Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in mass communication online degree program emphasizes critical thinking, writing, content creation, the effects of the media on the public as media studies, and related journalistic and strategic communication practices. This is a program that offers two tracks of emphasis. Students can either choose the media studies or the professional option when they speak with their advisor.
- The mass media/media studies option combines nine-hours of skills-based courses with 33-hours of theory or survey courses designed to facilitate the development of skills in the analysis of the role and influence of media in various social systems and to prepare students seeking to enter graduate school or the workforce.
- The journalism/entertainment writing option provides students with practical skills and knowledge in journalism. For the journalism/entertainment writing & reporting option, students take 42 hours, plus 12 hours of upper-level electives outside the major.
Program Details
Admission Requirements
To be fully admitted into this program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be formally admitted to UA Little Rock. Undergraduate admission requirements for the university can be found in our “Become a Student” section.
Graduation Requirements
For the Bachelor of Arts Degree: Minimum of 120 hours/credits, completion of UALR core requirements, 42 hours of major requirements, completion of an outside upper-level requirement (12 hours), UALR GPA of 2.0 overall.
Program Advisor
Dr. Timothy Edwards | Interim Director
School of Mass Communication
501.569.8372 | txedwards@ualr.edu | Department website
Accreditation
UA Little Rock is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, affiliated with the Electronic Campus of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), and designated as “doctoral/research intensive” by the Carnegie Foundation.
Disabilities
UA Little Rock makes every effort to meet special accommodation and access needs. For information on specific accommodations for individuals with disabilities, you may contact the department sponsoring the class you wish to attend, call eLearning at 501.569.3003, or the Office of Disability Support Services at 501.569.3143. The Disability Support Services website, ualr.edu/disability/, provides information about the accommodation process and online forms to apply for services.
University Standard Core Courses (18-21 hours)
Please note: Developmental courses are only available through the main campus and must be completed prior to declaring an online program.
First Year Experience (Choose 3 hours)
College of Business students may take BSAD 1100 for equivalent.
PEAW 1300 First Year Colloquium (3 credit hours)
Communication – Written (Choose 3 - 6 hours)
(Select 1 set)
RHET 1311 AND RHET 1312
OR
RHET 1320 Honors Composition
RHET 1311 Composition I (3 credit hours)
RHET 1312 Composition II (3 credit hours)
RHET 1320 Honors Composition (3 credit hours)
Fine Arts (Choose 3 hours)
(select 1)
ARHA 2305 Introduction to Visual Art (3 credit hours)
MUHL 2305 Introduction to Music (3 credit hours)
THEA 2305 Introduction to Theatre and Dance (3 credit hours)
MCOM 2306 Introduction to Motion Pictures (3 credit hours)
Humanities (Choose 3 hours)
(select 1)
ENGL 2337 World Literature (3 credit hours)
ENGL 2339 Mythology (3 credit hours)
PHIL 2320 Ethics and Society (3 credit hours)
RELS 2305 World Religions (3 credit hours)
Social Sciences (Choose 3 hours)
(select 1)
PSYC 2300 is recommended for College of Business students.
ANTH 2316 Cultural Anthropology (3 credit hours)
CRJU 2300 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 credit hours)
ECON 2301 Survey of Economics (3 credit hours)
ECON 2322 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credit hours)
GEOG 2312 Introduction to Cultural Geography (3 credit hours)
GNST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies (3 credit hours)
POLS 2301 Introduction to Political Science (3 credit hours)
PSYC 2300 Psychology and the Human Experience (3 credit hours)
SOCI 2300 Introduction to Sociology (3 credit hours)
History of Civilization (Choose 3 hours)
(select 1)
HIST 1311 History of Civilization I (3 credit hours)
HIST 1312 History of Civilization II (3 credit hours)
U.S. History or Government (Choose 3 hours)
(select 1)
HIST 2311 US History to 1877 (3 credit hours)
HIST 2312 US History since 1877 (3 credit hours)
College Core Courses (14 hours)
Science (Choose 8 hours)
ANTH 1415 Physical Anthropology (3 credit hours)
ASTR 1301/1101 Introduction to Astronomy and Lab (4 credit hours)
BIOL 1400 Evolutionary and Environmental Biology (3 credit hours)
BIOL 1401 Science of Biology (3 credit hours)
BIOL 2401 Microbiology (3 credit hours)
ERSC 1302/1102 Physical Geology and Lab (4 credit hours)
ERSC 1303/1103 Historical Geology and Lab (4 credit hours)
ERSC 1304/1104 Earth and the Environment and Lab (4 credit hours)
Mathematics (Choose 3 hours)
MATH 1302 College Algebra (3 credit hours)
MATH 1303 Trigonometry (3 credit hours)
MATH 1311 Applied Calculus I (3 credit hours)
MATH 1321 Quantitative and Mathematical Reasoning (3 credit hours)
MATH 1342 Business Calculus (3 credit hours)
MATH 1401 Pre-calculus (3 credit hours)
MATH 1451 Calculus I (3 credit hours)
STAT 2350 Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 credit hours)
Humanities/Social Sciences/Communication-Speech (Choose 3 hours)
Speech Communication majors must select SPCH 1300
ACOM 1300 Intro to Communication (3 credit hours)
Required Courses (42 hours)
Required Courses (Choose 18 hours)
Students may choose between MCOM 4389 Independent Study Capstone or MCOM 4390 Mass Communication Internship.
MCOM 1300 FYC Careers in Mass Media (3 credit hours)
MCOM 2330 Mass Media and Society (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3310 Introduction to Web Principles and Design (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3315 Mass Media Research (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3360 Law, Policy, Ethics (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4389 Independent Study (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4390 Mass Communication Internship (3 credit hours)
Elective Courses (Choose 24 hours)
Students in this emphasis will select 24 hours in consultation with their advisor prior to beginning coursework. At least 6 hours must be skills courses; with at least 18 hours of upper-level (3000/4000) courses. All study plans must be approved by students’ advisors.
MCOM 4375 Journalistic Freedom and Responsibility (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4353 History of the Mass Media in America (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3355 History of the American Movies (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4386 Images of Minorities in the Media (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3356 Movie Criticism (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3357 Film Genres (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3358 Film Directors (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4340 Introduction to Digital Graphics and Animation (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3350 Introduction to News Editing (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3360 Law, Policy, Ethics (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3365 Radio Television Journalism (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3366 Electronic News Gathering (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3367 News Producing and Anchoring (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3370 Announcing and Performance (3 credit hours)
MCOM 3375 Multimedia News Reporting (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4352 News Media and the First Amendment (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4359 Feature and Magazine Writing (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4377 Public Relations Ethics (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4381 Public Relations Cases (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4370 Hip Hop Music and Culture (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4380 Public Relations Writing (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4382 Public Relations Campaigns (3 credit hours)
MCOM 4350 Design and Production (3 credit hours)
Elective Courses (12 hours)
Electives outside of the major (Choose 12 hours)
Upper-level electives outside of the major
