Mass Communication
Program Overview
Gone are the days of the manual typewriter.
Today’s Mass Communication students are well
trained in the various forms of technology that
have streamlined the field. USF students learn
how to plan and produce effective electronic messages,
transform photographs, illustrations, video, audio
and computer graphics into exciting digital messages
for use in newspaper, magazines, brochures, animations,
radio, television, film, online reporting, and
web pages.
The USF Mass Communication department educates its students to compete for the hottest careers in media. With a curriculum that is constantly updated, coursework in classes such as Graphic Communication, TV News Production, Newspaper Management, Audio Production, PR Case Studies and Practice, and MCOM Portfolio is ready to be put to use in the 21st century work world.
Students majoring in Mass Communication are required to complete a set of core courses and select one concentration. Core courses span the entire discipline, assuring that students understand the basics of the communications field and effects of media systems and content. Basic Photography brings the basics of photojournalism to the classroom, where students learn to use a traditional, film-based adjustable camera, basic darkroom techniques and photographic composition.
Because writing is an essential skill for all Mass Communication majors, Writing Across the Media stresses the fundamentals of clear and concise writing.
Program concentration is selected in one of three areas: Advertising/Public Relations, Broadcasting/Audio and Video, and Media Arts. These three areas allow USF students to immerse themselves in the area which they have chosen, learning skills specifically targeted to that discipline.
The university’s multimedia laboratory explodes with life via state-of-the-art equipment that allows students to have hands-on experience with popular software packages. The Mac lab let students create print graphics, web page designs, 2D/3D animations, graphic design for multi-media, and audio/video productions. New video-editing supplements the hands-on, creative environment that USF offers its students.
Campus
Media
As part of their academic experience, University
of St. Francis students manage WCSF Radio, the
Design Group, the Encounter student newspaper
and the USF television network.
Students who manage the radio station make programming decisions, produce programs and perform on the air; and students in the Design Group produce materials for the campus community. The awardwinning newspaper showcases students’ writing and design talents, and local cable television stations show programming generated by USF students.
"Exploring Joliet," a cable television show created and produced by University of St. Francis students about the Joliet area, received numerous Award of Distinction from the Videographer Awards competition. Students also received an Awards of Distinction for their production of USF Sporting Events.
Internships
Employers are asking more than ever before of
their new employees. USF students who have taken
advantage of the many Mass Communication program
internships have armed themselves with the tools
and experience they need to hit the ground running.
Many USF Mass Communication students take an internship
in their field of interest. This leads not only
to experience in the field but also to the possibility
of career networking or employment. Students have
participated in internships at almost all of the
major television and radio stations in Chicago
as well as with media outlets around the country.
By working side by side in actual work settings, students can ask questions and see how professionals work under a variety of conditions. They see, first hand, how today’s technologies are integrated into each field. These experiences partner with classroom instruction, helping USF graduates maintain their status of experiencing a higher career placement rate than the national average.
Faculty
The faculty in the USF Mass Communication program
bring years of experience both in the classroom
and in the various mass communication disciplines.
Forward thinking faculty members, committed to
fostering professionalism, bring the latest concepts
and technology to their courses.
Career Outlook
Growth continues to occur in the varied fields
of Mass Communication. Public relations, advertising
and website development rank as growing employment
areas in the next five years. Emerging technologies
also have helped Mass Communication jobs remain
plentiful for new college grads. Electronic computer-based
technologies, including the Internet, DVDs and
CD-ROMs, have brought many new jobs to the field.
Computer graphics and website development are
among the strongest areas of growth in visual
communication.