Mission

The Journalism and Mass Communications program provides both curricular and co-curricular experiences designed to prepare its majors to become competent radio, television and print journalists and public relations practitioners.
The department offers three areas of study: Broadcasting, Print Journalism, and Public Relations.Each area emphasizes critical skills that will enhance students' preparation for chosen careers in mass communication. Students can gain laboratory experience at the University's commercial radio and television stations, WAUG AM 750 and TV-68, and the student newspaper. The department provides experiential laboratory through an extra-curricular initiative called Falcon Communication (FALCOM).

FALCOM provides students with an opportunity to experience learning through hands-on projects that will be used by businesses and non-profit organizations in the Triangle community. Internships are required for all majors. All graduates with a major in Journalism or Public Relations will have developed the theoretical and technical skills necessary to prepare them for careers in mass communications.

Objectives

  • Students completing the Journalism and Mass Communications program will demonstrate the skills of standard written and spoken English;
  • Students completing the Journalism and Mass Communications program will demonstrate the skills necessary to pursue graduate study and/or enter a related job field;
  • Students completing the Journalism and Mass Communications program will have workplace experience through internships;
  • Students completing the Broadcasting sequence will demonstrate competency in writing and production techniques;
  • Students completing the Print Journalism sequence will demonstrate competency in reporting, research, writing, layout and design; and
  • Students completing the Public Relations sequence will demonstrate competency in using various communications media.