Mass Media, B.A.
Credits: 122
CIP Code: 90799
Concentrations:
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of Clark Atlanta University and the School of Arts and Sciences as presented in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts Degree Program prepares students to be competent multimedia communicators for careers in media—new media, journalism, public relations management, radio, television, and film. The program also trains students in critical thinking through the lens of history and critical analysis, with particular attention to images of the African Diaspora, in order to create students who can excel in competitive graduate and professional degree programs.
This program curriculum is designed to provide students with skills and experiences that help them develop their fullest potential in human interaction, critical thinking, and technical understanding of media while applying professional and ethical leadership that influence and shape the attitudes and opinions of society.
This program’s courses enable students to explore the nature, influence, and potential of mass media, examine media’s impact on social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of society, and facilitate students in researching, analyzing and processing information including the many technological changes in media production, exhibition, and distribution. Through this training, students are able to create award-winning productions.
This program also emphasizes research applications: acquisition tools for researching, news gathering, reporting, entertainment, and management; tools for storage of information, especially multimedia content; processing, production, and editorial tools; distribution and publishing tools; presentation, display, and access tools; qualitative and quantitative research skills.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Mass Media Arts Program will be able to:
- Discuss the role of Mass Media Arts in society on a local and global scale.
- Conduct research, gather information, write clearly and correctly, and present relevant news or persuasive information at a professional level.
- Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the production, editing, and presentation of visual, aural, textual or other media content in traditional and new media industries.
Degree Requirements
(awaiting approval from dean’s council)
In addition to meeting Clark Atlanta University General Education Requirements (36 credit hours) and completing CGED 100 First Year Seminar and CGED 101 1st-Year Seminar, students must meet the core requirements for the MMA major.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Area A: Humanities/Fine Arts | ||
| Select 9 credits of the following: | 9 | |
CHUM 228 | ||
CHUM 230 & CPHI 105 | and Critical Thinking | |
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| The Biblical Heritage | ||
| Afr Amer Religious Experiences | ||
| Afr Amer Religious Experience | ||
| Comparative Religion | ||
| United States,Africa & World | ||
| History of the United States | ||
| United States, Africa & World | ||
CHS 212 | ||
| Art Appreciation | ||
| World Music | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Theater Appreciation (Theatre Minors) | ||
| Area B: Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | 3 | |
| American Govern & Politics | ||
| State & Local Government | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Human Growth & Development | ||
| Intro. to Criminal Justice | ||
| Intro. to Sociology | ||
| Honors Intro. to Sociology | ||
| Intro. to Anthropology | ||
| Contemporary Social Problems | ||
| Area C: Natural Science/Mathematics/Statistics | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Finite Mathematics | ||
| Pre-Calculus I 1 | ||
| Pre-Calculus II 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Biological Science | ||
| Physical Science | ||
| Area D: Communication | ||
| CENG 105 | College Composition I | 3 |
| CENG 106 | College Composition II | 3 |
| CSTA 101 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 |
| Area E: Financial/Technological | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | 3 | |
| Info. Technology & Comp. App. | ||
| Introduction to Computers | ||
| Introduction to Economics | ||
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Total Hours | 33 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core Courses | ||
| CMMA 200 | News Writing | 3 |
| CMMA 201 | Survey of Media & Society | 3 |
| CMMA 203 | Multimedia Writing & Reporting | 3 |
| CMMA 315 | Mass Communication Research | 3 |
| CMMA 422 | Philosophy & Ethics Mass Comm | 3 |
| CMMA 425 | Communication Law | 3 |
| CMMA 490 | Media Seminar | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Program Opportunities
The Department of Mass Media Arts reviews trends in the media industries and recognizes students’ need to have a competitive edge in the use and understanding of media technology. To accomplish this goal, training laboratories and student organizations provide students with the opportunity to enhance their abilities in their academic coursework and assist in practical, hands-on experiences. They include:
Lambda Pi Eta, Theta Tau Chapter - Honor Society for communication majors.
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) - The oldest, largest and most representative organization serving the field of journalism. SJP is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty. To ensure that the concept of self-government outlined by the U.S. Constitution remains a reality into future centuries, the American people must be well informed in order to make decisions regarding their lives, and their local and national communities.
National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) - The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of journalists, students and media-related professionals that provides quality programs and services to and advocates on behalf of black journalists worldwide. Founded by 44 men and women on December 12, 1975, in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation.
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) - Founded in 1967, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. We advocate rigorous academic standards for public relations education, the highest ethical principles and diversity in the profession.
CAU Panther Newspaper – An award-winning campus newspaper that provides students an opportunity to develop editorial, advertising, graphics, photography and managerial skills in print journalism.
4 Reel Productions - A student-based organization that focuses on the development and creation of film projects including public service announcements, shorts and features.
CAU-TV - An educational access television station that provides a variety of informative programming thereby serving the Atlanta community as an educational and community resource. While providing programming that informs and educates, CAU-TV serves as a hands-on training laboratory for broadcast majors in the Atlanta University Center and an outlet for student video, film and multimedia productions. CAU-TV Student News Center allows for student-produced program news and information from campuses across the City and features stories making national and international headlines.
African Film Festival - Celebrates excellence in the richness and diversity of African World Cinema, showcasing stories about the multifaceted, global experience of African and African-descended people told through the eyes of Screen Griots.
WSTU – A digital student radio station serving as a radio outlet for student broadcasters and presents a hands-on training opportunity to apply communication concepts and practices.
Digital Teleproductions Laboratory (Multimedia Lab) - Ensures the provision of state-of-the-art training facilities to media students and serves to strengthen the communications arts curricula only.
CAMP M.O.V.E. - A collaborative effort Fulton County Parks and Recreation and CAU-TV that presents high school students with experiences that will allow them to be creative and use critical communications skills.
MMA Internships - Academically monitored learning experiences in professional media organizations. Internship partners have included CNN, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WSB-TV, Ketchum Public Relations, CBS News (New York and DC), Atlanta Voice, Hot 107.9, Universal Records, Tyler Perry Studios, ESPN and many other media/music outlets.
Mobile Reporters – An organization where students enhance the art of converging video footage, graphics, and still photography by compiling, producing and pushing out social media content with current partnerships with high profile organizations i.e. the Tom Joyner Foundation and OWN the Oprah Winfrey Network, and with campus departments and organizations i.e., WSTU, CAU-TV and CAU Panther.