Electronic Media Degree – Wayne State College Nebraska

Explore the Electronic Media degree program

Multimedia content is everywhere. The Electronic Media degree program at Wayne State prepares you for a wide range of careers in professions that use multimedia communication tools. Starting your first semester, you’ll receive extensive hands-on experience in skills like audio and video production, performance, and production planning.

In the Electronic Media degree program, not only will you produce hands-on content throughout your college career, you’ll be prepared for media leadership roles through coursework like communication law, mass media and society, media management, and media ethics.

The WSC Media Club, which is affiliated with the academic program, also provides hands-on opportunities and travel experiences to state and national conferences, visits to media outlets, and other activities. Internships provide professional experiences to enrich coursework.

View program courses Download program fact sheet (PDF)

Fast facts

Degree options:

B.A. or B.S. in Mass Communication / Electronic Media
Minor in Electronic Media

Delivery format: On campus (Wayne)

Program credit hours: 36 or 48

Mass communication core courses (18 credit hours)
Electronic media concentration (18 or 30 credit hours)

Note: Students must also take 30 credit hours of General Studies courses. A total of 120 credit hours are needed to graduate from WSC. Additional majors or minors can be added to help meet graduation requirements.

School: Arts and Humanities

Department: Communication Arts

Prepare for your future

Opportunities and outcomes

Electronic media topics covered

Mass communication systems and their impacts on society
Multiplatform journalism and reporting
Ethics for media professionals
Laws and regulations that affect communication
Live broadcasting and studio film production
Post-production digital editing and sound engineering
Audio production techniques
Management practices for radio, television, and print industry

Student learning outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of mass communication
Demonstrate mass communication skills
Apply principles of mass media

Career Scholars Program

Students majoring in Electronic Media are eligible to take part in the Career Scholars Program. The Career Scholars Program offers a generous scholarship package while you embark on a unique cooperative education journey starting your freshman year at Wayne State. During your time here, you’ll participate in career readiness activities, job site visits, job shadowing, and more - all while learning the fundamentals of professional practice. After three years on campus, you’ll complete your senior year by working at a paid job in your chosen field. Job locations include Norfolk or Grand Island, Neb., where you'll live in community housing with fellow Career Scholars students.

Career Scholars Program

Intercollegiate forensics

The Wayne State Forensics Team is a competitive speech team that provides students the opportunity to grow their skills in oral and written communication, critical thinking, research development, creativity, leadership, and confidence. The team competes regionally and nationally in a variety of public address and interpretation event categories, including communication analysis/rhetorical criticism; persuasive, informative, extemporaneous, impromptu, and after dinner speaking; and dramatic and prose interpretation.

WSC Forensics Team

WSC student media

Our studios, labs, and workshops provide students with hands-on learning experiences in film, television, radio, journalism, and print. Students in the Agricultural Communication and Leadership program work in KWSC Studios to learn television and video programming. You’ll also get hands-on experience in audio production and on-air broadcasting through Wayne State’s award-winning student-run radio station, KWSC-FM.

Student media

Electronic media internships

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find electronic media internships and career opportunities. Students recently completed internships at the following locations:

Badlands Bigsticks
David Jones Fashions
KZUM Radio
Wayne State College

Career services and internships

Graduates of the Electronic Media degree program work in their chosen field using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, eager employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Jobs of recent graduates:

Assistant Marketing Coordinator – Vision2Voice (Omaha, Neb.)
Photography & Videography Business Owner - Smyth Visuals (Sioux City, Iowa)
Station Programmer – WJAG Radio (Norfolk, Neb.)
Technical Media Director – KOLN-TV (Lincoln, Neb.)
Videographer and Editor – Outdoorsmen Productions, LLC (Hartington, Neb.)

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey

Cost of attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska

- College Affordability Guide, 2024

Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

Mass communication core courses (18 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: An overview of the historical development, technological evolution, current status, and future direction of mass communication. Differences between mass communication systems will be explored, as well as mass communication effects on its audiences.
Credits: 3
Description: An introduction to journalism and journalistic writing. Students in this course work as beginning reporters for the college newspaper.
Credits: 3
Description: An in-depth investigation of the ethical foundations underlying conduct of media professionals.
Credits: 3
Description: In-depth critical perspective of mass communication theoretical development and audience effects, including short- and long-term media socialization, political propaganda, advertising, social control, and characteristics shared by all media.
Prerequisite: CNA 263 Introduction to Mass Communication
Credits: 3
Description: An overview of the laws, regulations, and court cases affecting personal and organizational communication. Topics addressed include freedom of speech, libel and slander, privacy, regulation of advertising, copyright and trademark, and internet and media law. Case studies emphasize how the courts interpret and apply the law.
Credits: 3
Description: Students enrolled in this seminar will develop a cumulative portfolio of work that demonstrates the growth of their abilities in various areas of mass communication while developing tools for career readiness. The portfolio may include any of the following types of student work: writing, photography, audio, video, or electronic media projects. In conjunction with faculty, students research regional and national media employment trends, and develop a portfolio that best reflects their chosen mass communication career. Faculty will review the portfolio and conduct a qualitative exit interview for the purpose of program review and assessment. The review of the portfolio and the exit interview must be completed to graduate.
Prerequisite: 90 hours

Electronic media concentration (18 or 30 credit hours)

Credits: 0-3
Description: Practical application of skills learned in other classes to direct, produce, and coordinate content development in electronic media, video, and film. Workshop hours beyond those required for Mass Communication majors and minors may be taken as electives with the permission of the advisor. Electronic Media majors must take at least 3 credits in a combination of Audio/Radio Workshop, Video Workshop, and Film Workshop. Students who are not Mass Communication majors may enroll with permission of the instructor. Course fee of $10 per credit hour required.
Prerequisites: Approval of instructor and C or above in CNA 162 Audio Production for radio workshops, and CNA 274 Video and Film Production I for video and film workshops. Prerequisite courses cannot be taken concurrently.
Credits: 3
Description: An introduction to studio and remote production including live broadcasts of news, sports, talk, narrative film, and special events. Students will learn current concepts and theories of pre-production, production and post-production procedures and will apply them utilizing video and audio equipment for digital storytelling. (Lab hours required.) Course fee of $10 per credit hour required.
Credits: 3
Description: This course focuses on new media in converged environments and management practices, including radio, television, and print. Includes topics such as budgeting, staff, audience research, content development, promotion, sales, labor relations, governmental regulations, community responsibility, and other related subjects.
Credits: 3
Description: An overview of multiplatform journalism from brainstorming story ideas, to interviewing, writing for the web and broadcast, and multimedia journalism skills. Students will learn how to organize electronic newscasts and create online news stories using current applications.
Prerequisite: CNA 280 News Writing
Credits: 3
Description: Study of advanced video and filmmaking techniques for program and non-program content in standard, cable, and specialized video. Instruction includes post-production, digital editing, color correction, sound engineering, and distribution. Lab hours required. Course fee of $10 per credit hour required.
Prerequisite: CNA 162 Audio Production
Students pursuing the 48-hour program will take the above courses from the 36-hour option plus an additional 12 credit hours from the following:
- ART 363 Digital Photography (3)
- BUS 270 Principles of Marketing (3)
- BUS 374 Advertising and Integrated Marketing (3)
- CNA 102 Media Literacy (3)
- CNA (R, V) 120/220/320/420 Mass Communication Arts Workshop (0-3)
- CNA 140/240/440 Intercollegiate Forensics (0-3)
- CNA 223 Acting (3)
- CNA 252 Public Address (3)
- CNA 297/397/497 Internship in Broadcasting (3)
- CNA 301 Advertising Copywriting (3)
- CNA 352 Organizational Presentations (3)
- CNA 374 Public Relations (3)
- CNA 378 Performance for the Screen (3)
- CNA 387 Lighting (3)
- CNA 389 Photojournalism (3)
- CNA 391/491 Special Project in Communication (3)
- CNA 392 Sports Writing (3)
- CNA 426 Public Relations through Social Media (3)
- CNA 450 Media Design Applications (3)
- CNA 453 Integrated Brand Promotion (3)
- CNA 454 Advanced Web Development (3)
- CNA 457 Special Topics in Communication
- CNA 467 Intercultural Communication (3)
- CNA 479 Animation and Motion Graphics Applications (3)
- ENG 200 Expository Writing (3)
- ENG 206 Workplace Writing (3)
- GEO 305 Political Geography (3)
- POS 350 The American Presidency (3)
- POS 402 State and Local Politics (3)
- POS 430 Public Policy (3)

Popular pairings

Many students at Wayne State will add a second major or a minor to complement their program of study, or to focus their studies on a specific topic. Students who recently majored in Electronic Media at Wayne State also paired this major with one or more of the following programs:

Animation and Motion Graphics (minor)
Digital Film Production (major or minor)
Journalism (major or minor)
Online and Social Media (minor)
Photography (minor)
Promotion and Media (minor)
Sport Management (major or minor)

View all majors and minors

Related programs

Students interested in the Electronic Media degree program may also be interested in:

Digital Film Production (B.A. or B.S.)
Journalism (B.A. or B.S.)
Sports Media (B.A. or B.S.)

I hope to go on to one day to be the lead broadcaster for either a collegiate or professional sports program. I truly do see myself in that position in the future thanks to WSC. Since I was a freshman, I was allowed to broadcast baseball, football, volleyball and basketball games nearly as often as I wanted. They also helped me to land a part-time job calling high school games with a local radio station on the weekends. There is no better place to come and work on your craft. Everyone genuinely cares about the quality of the content that is put out, meaning that you’re not just building a profile, you’re building an impressive profile full of professional content that’s going to be seen by tons of people.

Blake Hilkemeier

Atkinson, Nebraska

Electronic Media