To receive the BS degree from Boston University, students must complete a total of 32 courses. Of these, 17 must be in the liberal arts.

To satisfy the requirements of any of the three 16-course concentrations offered by the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising & 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 courses are electives. These configurations of courses can be explained as follows:

From section one below, all three courses are required of all students. From section two, students can select any one course. As explained in section three, three courses must be selected from the College of Arts & Sciences. Finally, each of the major concentrations has its own pattern of required and optional courses as explained under their headings:

1. All students must take the following 3 required foundation courses:

• COM CM 321 Mass Communication Research
• COM CM 331 Writing for Mass Communication
• COM CM 380 Theory and Process of Communication

2. All students must choose one course from the following list of communication discipline courses:

• COM CM 303 Organizational Structure and Behavior
• COM CM 311 Oral Presentation (MC students can not count this course here.)
• COM CM 409 Persuasion and Public Opinion
• COM CM 481 Law of Communication (MC students can not count this course here.)
• COM CM 510 Computers in Communication

3. All students must select three courses from the College of Arts & Sciences that are related to their major concentration. The three related CAS courses are either in one department in CAS or have a thematic relationship. Except for a foreign language concentration, these courses must be at least 300 level. The concentration can include one 100- or 200-level course if it is a prerequisite for one of the other two courses in the CAS concentration.

4. The remaining courses are free electives that can be taken in any School of Boston University in any pattern. Also, they may be used within the recommended elective sequence listed below in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations. If needed, they may also be used to complete freshman/sophomore requirements.

Mass Communication, Advertising & 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. Some of the courses may have prerequisites (listed in parentheses). Some courses are offered every semester; others are offered only in the fall or spring. Some are also offered in Summer Term.

Advertising

Courses in bold are required.

• COM CM 317 Introduction to Advertising
• COM CM 323 Design and New Media
• COM CM 405 New & Traditional Media Strategies (COM CM 317)
• COM CM 411 Art Direction (COM CM 317, CM 331, and CM 417)
• COM CM 412 Consumer Insight and Account Planning (COM CM 317)
• COM CM 416 Strategic Brand Solutions (COM CM 317)
• COM CM 417 Fundamentals of Creative Development (COM CM 317 and CM 331)
• COM CM 419 Advertising Management (COM CM 317)
• COM CM 420 AdLab (2 credits per semester)
• COM CM 423 Portfolio Development for Advertising (COM CM 317 and CM 331 and CM 417)
• COM CM 471 Communication Internship (COM CM 317 and CM 331, junior status plus COM GPA of 3.0 or higher)
• COM CM 508 Video Production for Marketing Communication
• COM CM 518 Creating Video Campaigns (COM CM 317, CM 331, and CM 417)
• COM CM 519 Interactive Marketing Communication (COM CM 317)
• COM CM 527 Strategic Creative Development (COM CM 317, CM 331, and CM 417)
• COM CM 555 Advanced Promotional Writing (COM CM 331)
• SMG MK 299 Introduction to Marketing

Public Relations

Courses in bold are required.

• COM CM 301 Principles and Practices of Public Relations
• COM CM 441 Media Relations (COM CM 301 and CM 331)

One course required from the following:

• COM CM 313 Corporate Communication (COM CM 301)
• COM CM 345 Public Relations in Nonprofit Settings (COM CM 301)
• COM CM 734 Governmental Public Relations (by permission of instructor, COM CM 301)

One course (4 credits) required from the following:

• COM CM 471 Communication Internship (COM CM 301 and CM 331, junior or senior status plus 3.0 or higher COM GPA)
• COM CM 473 PRLab (COM CM 301 and CM 331) (Total of 4 credits required)

One course required from the following:

• COM CM 443 New Media and PR (COM CM 301)
• COM CM 522 Managing Corporate Crises and Issues (COM CM 301)
• COM CM 525 PR Ethics (COM CM 301)

Communication Studies

Courses in bold are required.

• COM CM 301 Priniciples and Practices of Public Relations
• COM CM 303 Organizational Structure and Behavior
• COM CM 311 Oral Presentation
• COM CM 317 Introduction to Advertising
• COM CM 471 COM Internship (COM CM 331 and either CM 321 or CM 481; junior or senior status plus a COM GPA of 3.0 or higher)
• COM CM 481 Law of Communication (2nd sem only)
• COM CM 510 Computers in Communication
• COM CM 514 New Communication Technologies
• COM CM 523 Designed Interactive Experiences (COM CM 510)
• COM CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• COM CM 555 Writing for Multimedia (COM CM 331)

From time to time, courses numbered COM CM 561 or 562 are offered on various specialized areas of communication practice. With the approval of the student’s advisor and the chair of the department, these may sometimes be substituted by petition for some of the options in the three sequences.

In some cases, students may petition to substitute (nonrequired) courses in a major concentration. This must be done with the approval of the student’s advisor and the chair of the department. In special cases, a student may petition to construct an individual major area of concentration. This must be done early and with clear objectives in mind because it can pose unanticipated difficulties that may delay graduation. It requires a formal petition and approval from both the student’s advisor and the chair of the department.

For the MS degree in Mass Communication, each candidate must complete three courses required for the degree, a set of courses required within his or her concentration, and a sufficient number of electives to complete 48 credit hours.

Required Courses

All MS candidates in Mass Communication who are enrolled in either of the two major concentrations offered within this degree program must take the following three courses:

• COM CM 704 Contemporary Mass Communication
• COM CM 707 Writing for Communication Professionals or
  COM CM 705 Writing for International Students
• COM CM 710 Communication Theory

Major Areas of Concentration

The concentrations listed below prepare students for careers in the areas indicated or for further advanced study. Each has a set of required and elective courses.

Applied Communication Research Concentration

The concentration in applied communication research prepares students to assess client needs and solve client problems using polls, surveys, focus groups, and other research strategies. The skills learned in this concentration prepare students for positions as research analysts or research managers in such fields as advertising/marketing, public relations, political campaigning, health communication, and international communication. It combines a command of applied research designs, techniques, and writing skills with a background in one or more major professional fields. This area of occupational specialization offers many lucrative entry-level opportunities and excellent opportunities for advancement. The concentration also provides a research and theory background for those preparing for more advanced study in communication.

Required courses for the concentration in applied communication research are as follows (prerequisites are noted in parentheses):

• COM CM 722 Communication Research
• COM CM 723 Advanced Communication Research (COM CM 722)
• COM CM 724 Sampling Design and Measurement Techniques (with consent of instructor)
• COM CM 824 Technical Writing for Communication Research (COM CM 722 and CM 723 and CM 724)

Communication Studies Concentration

The concentration in communication studies is recommended for those who wish to develop their command of general communication strategies and skills—written, oral, and computer-mediated—but who do not want to prepare specifically for the fields of advertising, public relations, or applied research.

General communication strategies and skills are applicable to a variety of professional roles in a number of settings. Individuals who are proficient in these strategies and skills serve as managers in various kinds of organizations, such as nonprofit groups, government agencies, publishing houses, and other commercial, educational, or industrial settings. The concentration also provides a suitable background for those who wish to go on for a more advanced degree in communication.

For the concentration in communication studies, select four courses from the following:

Required courses

• COM CM 713 Law of Communication
• COM CM 714 Oral Presentation
• COM CM 750 Advanced Writing for Media Professionals (COM CM 707)

Electives

• COM CM 508 Video Production for Marketing Communication
• COM CM 510 Computers in Communication
• COM CM 514 New Communication Technologies
• COM CM 519 Interactive Marketing Communication (COM CM 708 or 
CM 701)
• COM CM 523 Design and Interactive Experiences (COM CM 510)
• COM CM 528 Organizational Communication
• COM CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• COM CM 555 Writing for Multimedia 
(COM CM 707)
• COM CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations
• COM CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising
• COM CM 730 Marketing Communication
• COM CM 809 Graduate Internship

Electives for the MS in Mass Communication

The additional courses needed to complete the minimum 48 credits for the MS degree in mass communication can be taken either within those offered by the department or elsewhere at Boston University. Electives for any student in the applied communication research concentration must be approved by his or her advisor.

Graduate Internship

Taking a graduate internship in any of the above areas of concentration is recommended as it provides valuable experience and networking opportunities. See COM CM 809 Graduate Internship.