ||
| Business and Society | ||
| Western Civilization | ||
| Intro to African American Hist | ||
| Select one General Education Behavioral Science Course | 3 | |
| Financial Literacy | ||
| Prin of Economics I | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Term 3 (Fall) | ||
| JOU 322 | Intro Digital Photojournalism | 3 |
| JOU 366 | Public Relations Seminar | 3 |
| Select one General Education Natural Science Course | 3 | |
| Life Science | ||
| Chemistry in Context | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chem I Laboratory |
||
| Survey Gen/Organic/Biochemi | ||
| Physical Sciences I (Select one of the following:) | ||
| Free Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 4 (Spring) | ||
| JOU 365 | Adv Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| JOU 364 | Desktop/Web Publishing | 3 |
| Select ONE JOU/COM Advised Elective | 3 | |
| Media Literacy | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Intro to Sports Communication | ||
| Audio Production | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Race/Class/Gender in the Media | ||
| Evolution of Journalism | ||
| African American Media | ||
| The Media in Film | ||
| Communication Law/Ethics | ||
| Journalism II | ||
| Television/Radio Production II | ||
| Student Media Workshop II | ||
| Adv Digital Photojournalism | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Select one General Education Behavioral Science Course | 3 | |
| Financial Literacy | ||
| Prin of Economics I | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Select ONE Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Term 5 (Fall) | ||
| JOU 367 | Television/Radio Production | 3 |
| COM 310 | Persuasive Speaking | 3 |
| Select one General Educational Global/Civic Course | 3 | |
| Global Perspect Ag/Food/Env | ||
| American Civil Rights Movement | ||
| World Politics | ||
| American Government | ||
| Select ONE JOU/COM Advised Elective | 3 | |
| Media Literacy | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Intro to Sports Communication | ||
| Audio Production | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Race/Class/Gender in the Media | ||
| Evolution of Journalism | ||
| African American Media | ||
| The Media in Film | ||
| Communication Law/Ethics | ||
| Journalism II | ||
| Television/Radio Production II | ||
| Student Media Workshop II | ||
| Adv Digital Photojournalism | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Select ONE Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 6 (Spring) | ||
| JOU 370 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| JOU 375 | Advertising Seminar | 3 |
| Select TWO Minor Required Courses | 6 | |
| Select ONE Elective/Certificate Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Term 7 (Fall) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Practicum in Print Journalism | ||
| Practicum in Broadcast Journal | ||
| Practicum in Public Relations | ||
| JOU 371 | Public Events Planning | 3 |
| Select ONE Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Select TWO Elective/Certificate Courses | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 8 (Spring) | ||
| Select THREE Minor Required Courses | 9 | |
| Select TWO Elective/Certificate Courses | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 (Fall) | Hours | |
| FYE 118 | First Year Experience | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Comp I | 3 |
| COM 103 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| JOU 210 | Intro to Mass Communication | 3 |
| Select one General Education Arts Course | 3 | |
| Introduction to Art | ||
| Introduction to Music | ||
| Introduction to Theatre | ||
| Intro to Literature | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 2 (Spring) | ||
| ENG 102 | English Comp II | 3 |
| JOU 204 | Journalism | 3 |
| MAT 111 or MAT 115 |
Acceler. Contemp. Mathematics or College Algebra |
3 |
| Select one General Education Humanities Course | 3 | |
| Cultural Responsiveness | ||
| Business and Society | ||
| Western Civilization | ||
| Intro to African American Hist | ||
| Select one General Education Social Science Course | 3 | |
| Financial Literacy | ||
| Prin of Economics I | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Term 3 (Fall) | ||
| JOU 322 | Intro Digital Photojournalism | 3 |
| JOU 366 | Public Relations Seminar | 3 |
| Select one General Education Natural Science Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Life Science | ||
| Chemistry in Context | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chem I Laboratory |
||
| Survey Gen/Organic/Biochemi | ||
| Physical Sciences I | ||
| Select one General Education Social Science Course | 3 | |
| Financial Literacy | ||
| Prin of Economics I | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 4 (Spring) | ||
| JOU 365 | Adv Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| JOU 364 | Desktop/Web Publishing | 3 |
| Select ONE JOU/COM Advised Elective Course | 3 | |
| Media Literacy | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Intro to Sports Communication | ||
| Audio Production | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Race/Class/Gender in the Media | ||
| Evolution of Journalism | ||
| African American Media | ||
| The Media in Film | ||
| Communication Law/Ethics | ||
| Journalism II | ||
| Television/Radio Production II | ||
| Student Media Workshop II | ||
| Adv Digital Photojournalism | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Select one General Education Behavioral Science Course | 3 | |
| Financial Literacy | ||
| Prin of Economics I | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Select ONE Minoir Required Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Term 5 (Fall) | ||
| JOU 367 | Television/Radio Production | 3 |
| COM 302 | Interracial/Intercultural Comm | 3 |
| Select one General Educational Global/Civic Course | 3 | |
| Global Perspect Ag/Food/Env | ||
| American Civil Rights Movement | ||
| World Politics | ||
| American Government | ||
| Select ONE JOU/COM Advised Elective Course | 3 | |
| Media Literacy | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Intro to Sports Communication | ||
| Audio Production | ||
| Mass Communication and Society | ||
| Race/Class/Gender in the Media | ||
| Evolution of Journalism | ||
| African American Media | ||
| The Media in Film | ||
| Communication Law/Ethics | ||
| Journalism II | ||
| Television/Radio Production II | ||
| Student Media Workshop II | ||
| Adv Digital Photojournalism | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Select ONE Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 6 (Spring) | ||
| COM 310 | Persuasive Speaking | 3 |
| COM 315 | Voice and Diction | 3 |
| Select TWO Minor Required Courses | 6 | |
| Select ONE Elective/Certificate Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Term 7 (Fall) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Practicum in Print Journalism | ||
| Practicum in Broadcast Journal | ||
| Practicum in Public Relations | ||
| COM 401 | Institutional Communications | 3 |
| Select ONE Minor Required Course | 3 | |
| Select TWO Elective/Certificate Courses | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Term 8 (Spring) | ||
| Select THREE Minor Required Courses | 9 | |
| Select TWO Elective/Certificate Courses | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
A minor in Mass Communication requires the completion of 18 credit hours. Students wishing to minor in mass communication must take these six classes:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JOU 204 | Journalism | 3 |
| JOU 322 | Intro Digital Photojournalism | 3 |
| JOU 364 | Desktop/Web Publishing | 3 |
| JOU 365 | Adv Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| JOU 366 | Public Relations Seminar | 3 |
| JOU 367 | Television/Radio Production | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
A minor in Speech Communication requires the completion of 18 credit hours. Students wishing to minor in speech communication must take these six classes:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COM 200 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COM 201 | Group Discussion | 3 |
| COM 302 | Interracial/Intercultural Comm | 3 |
| COM 304 | Oral Interpretation | 3 |
| COM 310 | Persuasive Speaking | 3 |
| COM 315 | Voice and Diction | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |