Program Details

Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications - Journalism Concentration

Bachelor of Science

Norfolk State University

Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center.

NSU General Transfer Guide (GAA)

If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.

The mission of the Department of Mass Communications and Journalism is to advance the academic and professional excellence of undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and media practitioners through programs of teaching, research, and public service that combine strong liberal arts and science studies with professional preparation for media careers. The Department shall produce graduates who meet high standards of performance in gathering, editing, interpreting, and disseminating information that may determine the public discourse. The Department offers an undergraduate degree program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications in either of two tracks: General Broadcast or Journalism, and a graduate degree program leading to the Master of Arts in Media and Communications. The curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). In addition to the major coursework, ACEJMC standards require undergraduate students to complete at least 72 hours outside of the major, as well as the general education requirements in the liberal arts and sciences at Norfolk State University.

Program Overview & Guidance

Program Web Page

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External Link

Delivery Mode

In-Person

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Delivery Mode

Online

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Delivery Mode

Hybrid

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Program Guidance Element	What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree	All Mass Communication students are required to read and follow policies in the NSU undergraduate catalog. https://catalog.nsu.edu/undergraduate/
Considerations When Selecting Courses	Students must complete 39 hours of course work in major, 65 hours outside of major and 15 hours in electives. 1 credit hour required in physical activity. Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year Connect with an advisor at your community college and Norfolk State University within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses	Grades of C or higher are required for all JRN and MCM courses.
Doing More With Your Degree	The department offers two tracks that lead to the B.S. in Mass Communications. One track is a concentration in General Broadcasting and the other is in Journalism. The department also offers a minor in Mass Communication.
Program Successes & Highlights	The department is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Graduation Rate Trends: BA.JRN = 29% B.A.Mass Comm = 41% NSU = 40%

Program Credit Requirements

Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:

Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.

If you are interested in the cost of attending this institution, please visit the institution's cost page to review costs

Applicable Admissions Agreements

The table below lists admissions agreements between Norfolk State University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.

Institution Name	Type	Title
Blue Ridge Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Central Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Danville Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Mountain Gateway Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Eastern Shore Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Germanna Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Brightpoint Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Laurel Ridge Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Mountain Empire Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
New River Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Northern Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Paul D. Camp Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Patrick & Henry Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Piedmont Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Rappahannock Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Southside Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Southwest Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Tidewater Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Virginia Peninsula Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Virginia Highlands Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Virginia Western Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission
Wytheville Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission

You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element	What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion	Completion of the general education certificate or a transfer-oriented associate degree program will guarantee completion of the University Core general education component of the NSU undergraduate curriculum but may not fulfill specific departmental requirements or prerequisites needed for the major.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School	Students earning an associate degree while in high school are not eligible for guaranteed admission programs and must complete 3 college-specific general education courses. All courses are evaluated and trasnferred as applicable to your degree.
Credit for Prior Learning	We accept AP, IB, and CLEP results for college credit if the score earned meets college expectations.
Did You Know That...	Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree? Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Norfolk State University

College Level Information

Transfer Admission Application

Transfer Students - Apply Here

External Link

Transfer Student Aid

Financial Aid for Transfer Students

External Link

College Fit Guidance	What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me?	Norfolk State University enrolls approximately 400 transfer students each fall. The average class size is 23 students . The student to teacher ratio is 18:1. On campus housing is available. Our top five academic programs for transfer students is Pre-Nursing, Social Work, Psychology, Business, and Interdisciplinary Studies
Transfer Student Catalog Year	Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance
First Year Student Catalog Year	Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions	Students may confirm intent to enroll via the Transfer VA Portal using College Connect.

Where Can This Degree Transfer

This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution	Title	Degree	Award Name	Award Level	Delivery Mode
Tidewater Community College	Associate of Science - General Studies (Professional Communication)	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person
Wytheville Community College	Associate of Science in Social Science Degree Communications Major	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
The University of Virginia's College at Wise	Bachelor of Arts in English, Major in Communication	Bachelor	Bachelor of Arts	4-Year	In-Person
Bridgewater College	Communication, Technology & Culture Major - BS	Bachelor	Bachelor of Science	4-Year	In-Person
Randolph-Macon College	English (BA)	Bachelor	Bachelor of Arts	4-Year	In-Person

Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code	Name	Description	Parent
25-1122.00	Communications Teachers, Postsecondary	Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.	Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
27-3041.00	Editors	Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.	Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
27-3043.05	Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers	Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.	Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
27-3043.00	Writers and Authors	Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.	Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
27-3023.00	News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.	Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ
43-9081.00	Proofreaders and Copy Markers	Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.	Office and Administrative Support Occupations

Cost To Complete

This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 120 credits remaining to be completed

Residence State

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Disability Discharge

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Hours to Complete Degree *

Minimum Term of Active Duty

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Estimated Cost for the Plan Name Not Provided at Norfolk State University These costs are based on an estimated 8 semesters or 4 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category	Cost	Basis	Cost (To You)	Estimated Benefits	Net Cost	Notes
Tuition	$463	Per Credit	$55,560	$0	$55,560	Caps at 12-18 credits for $3038.00
Fees
Mandatory Fees	$2,052	Per Semester	$16,416	0	$16,416	All Full time Students

*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.

Tuition & Fee Notes:

Additional Fees
- Miscellaneous fees include parking fee, graduation fee , and program-specific fees, such as Fine Arts, Music, and Nursing. Dorm/Meals cost depend on the dorm and meal plan chosen.

Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:

You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.