To satisfy the requirements of any of the three 16-course concentrations offered by the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations, students take a combination of two courses required of all students, two selected from a list of options, three selected from liberal arts and five from one of the three major areas of concentration (each of which has its own pattern of requirements). The remaining three or four courses (depending on the concentration) are electives. These configurations of courses can be explained as follows:

From section one below, both courses are required of all students. From section two, students can select any two courses. As explained in section three, three courses must be selected from the College of Arts and Sciences. Section four explains that a set of three or four electives can be selected, depending on the concentration. Finally, each of the major concentrations has its own pattern of required and optional courses as explained under their headings. Courses denoted by bold lettering are required courses.

Curriculum

All students must take both of the following required foundation courses:

COM CM 331 Writing for Mass Communication
COM CM 380 Theory and Process of Communication

All students must take any two courses from the following list of communication discipline courses: (communication studies students cannot count courses indicated by a * or **; PR students cannot count courses indicated by *)

COM CM 303 Organizational Structure and Behavior
COM CM 311 Oral Presentations
*COM CM 321 Mass Communication Research
COM CM 409 Persuasion and Public Opinion
COM CM 510 Computers in Communication
**COM CM 481 Law of Communication
COM CM 509 Principles of Persuasion

All students must select three related courses from the College of Arts and Sciences. These must be at the 300 level or higher. The remaining courses are free electives that can be taken in any School of Boston University in any pattern. They may also be used to complete freshman or sophomore requirements if needed:

Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations

After choosing one of the three major areas of concentration listed below, students must complete five courses (20 credits) in their chosen field. With minor exceptions, these will be taken during the junior and senior years.

Advertising

COM CM 317 Introduction to Advertising
COM CM 417 Advertising Copy and Design
(COM CM 317 and COM CM 331)
COM CM 323 Design in Communication
COM CM 416 Problem Solving in Advertising (COM CM 317)
COM CM 419 Advertising Management (COM CM 317)
COM CM 420 AdLab (2 credits per semester)
COM CM 471 Communication Internship
(COM CM 331, senior status plus 3.0 COM GPA)
COM CM 508 Video Production for Advertising and Public Relations
COM CM 512 Account Planning (COM CM 317)
COM CM 516 Advertising Media Planning and Buying (COM CM 317)
COM CM 517 Portfolio Development for Advertising
(COM CM 317 and COM CM 331 and COM CM 417)
COM CM 518 Creating Broadcast Advertising
(COM CM 317 and COM CM 331 and COM CM 417)
SMG MK 299 Introduction to Marketing

Communication Studies

COM CM 321 Mass Communication Research
COM CM 481 Law of Communication
COM CM 301 Principles and Practice of PR
COM CM 303 Organizational Structure and Behavior
COM CM 317 Introduction to Advertising
COM CM 471 COM Internship [CM 331]
COM CM 509 Priciples of Persuasion
COM CM 510 Computers in Communication
COM CM 511 Persuasive Speaking [CM 311]
COM CM 523 Designing Interactive Communication [CM 510 or JO 540]
COM CM 534 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
COM CM 555 Advanced Promotional Writing [CM 331]

Public Relations

COM CM 301 Principles and Practices of Public Relations
COM CM 321 Mass Communication Research
COM CM 441 Media Relations [CM 301 and CM 331]

ONE COURSE required from:

COM CM 313 Corporate Communication [CM 301]
COM CM 345 PR in Non-Profit Settings [CM 301]
COM CM 456 Gov't & Political Comm., or by permission CM 734, Gvtl. PR [CM 301]

ONE COURSE required from:

COM CM 471 COM Internship [CM 301 and CM 331] (a COM GPA of 3.0 or higher and Senior status)
COM CM 473 PR Lab [CM 301 and CM 331] (a total of 4 credits required)

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES:

COM CM 508 Video Production for ADV & PR
COM CM 513 Investor Relations [CM 301]
COM CM 515 Community Relations [CM 301]
COM CM 535 Political Campaigning [CM 301]
COM CM 555 Advanced Promotional Writing [CM 331]