General Education Requirements

A minimum of 36 credit hours must be taken from the liberal arts and sciences with the following distribution:

Category One - 18 hours

Literature, history, foreign language, general studies, religious studies, philosophy, visual art, dance, theatre, music, composition

Category Two - 12 hours

Political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, women's studies, multicultural studies, international relations, international studies, economics, human rights

Category Three 6 hours

Computer applications, computer science, mathematics, natural sciences, physical sciences

Special Study Opportunities

The Department of Communications and Journalism is committed to providing students with an understanding of the responsibilities, social ramifications, and ethical concerns facing communications professionals and the media industry. The programs are comprehensive and well balanced, emphasizing a theoretical basis of knowledge in conjunction with widespread practical applications. Students have opportunities to learn about their fields of interest through internships and externships in communication businesses and organizations. In recent years, communications students have secured internships at organizations in Thailand , Vietnam , Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian countries. Independent study and reading courses add further flexibility to the established curriculum.

Special Requirements

Portfolio Review

Students declaring a major within the Department of Communications and Journalism (except in speech communication studies) complete a portfolio of their work as part of their degree requirements. Students majoring in advertising and marketing communications, public relations, and media communications must complete a portfolio review with a panel of faculty within their major after they have successfully completed the following course requirements:

• EPMD 1000 Introduction to Media Production

• MEDC 1010 Introduction to Mass Communications

• 9 credit hours as defined by each major

In the review students learn to develop personal portfolios of their work in their areas of interest. In addition, this mid-program review process enables the faculty to gauge the talent, aptitude, and potential of the student in his or her area of study.

The student's portfolio is judged on both the quality and presentation of the material. Faculty members consider accuracy, creativity, content, and technical expertise in the work presented, and enthusiasm and professionalism of delivery when judging the student for formal admittance into his or her major in the School of Communications . Portfolio deadlines are announced each academic year, and reviews are held each semester.

Students should contact their academic advisors in the School of Communications for more specific information about portfolio review requirements as soon as they enter Webster University.

Capstone Course

Successful completion of a capstone class with a grade of B or better is part of the degree requirement for each major and emphasis. A capstone class is an advanced course designated by the major in which students learn to demonstrate their mastery of the subject matter. The capstone class should be taken in the student's senior year.

Transfer Students

Of the required credit hours to complete a bachelor of arts (B.A.) in the School of Communications , a minimum of the last 30 credit hours must be taken at Webster University .

Pre-Enrollment Interview

Transfer students with prior coursework in communications must submit a portfolio of their work in a pre-enrollment interview to determine placement within the curriculum and their standing regarding portfolio review. If the student meets the portfolio review criteria, this pre-enrollment interview may serve as the portfolio review.

Transfer students should not expect to obtain a degree in the Department of Communications and Journalism in less than four full semesters of sequenced courses.

Transfer students who have completed the associate of arts (A.A.) degree will have satisfied the school's general education requirement.

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C- or better in any course they wish to apply toward their major or toward the 36 required credit hours in general education. The pass/fail option is not available for courses that students wish to apply toward their major or toward their general education requirements, unless those courses are offered only under the pass/fail option. (For example, creative writing courses in the English Department are offered only as pass/fail and may count toward Category I of general education.)  

Double Majors

An area of concentration (major) in the School of Communications may be combined with a major in another Webster University School or College as part of the student's bachelor of arts degree plan.   Double majors are not allowed between the departments of the School of Communications.