Bachelor of Arts Degree - Liberal Studies Major

Mass Communications

Oklahoma City University, through its School of Adult & Continuing Education offers the B.A. in Liberal Studies with a Concentration in Mass Communication. Designed for students
who desire a degree that provides exposure to all the major areas of mass communications (advertising, broadcast, print media and public relations), the 18 hours of mass communications courses are all taught by faculty members from Oklahoma City University’s award winning
Department of Mass Communications.

Program Structure
The Liberal Studies major with concentration in Mass Communications totals 33 credit hours. 15 hours of Liberal Studies major requirements are supplemented by 18 credit hours of Mass Communications courses. Classes typically meet one evening a week for eight weeks during the spring and fall terms and for six weeks during the Summer I and Summer II sessions
and begin every January, March, May, June, August and October. Students may begin course work in any session.

CURRICULUM

Required Courses for Liberal Studies Major (15 hrs.)
Communication Skills (3 hrs.)
Math, Natural Science (3hrs.)
Behavioral Science (3 hrs.)
Humanities (3 hrs.)
Wellness (3 hrs.)

Required Courses for Mass Communications Concentration (18 hrs.)

Introduction to Mass Communications (3 hrs.)
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of mass communications in the twenty-first century. The course emphasizes the function, role and impact of the media on the individual and discusses the major issues facing contemporary media.

News Writing and Reporting (3 hrs.)
This emphasizes the elements of good grammar and correct news writing style, with emphasis on practical writing assignments mirroring those that will be encountered on the job. The class consists of lecture and lab.

Principles of Advertising (3 hrs.)
An overview of the historical, economic and social evolution of advertising. Content focuses on advertising types, functions and content development as well as on the fundamentals of advertising media and critical evaluation of advertising’s role in world economic and social systems.

Introduction to Broadcasting (3 hrs.)
This course introduces students to the broadcasting industry today.Course content covers the development of media, organization,programming and regulatory practices in these industries.

Principles of Public Relations (3 hrs.)
This course is designed to explain the origin, evolution and nature of the profession; to explore the areas of knowledge vital to the public relations practitioner; and to relate those knowledge areas to practical applications. Students investigate public opinion analysis,communications theory and use of various kinds of research by the profession. Finally, the course introduces the basic process skills and techniques required for successful public relations practice.

Broadcast Writing I (3 hrs.)
This course prepares students to write basic news copy for the broadcast media. Students are introduced to the unique characteristics of broadcast style and story formats. This course is a combination of lectures sessions and writing labs. Basic computer skills are necessary.

General Elective Hours (to equal 124 total)