The Programme

The Boston University Graduate Mass Communication Programme (Summer only) in London combines an internship with related coursework. The first six weeks are spent taking two core courses. In the last six weeks, students work four day weeks in their internships and complete a directed study for a total of 16 Boston University credits. All courses are offered at the graduate level.

Student Comments

"I thoroughly enjoyed the professors, the class content and the field trips. A nice, overall, intergrated introduction to Global Marketing Communication." - Summer 2007

"This course was interesting. Prof Lerbinger is an amazing professor I just wish we had more time with him. A great course to end the Summer program with." - Summer 2006

Academics

During the first six weeks, students are enrolled in the following two courses:

COM CM 738 Global Marketing Communication (Tobe Berkovitz and Otto Lerbinger)
The course focuses on nationality, branding, international distribution, sales promotion, advertising, public relations and intercultural marketing. Students analyse case studies of the practical issues and decision areas in the management of marketing in a multinational context. After examining the 4 Ps, the tactics of integrated marketing communication, such as advertising pubic relations and sales promotion, are explored. Included are the use of digital media, the Internet, viral marketing and blogs.

COM CM 744 International Political and Media Systems (Alex Macleod)
The course will focus on international political and media systems from two related standpoints; first, the description, analysis and comparison of political systems in Europe and the Americas, and second a consideration of how political and media systems interact to produce national and international policies. In a 24/7 global news environment, politics and the media are becoming increasingly interdependent and are creating challenges for professionals in both fields.

During the last six weeks, students are enrolled in the following:

COM CM 809 Graduate Internship
Students work four or five days a week, for six weeks, in journalism; advertising or public relations agencies; in corporate marketing or public relations departments; or other communications organizations. Graded final analysis paper is required.

Placements are contingent on the student’s past experience and available opportunities in any given summer, so flexibility is essential. Recent graduate internship placements have included Fleischman-Hillard UK, Elizabeth Arden, Cohn & Wolfe and Reuters UK.

COM CM 909 Thesis or Project Research
The type of graduate project selected will depend on the major and academic focus of each student. COM students will write a thesis or complete a professional project. IR/COM and IR students will write a major research paper. All students will receive 4 credits for this Thesis or Project Research.

Faculty

Tobe Berkovitz Dean ad interim, holds a BFA, MA, University of Connecticut;
PhD, Wayne State University. Dr Berkovitz has worked since 1974 as a political media consultant on presidential, senatorial, congressional, and gubernatorial election campaigns. He specializes in media strategy and time buying, and works as a producer of political commercials. Berkovitz's clients have included Senators John Glenn, Carl Levin, and Patrick Leahy, and Congressman John Tierney. Dr Berkovitz appears frequently on television and in the press as a political and media analyst.

Dr Otto Lerbinger holds a BA from City University of New York, Brooklyn College; PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Lerbinger's specialty is corporate affairs and communication theory. He is the author of The Crisis Manager: Facing Risk and Responsibility, Manager's Public Relations Handbook, Designs for Persuasive Communication, and Information, Influence, and Communication, as well as of numerous articles on public relations research. Former president of the Public Relations Society of America's New England chapter and former trustee of the Foundation for Public Relations Research and Education, Lerbinger was a recipient of the PRSA's Distinguished Educator Award, marking his dedication to education and public relations

Alexander MacLeod, B.A. (Hons), University of New Zealand. He has had 40 years of practical experience in broadcasting and print journalism.  In New Zealand he was Editor-in-Chief of the NZ Listener and President of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. In Britain he has served as Foreign Editor of The Sunday Times (London), Diplomatic Editor of The Scotsman (Edinburgh), and British Isles correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor (Boston). For five years he was Editor of the London-based Round Table Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs. He has more than 20 years of experience as a news presenter on BBC Radio, including nearly 10 years as presenter on Twenty-Four Hours for the BBC World Service, and for fifteen years he anchored BBC Radio Four's World Tonight program. As a roving documentary-maker in the United States, Europe and Asia he has made many programs for the BBC.

Staff Contact

If you have any queries about the Graduate Mass Comminications Programme please contact Sarah Farrow.