Department of Mass Communication

The Mass Communication program will prepare you to think critically as well as communicate clearly and effectively. Your coursework will prepare you to become a professional in the media field who exhibits ethical and faith-based approaches to your work.

The program offers a selection of tracks to specialize in: broadcast media arts, digital media arts, graphic design, and integrated media.

The broadcast media arts, digital media arts and graphic design tracks are hands on, technical programs offered through a special partnership we have with Specs Howard School of Media Arts, located in Southfield, Michigan. Students pursuing these tracks should take the Specs Howard coursework during their sophomore or junior year. This portion of coursework requires three consecutive semesters and students must be prepared to pay summer tuition when financial aid is not dispersed.

Students pursuing the integrated media track complete all coursework at Rochester University.

All integrated media track students will obtain practical experience by working with Shield Media, RU’s student media, and through a media internship.

Program Learning Outcomes: 

1. Produce all forms of mass communication by applying functional area concepts and theories through writing, oral presentations, and digital technologies. Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy, fairness, and clarity. (Preparing)

2. Understand and evaluate the historical and cultural forms of mass communication with special focus on audience diversity and a faith perspective of communication practices. (Exploring)

3. Apply professional ethical principles aligned to the First Amendment with special focus on the relationship between media ethics and a faith system. (Integrating)

4. Students will develop an understanding of their intrinsic worth as people created by God for a purpose, with responsibility to reflect that to the community and as mass communication professionals. (Calling)

These PLOs are based on the following institutional learning goals:

EXPLORING: students will broaden their understanding of the world, its beauty, diversity, and complexity.

PREPARING: students will acquire knowledge and develop skills to serve in their neighborhoods, organizations, and businesses.

INTEGRATING: students will connect and apply knowledge and skills to their professional and personal lives.

CALLING: students will discern what God has called them to be and do.