Mass Communication

Calvin L. Hall, Department Chair

Telephone: (919) 530-5115

Fax: (919) 530-5266

Main Office: 211B Farrison-Newton Communications Building

North Carolina Central University’s Department of Mass Communication prepares students for careers in multi-platform journalism, public relations, entertainment, corporate communication, and communication studies. Our majors select one of five concentrations: Broadcast Media, Digital Filmmaking, Journalism, Media Studies, or Public Relations.

Department alumni work as:

Television News Reporters
Videographers and Producers
Print and Online Journalists for National News and Specialty Publications
Media Organization Recruiters
Photojournalists
Radio Personalities
Corporate and Non-Profit Communication Specialists
Media Researchers
Advertising Copy Writers
Copy Editors
Publication Managers.

Many of our graduates have gone on to earn advanced degrees in mass communication, health communication, entertainment law, and sports communication. Some have established careers outside the field of communications as social workers, city planners, and policy specialists.

Our students acquire critical hands-on experience through on- and off-campus practicums and internships. We assist our students with off-campus internships across the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle, including paid summer internships at Duke University.

On-campus media practicum opportunities include working with AudioNet, our student-run radio station; the Campus Echo, our award-winning student news publication; Central News, our award-winning student broadcast news program; the NCCU-TV Studio, our campus television studio; and WNCU, the University’s 50,000-watt FM station. Students also hone their communication skills with practicums at NCCU’s Office of Communications and Marketing and NCCU Athletics.

Students who major in Mass Communication can seek jobs as:

Social Media Coordinators
Print, Online and Video Editors
News Analysts, Reporters, and Correspondents
Public Relations Specialists
Technical Writers
Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations Managers
Disk Jockeys
News Production Assistants
Corporate and Non-Profit Communication Directors
Videographers, Cinematographers, and Documentarians
Digital Media Producers
Media Entrepreneurs
Health Communication Specialists
Event Coordinators
Scriptwriters
Talent Agents

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the Department of Mass Communication is to prepare students for careers and study in mass communication. The department offers engaged learning, student media and research experiences and connections to professional practice opportunities. The department values the comprehensive preparation of graduates with an understanding of the ethical, practical, and theoretical foundations in the field and an understanding of and appreciation for cultural diversity. Our department’s concentrations emphasize the development of written, verbal, media production, and media literacy skills.

The major advances the University’s mission “to encourage intellectual curiosity and to enhance the academic and professional skills of its students and faculty.” It also advances two goals established by the UNC Tomorrow Commission’s mission: “to educate students to be personally and professionally successful in the twenty-first century (4.1 and 4.1.1) and to increase access to higher education for all North Carolinians, particularly for underserved regions, underrepresented populations, especially African-American males and Hispanics, and non-traditional students.”

Mass Communication Concentrations and Minor:

Broadcast Media

The Broadcast Media concentration offers a solid foundation for a variety of careers. In addition to honing reading, writing, storytelling, and critical thinking skills, the concentration is designed to enhance audio, video, and multimedia production skills. Students learn multi-platform skills to enable them to work in corporate and non-profit settings, print media, radio, TV, new media, and social media.

Digital Filmmaking

The Digital Filmmaking concentration provides majors with a foundation for entry into the filmmaking and digital storytelling fields, including producing, directing, editing, cinematography, production design, and sound with an emphasis on storytelling as a function of narrative communication. These skills are also applicable for graduates who want to pursue careers in fiction filmmaking, documentary production, music videos, commercials, and other branded content.

Journalism

Our Journalism concentration offers a solid foundation in the skills vital for careers in all communication media. The curriculum enhances reading, writing, reporting, storytelling, and critical thinking skills. Students also learn the theory and practice of information and news gathering. They learn to research and report effective stories designed for print, broadcast and multimedia/online distribution.

Media Studies

The Media Studies concentration teaches students to use, analyze, and appreciate how and why communication works in society. This concentration prepares them for further academic study in communication theory and examination of the role of communication in society. Students will be introduced to media literacy, critical media analysis, and rhetorical communication studies and are prepared to write and think critically and to acquire a firm foundation in research theories and methods that prepare them for careers as media practitioners or candidates for graduate study.

Public Relations

The Public Relations concentration prepares students for careers as communication specialists who help individuals and organizations manage their reputations and relationships. Entry-level jobs often involve producing social media strategies, preparing multimedia news releases, planning events, and managing day-to-day relationships with journalists and other influencers. Management-level jobs often involve formulating a communication plan for a new initiative or forecasting the reputational effects of an organizational decision or action. Students will develop strong skills in spoken, written, and multi-media communication and will learn how to use these skills to support the goal of an organization or individual. The concentration also emphasizes research, critical and creative thinking, and ethical decision-making.

Mass Communication Minor

NCCU students with another major may minor in Mass Communication. The courses required for the minor are listed elsewhere in this document.

The Department of Mass Communication oversees the University’s course offerings in Speech. MSCM 1250 MSCM 1250 - Elements of Speech Communication (3) or MSCM 2200 MSCM 2200 - Introduction to Public Speaking (3) . However, these communication skills courses do not count as part of the required credit hours for the major or the minor in English or in Mass Communication.

Students majoring in Mass Communication must earn the grade of “C” or better in ENG 1110, ENG 1210, ENG 1500, MSCM 1250, or MSCM 2200, and MSCM 2400 and MSCM 2440. A grade of “C” or better is required in these prerequisite courses before students are eligible to register for upper-level MSCM courses.

Information

Contact