Communications 
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Communications Majors
BA Communications:
Advertising Emphasis (46–58 hours*)
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions
approval. Please see the college advisement center for information
regarding requirements for admission to this emphasis.
The Discipline
Communications majors who choose the advertising
communications emphasis will participate in a program that will
give a strong grounding in the liberal arts and sciences, provide a
firm grasp of communications theory and principles, and teach
practical workplace skills.
In advertising communications courses students will learn
how to use research in studying diverse audiences, to analyze
communications problems, and to evaluate communications
programs. They will write problem-solving strategies and create
advertising and promotion messages to specific target audiences.
Creative track students will learn how to concept consumer
advertising ads in print and broadcast and will develop a quality
portfolio required for entry-level careers in the creative field.
Management students will learn how to evaluate and select the
most effective media for reaching those target audiences and will
gain an understanding of how broadcast, print, and other media
are used in the advertising process.
Studies will culminate in the student's participation, as a team
member, in creating and presenting a comprehensive and
competitive integrated communications campaign that includes
research, advertising, and sales promotion.
Career Opportunities
This field provides career opportunities in advertising, media
management, and advertising media sales as well as in its
creative, research, media planning, and management functions.
Major Requirements
- Complete one course from the following:
- Engl 150.
- Honrs 150.
- Phil 150.
Note: Students must receive a B grade or better to be
eligible to apply for admission to the program.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 101, 211, 230.
- Apply to the major.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 300, 317.
- Complete 9 hours from the following departmental electives:
Comms 301, 351, 352, 360, 381, 382, 401, 402, 406, 411, 412,
449, 480.
- Complete one of the following tracks:
- Management Track:
- Complete the following:
- Bus M 340.
- Comms 332, 432, 489.
- Complete one course from the following:
- Comms 330, 345.
- Creative Track:
- Complete the following:
- Comms 331, 433, 489.
- Complete one course from the following:
- Comms 330, 345.
- Complete a minor in advertising design (15 hours).
Note: Twelve students will be admitted to the creative
track each year based on a screening and portfolio
work. Portfolios must be submitted to the department's
main office by the twelfth week of winter semester. Late
portfolios will not be considered. It will take from four
to five semesters to complete the design minor.
Students interested in this track should qualify and
apply early.
- After consulting with an advisor, complete an internship in
conjunction with 4 hours of the following:
- Comms 399R.
Note: A C– grade or better in the following prerequisite
courses must be achieved before the internship experience:
- Management track: Comms 317; 330 or 345; 332.
- Creative track: Comms 317; 330 or 345; 331.
*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.
BA Communications:
Broadcast Journalism Emphasis (43 hours*)
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions
approval. Please see the college advisement center for information
regarding requirements for admission to this emphasis.
The Discipline
The study of journalism entails the mastery of working with
people to present news and features in a way that reflects events
accurately and fully. Students will acquire skills in analytical
thinking, lucid writing, and effective interviewing to be able to
present a clear and forceful picture of their subject in words,
sounds, and images. To have a broad background, students are
encouraged to earn more than 60 percent of their credits in other
departments, thereby developing a wide understanding of the
world and the processes that make society work. In addition,
students will become familiar with methods of writing that
effectively reach mass audiences—that portray events and people
in satisfying ways. Since a wide range of knowledge is essential
within the field, students will study libel law, the process of
communication, and such areas as the interaction between the
mass media and society today.
Career Opportunities
The exciting field of journalism traditionally has offered the allure
of working in a profession that has its finger on the changing
pulse of society. Whether serving as reporters, anchors, or
producers for television, radio, cable, or online outlets, broadcast
journalists find themselves rubbing shoulders with important
people and recording important events.
A career in journalism implies not only skill with words,
pictures, and sounds, but the ability to make sound judgments and
to ferret out facts. In addition to the obvious careers as reporters,
anchors, and producers, students often find their journalism skills
in demand in a variety of other areas.
Many find the challenge of recording the drama of real life
both satisfying and enlightening. Recent changes in technologies
and business models continue to change the way broadcast news
is produced and distributed. These changes call for greater skill in
writing to be able to visualize the world in an interesting way.
Overall, one of journalism's great satisfactions has been the sense
that one can make a difference in the world and bring
about changes for the better.
Major Requirements
- Complete one course from the following:
- Engl 150.
- Honrs 150.
- Phil 150.
Note: Students must receive a B grade or better to be
eligible to apply for admission to the program.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 101, 211, 275.
- Apply to the major.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 239, 300, 308, 325, 385, 486.
- After consulting with an advisor, complete an internship in
conjunction with 4 hours of the following:
- Comms 399R.
Note: A C– grade or better in the following prerequisite
courses must be achieved before the internship experience:
- Comms 308, 325.
- Complete 9 hours from the following department electives:
Comms 301, 351, 352, 360, 381, 382, 401, 402, 406, 411, 412,
449, 480.
*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.
BA Communications:
Communications Studies Emphasis (43 hours*)
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions
approval. Please see the college advisement center for information
regarding requirements for admission to this emphasis.
The Discipline
This program is designed for the student who wants a broad,
general undergraduate background in communications and does
not necessarily want to specialize in advertising, broadcasting,
print journalism, or public relations. This may be the student who
plans to pursue advanced academic degrees rather than work in
industry. The focus of the program is highly theoretical and
conceptual.
Career Opportunities
This major does not lead to specific careers but is appropriate for
those planning to pursue graduate or law degrees.
Major Requirements
- Complete one course from the following:
- Engl 150.
- Honrs 150.
- Phil 150.
Note: Students must receive a B grade or better to be
eligible to apply for admission to the program.
- Complete the following core courses:
- Comms 101, 211, 238.
Note: Students must receive a B grade or better in Comms
238 to be eligible to apply for admission.
- Apply to the major.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 300.
- Complete one course from the following:
- Comms 319.
- Soc 300.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 411, 483.
- Complete 1 hour from the following practicum course:
- Comms 396R.
- Complete 18 hours from the following:
Comms 301, 351, 352, 360, 381, 382, 401, 402, 406, 412, 449,
480.
Note: Students may use one course from Comms 230, 235,
239 toward the 18-elective-hours requirement.
Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.
BA Communications: Print
Journalism Emphasis (43 hours*)
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions
approval. Please see the college advisement center for information
regarding requirements for admission to this emphasis.
The Discipline
Journalism is a mass media process that provides factual and
relevant information for democratic decision making, community
building, and public deliberation. Students will acquire skills in
effective interviewing, analytical thinking, and lucid writing and
storytelling. To develop a wide understanding of the world and
the processes that make society work, students are encouraged to
earn more than 60 percent of their credits in other departments.
Students will become familiar with methods of writing that target
mass audiences and help citizens work through community
problems and issues. With contemporary journalists working for
newspapers, magazines, and new media, students will be offered
courses in media law and ethics, journalistic research methods,
feature writing, in-depth reporting, publication design, new
media, media processes, and public opinion. Print journalism
students may choose either a traditional news-editorial track or
qualify for a news design and new media track.
Career Opportunities
In the exciting field of journalism, traditionally there has been the
allure of working in a profession that has its finger on the changing
pulse of society. Whether serving as reporters on television, radio,
cable, online, daily newspapers, the community press, or in the
magazine field, journalists find themselves rubbing shoulders with
important people and recording important events.
A career in journalism implies not only skill with words, but
the ability to make sound judgments and to ferret out facts. In
addition to the obvious careers as reporters and editors, students
often find their journalism skills in demand in a variety of other
areas.
Many find the challenge of recording the drama of real life
both satisfying and enlightening. Because of television, journalism
has changed in recent years, but even though there has been a
decline in the number of daily newspapers, an explosion of
special interest magazines and online publishing has opened up
jobs for writers and editors. These changes call for greater skill in
writing to be able to visualize the world in an interesting way.
Overall, one of journalism's great satisfactions has been the sense
that one can make a difference in the world and bring about
changes for the better.
Major Requirements
- Complete one course from the following:
- Engl 150.
- Honrs 150.
- Phil 150.
Note: Students must receive a B grade or better to be
eligible to apply for admission to this program.
- Complete the following core courses:
- Comms 101, 211, 239.
- Apply to the major.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 300, 308, 321.
- After consulting with a faculty advisor, complete one of the
following tracks:
- News Editorial Track:
- Comms 377, 420, 484.
- News Design and New Media Track:
- Comms 365, 428, 487.
Note: Twelve students will be admitted to the news design and new media
track each year based on an application.
- After consulting with an advisor, complete an internship in
conjunction with 4 hours of the following:
- Comms 399R.
Note: A C– grade or better in the following prerequisite
courses must be achieved before the internship experience:
- News editorial track: Comms 308, 321, 420.
- News design track: Comms 308, 365, 428.
- Complete 9 hours from the following:
Comms 301, 351, 352, 360, 381, 382, 401, 402, 406, 411, 412,
449, 480.
*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.
BA Communications:
Public Relations Emphasis (49 hours*)
This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions
approval. Please see the college advisement center for information
regarding requirements for admission to this emphasis.
The Discipline
Public relations manages communication to build mutually
beneficial relationships between the organization and its vital
publics. The public relations program at BYU emphasizes research
and measurement; strategic planning; professionally designed,
written, and targeted tactics; and ethical practice. We prepare
students with critical skills in thinking, writing, research, program
planning and management, creative problem solving, and
relationship building with publics typical to the public relations
challenges of diverse organizations. Those publics include but are
not limited to media, consumers, employees, government and
other regulatory bodies, and communities. In keeping with the
aims of a BYU education, our students and graduates should
engage in lifelong learning and professional practice that
exemplifies the values of grace, truth, and equity.
Career Opportunities
Virtually all segments of the public and private sectors throughout
the world draw employees from public relations graduates.
Graduates may work as technical experts or in management
tracks. They may specialize in employee relations, community
relations, public affairs, media relations, or several other tracks
within the professional arena.
Major Requirements
- Complete one course from the following:
- Engl 150.
- Honrs 150.
- Phil 150.
Note: Students must receive a B grade or better to be
eligible to apply for admission to the program.
- Complete the following core courses:
- Comms 101, 211, 235.
- Apply to the major.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 300, 318.
- Complete 9 hours from the following:
Comms 301, 351, 352, 360, 381, 382, 401, 402, 406, 411, 412,
449, 480.
- Complete the following:
- Comms 321, 336, 421, 485.
- After consulting with an advisor, complete an internship in
conjunction with 4 hours of the following:
- Comms 399R.
Note: A C– grade or better in the following prerequisite
courses must be achieved before the internship experience:
- Comms 318, 321, 336, 421.
- Complete the following:
- Acc 200.
- Bus M 340.
*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.
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