If your intended path leads to graduate school, get a head start with an accelerated
program. The WVU Reed College of Media offers a 4+1 option for earning your bachelor's
degree in Journalism or Advertising and Public Relations in conjunction with a
master's degree in IMC in just five years.
Students begin coursework in the Integrated Marketing Communications master's degree program in what would be their senior year while completing undergraduate coursework at WVU. In order to do this, you must declare your major by the fall semester of your sophomore year. You must also complete a minimum of 90 credits in your baccalaureate (undergraduate) program by the end of your Junior year (including required general education and major courses).
You will earn both your B.S. and M.S. degrees at the conclusion of the graduate program.
Students who are dismissed (e.g. for poor grades), or who choose to withdraw, during
the first calendar year of graduate coursework, may apply all or some of their
successfully completed coursework toward their bachelor's degree. If you have completed
all of the BSJ requirements, you can apply to be awarded the BSJ in any semester
per the Registrar’s guidelines.
As a WVU Reed College of Media undergraduate student, the first step is to discuss your interest in a 4+1 with your advisor. For advising information, visit mediacollege.wvu.edu/advising.
The Integrated Marketing Communications program is 10 courses (30 credits) with the option of adding one course to earn an Area of Emphasis (AOE). Learn more about the IMC program. The schedules below are examples for what your senior and graduate years would look like with a 4+1 IMC degree and with the 4+1 IMC degree with an AOE.
| Semester 1 |
IMC 410:
Introduction to IMC |
| Semester 2 |
IMC 511:
|
| Undergrad Completion in May | |
| Summer | Core 2/3 |
| Early Fall | Elective 1
Elective 2 |
| Late Fall | Core 3/3
Specialty 1/2 |
| Early Spring | Elective 3
Specialty 2/2 |
| Late Spring | IMC 636: IMC Campaigns |
| Undergrad Completion in December | |
| Early Spring | Elective 1
Elective 2 |
| Late Spring | Core 2/3
Specialty 1/2 |
| Summer | Core 3/3 |
| Early Fall | Elective 3
Specialty 2/2 |
| Late Fall | IMC 636: IMC Campaigns |
| Undergrad Completion in May | |
| Summer | Core 2/3 Specialty 1/2 |
| Early Fall | AOE 1
AOE 2 |
| Late Fall | Core 3/3
Specialty 2/2 |
| Early Spring | AOE 3
AOE 4 |
| Late Spring | IMC 636: IMC Campaigns |
| Undergrad Completion in December | |
| Early Spring | AOE 1
AOE 2 |
| Late Spring | Core 2/3
Specialty 1/2 |
| Summer | Core 3/3 Specialty 2/2 |
| Early Fall | AOE 3
AOE 4 |
| Late Fall | IMC 636: IMC Campaigns |