Degree Programs

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communications offers the following areas of concentration leading to a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications.

Starting Fall 2023, the BA in Mass Communications will give students more flexibility, more options, and more skills. The degree will give students a strong foundation in all professional areas of study (journalism, public relations and strategic communication, and multimedia and digital communication), and students will have the opportunity to deeper their knowledge in the areas below in the form of a certificate or professional certification. 

• BA in Mass Communications 
• BA in Mass Communications + Social Media Certificate
• BA in Mass Communications + Public Relations and Public Affairs Certificate
• BA in Mass Communications + Film Certificate
• BA in Mass Communications + Film & Television Production (Georgia Film Academy)
• BA in Mass Communications + Film & Television Post-Production (Georgia Film Academy)
• BA in Mass Communications + Digital Entertainment, Esports & Game Development (Georgia Film Academy)

Strong Foundation in Three Professional Areas 

The student graduate of Savannah State University majoring in Mass Communications will be prepared to embark on any of the professional focus areas below. While the students will eventually focus or enjoy one area more than another, we believe that the students who have received academic preparation in all three areas are more competitive and prepared to remark in a workforce that expects recent graduates "to do it all." 

 Journalism

Students will take courses that will prepare them for a career in journalism, including writing, editing, photojournalism, and multimedia storytelling. They will have the opportunity to practice journalism with the fully funded student-led newspaper, the Tiger's Roar Online Edition, which provides valuable experience in newspaper writing, editing, and formatting. In addition to classroom and online instruction by educators who are experts in their fields, selected classes are taught by local working newspaper photographers, journalists, and editors who daily engage in the craft of journalism. State-of-the-art iMac lab and a converged newsroom are available to students who choose to gain skills and practice journalism. 

• Sample Courses: COMM 3105 - News Writing & Reporting, COMM 3201 - Feature Reporting and Writing, COMM 4201 - Copy Editing, COMM 4105 - Opinion and Editorial Writing, COMM 4105 - Opinion and Editorial Writing, COMM 4211 - Web & Digital Publication Design.

Multimedia and Digital Communications

Students will take courses that will prepare them to thrive in the multimedia world, gaining skills in video and audio editing and production, scriptwriting, post-production and TV news production in a modern production environment complete with a state-of-the-art, high-tech television studios and production room, iMac laboratories and a non-linear editing laboratory (Adobe Premiere). Students have all of the equipment necessary to produce a variety of creative and journalistic programs for television, radio, and film. The video production studio and labs contain high-resolution video cameras, a news set and backdrop, a lighting grid, teleprompters, and multiple non-linear editing stations. 

• Sample Courses: COMM 3301 - Multimedia and Studio Production, COMM 4107 - Video & Post Production, COMM 4107 - Video & Post Production, COMM 3601 - Emerging Technology, COMM 4815 - The Documentary, 

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

Students will take courses that will prepare them to understand the management functions of strategic communication for both the internal and external public. Students will be prepared to pursue careers in public relations, publicity, advertising, and marketing. Students are trained to become creative thinkers, planners, writers, analysts, policymakers, communication directors, publication managers and to pursue professional careers in all areas of communications that call for skills in strategic planning, writing, special event planning, and problem resolution through applied research and communications techniques. Students will have access to state-of-the-art computer labs, including an iMac lab (with Adobe PhotoShop, After Effects, Illustrator and InDesign software), a non-linear editing lab, and a fully digital television production studio. 

• Sample Courses: COMM 3401 - Introduction to Public Relations & Strategic Communication, COMM 3304 - Crisis Communication Management, COMM 3405 - Health Communication, COMM 4402 - Strategic Campaign Principles, COMM 4406 - Strategic Campaign Production, COMM 3403 - Social Media & Data Visualization, COMM 3405 - Health Communication.

 For a full list of courses, click here. 

Before Fall 2023 Academic Grids

Journalism

• Academic Grid  Fall 2018 Fall 2018 (use this grid if you joined Savannah State August 2018 or later). 
• Academic Grid: 2013-2018 Academic Years (use this grid if you joined Savannah State before August 2018). 

Click here to view degree maps: https://www.savannahstate.edu/registrar/degree-programs.shtml

Multimedia & Digital Communication 

• Academic Grid: 2013-2018 Academic Years (use this grid if you joined Savannah State before August 2018). 
• Academic Grid: Fall 2018 (use this grid if you joined Savannah State August 2018 or later). 

Click here to view degree maps: https://www.savannahstate.edu/registrar/degree-programs.shtml

Public Relations & Strategic Communication 

• Academic Grid: 2013-2018 Academic Years (use this grid if you joined Savannah State before August 2018). 
• Academic Grid: Fall 2018 (use this grid if you joined Savannah State August 2018 or later). 

Click here to view degree maps: https://www.savannahstate.edu/registrar/degree-programs.shtml