Mass Media

Description:

Mass Media leads to the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. This program offers students the opportunity to study the form, content, history and issues related to mass media while learning the skills necessary to produce basic content for mass media outlets, including print, online, and broadcast. The study of mass media will also develop students' critical thinking skills as they learn how to effectively discuss and analyze how society interacts with mass media.

This program is primarily designed for students seeking transfer to four-year institutions to study Mass Media, Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations and Communication. Additionally, the skills learned here could be used to gain entry-level positions as creators and distributors of mass media content in smaller media organizations.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program graduates will be able to:

  • Discuss the history, theories, and practical applications of mass media
  • Explain theories and principles of communication in various contexts
  • Apply writing skills appropriate to several different mass media formats
  • Create mass media products involving print, photography, audio, and video
  • Explain legal and ethical issues of creating and distributing information through mass media

Program Entry Requirements:

The Program is open to interested students. Students are required to satisfy placement at the time of admission. Students who are identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as a part of their degree program.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:

A minimum of 61 credits and a grade point average of 2.0 (C average) are required for graduation.

Course Sequence:

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or
ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)
  3 credits Writing, Research & Info Lit. 1
ENGL 114 - Introduction to Communication   3 credits  
FNMT 101 - Quantitative Reasoning or
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or
MATH 137 - Geometry for Design or
MATH 150 - Introductory Data Analysis or
MATH 161 - Precalculus I * or
other MATH course
For FNMT 101, FNMT 118, MATH 137 and MATH 150: FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement
For MATH 161: FNMT 118 with a grade of "C" or better
3 or 4 credits Quantitative Reasoning
CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology   3 credits Technological Competency
FYE 101 - First Year Experience**
or other General Elective
  3 credits  

Semester 2

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or
ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)
ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better 3 credits Writing, Research, & Info Lit. 2
CHEM 105 - Inquiry into Chemistry or
BIOL 106 - General Biology I or 
other Lab Science course
  4 credits Scientific Reasoning
ENGL 115 - Public Speaking ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits Oral Communication/ Creative Expression
ENGL 107 - Society and Mass Communications ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  
ANTH 112 - Cultural Anthropology or
HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or
HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors)  or
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or
SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors) 
  3 credits Cultural Analysis & Interpretation

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 122 - Writing for Mass Media ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better 3 credits  
PHOT 151 - Techniques in Photo Editing (Photoshop I)   3 credits  
ENGL 205 - Creative Writing or
ART 101 - Visual Communication or
ART 101H - Visual Communication (Honors) or
PHIL 111 - Critical Thinking
  3 credits  
ENGL 271 - The Language of Film or
ENGL 272 - Topics in Film Study or 
PHOT 104 - Introduction to Video Production
ENGL 101 with a grade "C" or better 3 credits  
ART 150 - Introduction to Computer Art/Graphics or
ART 151 - Graphic Design I or
ENGL 117 – Group and Team Communication or
ENGL 118 -Intercultural Communication or
ENGL 119 - Rhetoric & The Public Sphere or
ENGL 120 - Voice and Articulation or
ENGL 131 - Acting I
ENGL 132 - Acting II
ENGL 214 - Communication Theory  or
ENGL 219 - Black Rhetoric or
ENGL 271 - The Language of Film or
ENGL 272 - Topics in Film Study or
PHOT 104 - Introduction to Video Production or
CIS 130 - Web Page Design I
For ENGL 117, ENGL 118 and ENGL 119: ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently
For ENGL 214: ENGL 115 with a grade of "C" or better and ENGL 107 or ENGL 116 with a grade of "C" or better 
For ENGL 219: ENGL 101
For CIS 130: CIS 103
3 credits  

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 124 - Intro to Mass Media Design ENGL 107 must be taken prior and
PHOT 151 may be taken concurrently
3 credits  
Directive Elective (choose two):
ART 150 - Introduction to Computer Art/Graphics or
ART 151 - Graphic Design I or
ENGL 117 – Group and Team Communication or
ENGL 118 -Intercultural Communication or
ENGL 119 - Rhetoric & The Public Sphere or
ENGL 120 - Voice and Articulation or
ENGL 131 - Acting I
ENGL 132 - Acting II
ENGL 214 - Communication Theory  or
ENGL 219 - Black Rhetoric or
ENGL 271 - The Language of Film or
ENGL 272 - Topics in Film Study or
PHOT 104 - Introduction to Video Production or
CIS 130 - Web Page Design I
For ENGL 117, ENGL 118 and ENGL 119: ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently
For ENGL 214: ENGL 115 with a grade of "C" or better and ENGL 107 or ENGL 116 with a grade of "C" or better 
For ENGL 219: ENGL 101
For CIS 130: CIS 103
6 credits  
General Elective**   3 credits  
ENGL 282 - Scriptwriting or
ENGL 283 - Nonfiction Writing: Memoir and Literary Journalism or
other General Elective
For ENGL 282: ENGL 205
For ENGL 283: ENGL 102 or ENGL 205
3 credits  

Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:

61

* Some colleges and universities require a mathematics course above FNMT 118. In that case: 

  • Students who are FNMT 118 ready should take MATH 137, MATH 150, or MATH 161 instead of FNMT 101 or FNMT 118.  
  • Students who are FNMT 118 ready who intend to transfer to Temple University should take FNMT 118, which is the prerequisite for MATH 161.  
  • Students with a math placement score above FNMT 118 should take MATH 161 or a higher-level math course.  
  • Please visit the transfer agreements web page for more information and consult with an advisor when selecting a quantitative reasoning course.  
  • MATH 161 is also recommended for students pursuing STEM interests.

**Directed electives and general electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor based on student's academic and career goals, as well as specific requirements of transfer institutions.

 

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.

For More Information, Contact:

The Division of Liberal Studies Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or the College Information Center (215) 751 8010.