Bachelor of Science in Mass Media - Applied Advertising

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

The early childhood education program prepares students to successfully complete the licensure requirements of the program and earn their teaching license with an endorsement in early childhood education. This license enables students to teach children birth through the third grade in multiple settings including public and non-public schools, homes and other community settings.

This program offers a strengths-based approach in working with all children including those with special needs and rights. Along with coursework that is focused on child-centered and culturally sensitive practices, students participate in embedded field experiences in the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center and Horace Mann Laboratory School and partnering community settings. Combined, these learning experiences provide the basis from which theories about development, learning and curriculum come to life for our students.

Individually and as a cohort of learners, students learn an integrated approach to teaching and learning through constructivist curriculum practices and strategies that offer meaningful learning within diverse systems and settings. Opportunities to learn together as critical colleagues who further each other’s reflective thinking skills prepares students for professional collaboration in their future careers.

Across the country, the importance of early childhood education continues to grow as studies indicate the long-term benefits educational opportunities in the early years have on shaping future learning outcomes. Faculty focus on preparing childhood teachers, decision makers and intellectual and ethical leaders to create opportunities for learning that ensures the well-being of children and families in their communities and beyond.

Students majoring in mass media with an emphasis in applied advertising focus on the tangible media, the visual as well as creative aspects of advertising. At Northwest, students have opportunities to participate in creating and selling advertisements on the award-winning,  student-managed KZLX radio and KNWT television stations, Northwest Missourian newspaper and Tower yearbook as soon as the first semester of their freshman year.

Faculty focus on three core areas: business of advertising, creativity and media sales. In business of advertising, students learn legal and regulatory ethics, operational structure and media planning; the creativity component includes the message strategy, design concepts and knowledge of critical analysis; and media sales provide information about media mix concepts, messaging across sales, understanding media rates and the importance of digital and social media.

Students majoring in agricultural media with an emphasis in advertising focuses on the promotion of agriculture businesses.  The major focuses on advocating for agriculture by explaining science, technologies and complex agricultural issues within society while promoting products and services from agricultural companies, businesses and organizations. Coursework includes classes in agricultural science, advertising, marketing, journalism and media.

A Foods and Nutrition major at Northwest is the study the science of nutrition and how nutrition impacts the human body. Faculty focus on teaching students skills to modify and assess individualized nutrition such as meal plans; nutrition counseling as it relates to human behavior; food science; food preparation; and food service management.

The program is a three-step process. First, students complete Northwest’s accredited didactic foods and nutrition program requirements; second, students apply to and complete an accredited dietetics internship after graduation; and third, students take the national registered dietitian exam.

A major in Agricultural Media with an emphasis in production and broadcasting is designed for students with a strong interest in agriculture and radio or television. The major is designed to give students a foundation in communication practices which can be applied in the agriculture community. Students will gain hands-on learning experiences including techniques for pre- and post-production, recording methods, microphone and camera operation and script and story writing. Coursework includes classes in agricultural science, advertising, marketing, journalism and media.

The business education major provides hands-on, cutting-edge courses in the areas of business, technology, marketing, accounting and economics while providing the core principles of effective education. This major is designed to prepare students to teach at the secondary level (grades 9-12). The business education major is recognized nationally and by the state as an outstanding business education program, and Northwest is the only public institution in Missouri north of I-70 that offers a business education program.

At the high school level, teachers are trained to educate students on more specialized content such as the theories of business, marketing, accounting and technology. At the middle school level, teachers focus on the basics of keyboarding, computer applications, introduction to business and money management.

Comprehensive communication majors with an emphasis in interpersonal communication study how people create, send and receive messages, and analyze the ways in which messages affect the perception of the relationship. Students learn methods of identifying problems in communication, correcting problems, and training and developing communication abilities for members of various communities. At Northwest, faculty focus on communication theory and ensuring students are efficient in public speaking, writing, group behavior, persuasion and interpersonal communication.

Earning a Political Science degree at Northwest prepares students for multiple employment opportunities in public service and private sectors including federal, state and local government, law, criminal justice system, municipal planning, city management, urban affairs, education, non-profit administration, campaigns and elections, public policy analysis and internal development and relations.

The major has three areas of emphasis: the american institutions (formerly criminal justice) emphasis provides an understanding of legislatures, police prosecutors, public offenders and courts and corrections; the public administration emphasis focuses on the decision making process and job opportunities in public organizations and local, state, federal and international agencies; and the global affairs emphasis studies the global trends and events, and enhances intercultural understanding.

A degree in English education prepares students for meaningful careers in middle and high school classrooms. As an English education major at Northwest, students learn the skills to be successful in the classroom – classroom management, differentiated instruction, professionalism, practical strategies for teaching reading and writing – but they also learn about the teaching of English as a craft and an art.

Through books, English teachers expose students to other cultures and time periods, giving insight into how others think and have thought. Through writing instruction, English teachers give students a voice of their own and the means to express themselves to their world. Often, English teaching is associated with spelling, punctuation, grammar and other basic skills. As an English education major, students learn how to teach those skills, but also promote social justice and give kids the tools to thrive in an evolving world through reading and writing.

A major in International Business prepares students for a profession involving international politics, economics, knowledge about information processing and computer systems, and analytical and critical thinking skills. At Northwest, this interdisciplinary program provides knowledge of successfully operating a business in the global marketplace.

International business is more globalized than ever, and is the future of business. The information students learn affects nearly every business in the country. Students receive one-on-one advising from professors who specialize in the major, have doctorates in international business, travelled to most of the locations visited, and have personal experience and contacts internationally. Additionally, Northwest links to national and international area computer networks, offering students an unparalleled chance to explore the international arena.