Prerequisites

PREREQUISITE COMPLETION:
You may apply only after you have completed Mass Communications 10. In addition, you must have completed at least two of the remaining three prerequisites. The fourth prerequisite may be in progress at the time of your application; it must be successfully completed by the end of that term.

Students intending to major in Mass Communications should take one course from each of the following four groups: (These are UCB course numbers; see the Student Affairs Officer or Faculty Advisor to determine the equivalent courses for transfer.)

• I. American History (Post-Civil War period):
  History 7B: Intro to History of the U.S.--Civil War to Present
  History 124A: U.S. from late 19th Century to the Eve of WWII
  History 124B: U.S. from 1941 to 1980
  History 131B: Social History of the U.S.--1865 to present
  
• II. American Institutions:
  Political Science 1: Intro to American Politics
  
• III. Introductory Social Sciences:
  Anthropology 3: Intro to Social & Cultural Anthropology
  Economics 1: Intro to Economics
  Psychology 1: General Psychology
  Psychology 2: Principles of Psychology
  Sociology 1: Intro to Sociology
  Sociology 3: Principles of Sociology
  
• IV. Introductory Mass Communications:
  Mass Communications 10: Intro to Mass Communications in America. (4 units) Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor required. An introduction to the history, functions, and control of mass communication institutions in the United States, and to media contents and effects. Not offered in Spring.

All prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade. Note that not every course is offered every semester, and some courses are not open to students at every level (for example, only sophomores can computer enroll for Mass Comm. 10; only freshmen and sophomores can enroll for Poli Sci 1, etc.). You are responsible for consulting with the appropriate departments for course scheduling and enrollment regulations. These are the only Berkeley courses that are acceptable as prerequisites.

TRANSFERRING PREREQUISITE COURSES

Most of our prerequisites may be completed at 2-year or other 4-year institutions. Bring your transcripts and a copy of your college catalog to Jean Retzinger, the faculty advisor, to have your coursework approved for use in the major. (The College of Letters and Science may approve your coursework as transferable in terms of unit credit, but you still need to be sure that your courses meet the major requirements for subject preparation.) In our experience, we have found that most "intro" mass communications courses at community colleges do not meet our requirements, so be especially sure to check with the faculty advisor about this course. Bring course reading lists with you if possible.

Mass Communications 10 Equivalents

NEXT: PLANNING AHEAD FOR THE MAJOR