Undergraduate Mass Media
Based on a “learn by doing” approach, the Mass Media department will teach you the necessary knowledge and skills to enter your chosen career track early and advance quickly within the profession.
QUICK FACTS
- Get class credit for designing logos,
writing public relations plans for area
businesses, or working on a film crew or
at an area radio or TV station
- Gain experience by producing Stephens Life,
the College's award-winning newspaper; participating in
SCM Comm Productions, the media production
firm; PRProse, the public relations firm;
and the student-staffed marketing consulting firm,
Creative Ink
- Complete a required internship at locations
such as AOL, INCA Productions in London, Marie Claire, MTV
Studios or TakeTwo Productions in Kansas City
- Double major or minor in business, graphic
design, theatre, fashion or event planning
- Study in the related fields of Filmmaking, the first major of its kind in Missouri and Fashion Communication, which equips students with necessary fashion knowledge and communication skills
- Earn a Master of Business Administration
in as little as one additional year through
our “Plus One” master’s
program (for Marketing: Public Relations and Advertising
students; certain requirements apply; must indicate
intent by the beginning of sophomore year)
B.S. IN MASS
MEDIA
Become prepared for success in the entertainment, information
and news industry. Starting your very first year, the curriculum
places you in real-world learning contexts so you will develop
and refine your communication skills while completing a broad-based
liberal arts degree. Depending on your desired area of expertise,
you will choose an emphasis in one of the following areas:
Journalism
If you have a way with words or have ever wanted to be a professional
media photographer, this emphasis is for you. Prepare for
careers in business communication; reporting and writing;
and production careers at newspapers or magazines. Courses
include: Digital Photography; Print Production;, and Advanced
Print Writing; and Reporting.
Public Relations
Have you ever wanted to handle publicity for a celebrity or
major corporation? An emphasis in Public Relations prepares
you for a career in areas such as event planning, internal
affairs, public affairs and media relations. Courses include:
The Nuts & Bolts of Event Planning, Print Writing and
Reporting, and PR Writing: Form and Style.
TV and Radio
Does the camera love you? Do you have a voice for radio? This
emphasis, which also derives synergy from our School of Performing
Arts, prepares you for careers in television, film, or radio,
from voice training to audio production. Courses include:
Television Programming; Digital Film/Video Production; and
Advanced Radio Production.
B.S. IN MARKETING:
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING
This major, drawing also from strengths within our business
department, prepares you for a career in business and agency
integrated marketing communications, combining training in
written, oral and visual communication. Benefit from several
opportunities to gain hands-on experience in your area of
interest. As a junior and senior, be a part of a unique student-staffed
professional services marketing and PR firm. Creative Ink
works with real-world clients to develop advertising campaigns,
public relations plans, event management and general marketing
and publicity.
"PLUS
ONE" MASTER'S PROGRAM
Through our “Plus One” master’s program,
Marketing students may earn a bachelor’s degree followed
by an M.B.A. in as little as one additional year. Certain
requirements apply.*
Our traditional two-year Master
of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program offers a blend
of online learning with classroom instruction. Students enjoy
the flexibility of online coursework as they enhance their
learning through classroom interaction in the evening or during
an on-campus seminar. You can choose your emphasis area based
on your interests and career goals.
* Students must indicate their
intent by the beginning of their sophomore year.
FACILITIES
Using professional quality equipment and facilities, you will
quickly learn key communication skills and techniques. You
will train at the Helis Communication Center
in two of mid-Missouri’s largest television studios,
in the KWWC Sweet 90.5 FM radio station (originally
founded in the 1920s) and audio studios, and in the Macintosh-equipped
newsroom and digital design studio. You will work in a G5
Mac lab, which is equipped with Final Cut
Pro, the latest in non-linear editing systems. Stephens’
Patricia Barry Television Studio is home
to the City
of Columbia’s public access channel, which provides
you with unlimited opportunities to get involved and showcase
your work. In the Stephens Life
newsroom, you will work in all aspects of
newspaper production, including writing, editing, photography,
layout and graphic design. You also will work on projects
such as marketing plans and event planning for Columbia businesses
with guidance of faculty.
ALUMNAE
Stephens alumnae include the following successful professionals:
- Lindsey Trosper '00, Barkley Evergreen &
- Gayla Daugherty ’94, Anheuser-Busch
Account Executive
- Wendy Parish Anderson ’92, former
Austin Film Society Public Affairs Director
- Lyah LeFlore ’91, Author of the
books “Cosmopolitan Girls" and "Last Night
a DJ Saved My Life"; former TV Producer
- Susan Keaton ’81, Chicago Tribune
Business Editor
- Anne-Louise Wallace ’82, “Today
Show” Stage Manager
- Paula Zahn, former CNN News Anchor
CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS
Take advantage of job experience, leadership challenges, &
networking opportunities through organizations such as:
- Alpha Epsilon Rho, the national broadcasting honorary
- Broadcast Educators Association
- Missouri College Media Association
- National Broadcasting Society
- National Communication Association
- Public Relations Student Society of America
- Sigma Beta Delta, a national honorary for business students
- Stephens Women’s Business Association
- Students in Free Enterprise
- The Film Club
MAJORS
FACULTY
Stephens professors hold master's degrees in their chosen fields and can back up their teaching methods with years of experience in the communication industries of public relations, filmmaking, journalism and broadcasting. Among the faculty are a professor who is an experienced marketing consultant, one who has reported for CNN, and another who works in the film industry and runs her own production company.
QUOTE
“The Stephens community formed an environment that
helped make my transition to AOL Corporate Events seamless.
It’s an experience beyond that of a typical college
or university . . . at Stephens you are taught to think for
yourself, and in that development come hundreds of opportunities
you never even knew existed. Along with its unlimited alumnae
network, an education at Stephens is priceless.”
—Jenny Stahl ’05, B.S.; '06, M.B.A.
Manager, Corporate Events
AOL LLC
New York, NY



