The School of Journalism and Mass Communications offers coursework in gathering, communicating and interpreting information for mass and specialized audiences.
The curriculum is a mixture of media theory and skills courses in these professional areas: Advertising, Journalism and Digital Media and Public Relations. In order to graduate, a student must compile at least a 2.5 GPA in courses taken in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, which would essentially mean earning as average of at least half B's and half C's in the major.
In addition, K-State requires a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all coursework (a C average) to graduate.
Before applying to become a major, students must complete some basic requirements.
Students with no previous college hours must have a 2.5 GPA based on at least 30 credit hours at the 100-level or higher. MC 110 Mass Communication in Society must be completed with a grade of C or better, and the Composition Skills Test (CST) must be completed with a minimum score of 70%, prior to applying to the major. No more than three credits in the first 30 hours may come from MC 111, 112, 120, 180 or 210.
Students transferring hours into K-State must accumulate a 2.5 GPA on at least 15 credit hours at the 100-level or higher here at K-State, in addition to having at least a 2.5 GPA on all transferable hours that bring your total college hour accumulation to 30 or more. MC 110, or its transferable equivalent, must be completed with grades of C or better, and the CST must be passed with a minimum score of 70%, prior to applying to the major. Any students without a minimum 2.5 GPA on transferable course work must earn 30 K-State hours with a 2.5 GPA. No more than three credits in the first 30 hours may come from MC 111, 112, 120, 180 or 210.
The Composition Skills Test is given every twice each semester and once during the summer months. The CST is a multiple-choice test that covers the basics of grammar, spelling and punctuation. Students who initially fail the CST may re-take the exam up to two times.
To apply, a student must submit an application packet to the School by September 15 or February 15 of each academic year. When applying, a student must submit a completed application packet. The packet must include the following:
Review for admission to the major will be based on the following factors:
Students who are not admitted may pursue a second application in one subsequent fall or spring semester. The second application, if the student requests, may be for admission to the major in a different sequence or sequences.
Students who are not admitted may pursue a second application in the subsequent fall or spring semester, which may be for admission in a different sequence or sequences. Students who are not admitted after a second application will meet with the pre-major adviser to discuss academic options.
While awaiting eligibility to become a major, all freshman and new transfer students from other institutions are eligible to be a pre-major. Any student may enroll in Mass Communication in Society (MC 110), which is the required first course in the major.
Enrollment is also open for four other introductory courses: Journalism in a Free Society (MC 111), Visual Communication in Mass Media (MC 210), Principles of Advertising (MC 120), and Fundamentals of Public Relations (MC 180).
In addition, freshmen and new transfer students are encouraged to enroll in Pre-Major Orientation (MC 010), which offers a short introduction to the school's curriculum, advising process and mass communication careers. Enrollment is restricted in all other courses in the major.
Students can take skills courses and advanced courses ONLY if they have passed the JMC composition skills test and have a 2.5 GPA based on 15 or more hours at the 100-level or above. Freshmen who currently have a 2.5 GPA or better but have yet to complete 15 hours and pass the JMC composition test may provisionally pre-enroll in the beginning writing classes on the expectation they will have a 2.5 GPA on 15 hours after completing the semester in progress.
If so, they remain enrolled; if not, they are dropped. Our curriculum requires at least four semesters to complete, since the skills courses progressively build upon one another.