The Discipline

The BYU School of Communications prepares students for careers in fields related to mass communication, such as advertising, journalism, and public relations. The school is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation, this program provides a balance between scholarship and professional skills. This goal is accomplished by requiring core courses and electives that enhance critical thinking about the discipline, while providing courses in emphasis areas that afford additional skills for each profession. See emphasis descriptions for additional information about their discipline and career opportunities.

Educational Outcomes

The School of Communications exists to help students become professional and scholarly communicators whose messages contribute to a better society by benefiting the organizations for which they work and the audiences they reach.

1. Students will be able to communicate effectively with their audiences. In particular, students will be able to:
   • Prepare mass communication messages in the appropriate style.
   • Apply appropriate technology to the creation and dissemination of messages.
   • Plan communication that serves audience needs.
   • Use appropriate research methods to answer relevant questions.
2. Students will act professionally in their practice. In particular, students will be able to:
   • Practice communication within legal boundaries.
   • Exhibit standards of professional behavior.
   • Demonstrate sensitivity to the ethical issues of their practice.
   • Be literate in the language of the media industries.
3. Students will be scholars of the mass communication process. In particular, students will be able to:
   • Apply relevant theory to communication practice.
   • Understand the factors that shape(d) their profession.
   • Value freedom of speech in the marketplace of ideas.
   • Think critically about the relationship between mass media and society.
4. Students will be able to apply Gospel-centered values as they contribute to society. In particular, students will be able to:
   • Demonstrate respect for diversity and agency in a global society.
   • Exercise moral reasoning when faced with ethical dilemmas.
   • Show a commitment to making a positive difference within their sphere of influence.
   • Critically evaluate media-related issues in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Admission to Degree Program

The degree programs in the School of Communications have a school application process with specific enrollment limitations. Please see the college advisement center for details, telephone 1-801-422-3777, or online at http://comms.byu.edu/.

General Information

Working under faculty direction, students in the school plan advertising and public relations campaigns in the AdLab and Bradley Agency, and produce news reportage for KBYU-TV, the online Universe and the weekly Universe newspaper.

The School of Communications sponsors the International Media Studies Program, which seeks to broaden students' awareness of worldwide communications issues and practices. Not only do students have opportunity to study the media systems of other nations through classes and on-site experiences, but media practitioners of other nations are also brought to campus as lecturers and visiting experts.

The school encourages early admission. Students who enroll in Comms 101 and an introductory course and complete the English requirement can apply to the major as early as the second semester of their freshman year.

School Requirements

1. Each student must be formally accepted into a degree program. Contact the college advisement center for admission requirements or online at http://comms.byu.edu.
2. All students must take a campus writing course before applying for admission to the major.  AP credit does not fulfill this requirement.  The following writing course fulfills this requirement and satisfies the GE First-Year Writing requirement: Wrtg 150.
3. Complete a minimum of 72 hours in courses outside of the department, while meeting BYU's University Core requirements.
4. Every student is required to complete an internship. Although the school operates an internship office (280 BRMB) that serves as a clearinghouse for internship information, the responsibility for securing an internship rests with the student. Students may not embark on any required internship without prior approval from a faculty advisor, completing prerequisite courses with a C– or better, processing appropriate documents with the Internship Office, and being enrolled in Comms 496R.
5. Communications students are required to own or rent a computer. Before obtaining a computer, students should first consult the school website for specifications.
6. Communications students must learn the design software used in several of the upper-level courses prior to attending the course.

   The following software will be used in these courses:

   • Adobe Publishing — Comms 320, 330, 331, 388.
   • Web Publishing — Comms 485, 487.