Top 10 Mass Communication Courses for Students

Kickstart your media career with these 10 mass communication courses online. From journalism basics to PR and broadcasting courses, learn from home and gain skills that open doors to exciting opportunities in media.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Online Mass Communication / Journalism Courses
1. NBCU’s Fundamentals of Journalism
2. Effective Communication Skills available on Great Learning Academy
3. English for Journalists, Part 1 on edX
4. edX’s Journalism for Social Change Course
5. Global Muckraking – Investigative Journalism & Global Media (edX)
6. International Standards on Freedom of Expression and Safety of …
7. Certificate Course in Journalism – Udemy
8. edX’s Feature Journalism Professional Certificate Course
9. Creative Arts & Media Online Courses on FutureLearn
10. Certificate in Mass Communication provided by CIMC

Top 10 Mass Communication Courses for Students

Want to start your career in journalism, PR, or broadcasting but don't know where to begin? You're not alone - many students feel confused about which mass communication course online to choose first. Luckily, there are some terrific courses available free of charge or at a very low price, with everything from learning how to write a simple news item to advanced investigative journalism. Online learning lets you learn at home at your own pace, and many give you certificates, too. Whether your goal is to become a news reporter or enter public relations. Or try broadcasting courses, there's something for every aimed outcome.

Top 10 Online Mass Communication / Journalism Courses

For students aspiring to study mass communication, here are the top 10 courses available on different platforms, along with their duration, fees, and certificate details.

S.no.	Course Name	Platform	Cost	Duration	Certificate
1	Fundamentals of Journalism	NBCU Academy	Free	~3 hours, self-paced	Free certificate
2	Effective Communication Skills	Great Learning Academy	Free	~3 hours, self-paced	Free certificate
3	English for Journalists, Part 1	edX (UC Berkeley)	Free to audit	~5 weeks, 3–4 hrs/week	Paid certificate
4	Journalism for Social Change	edX (UC Berkeley)	Free to audit	~4 weeks, 2–4 hrs/week	Paid certificate
5	Global Muckraking: Investigative Journalism & Global Media	edX (Columbia University)	Free to audit	~5–6 weeks, 3–4 hrs/week	Paid certificate
6	International Standards on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists	edX (Oxford University)	Free to audit	~7 weeks, 1–3 hrs/week	Paid certificate
7	Certificate Course in Journalism	Udemy	Paid (~₹1,200–1,600 during sale)	~1.5 hours	Paid certificate
8	Feature Journalism Professional Certificate	edX (University of Cape Town)	Free to audit (program paid)	Several weeks	Paid certificate
9	Creative Arts & Media Online Courses	FutureLearn	Free to audit	2–6 weeks, 3–5 hrs/week	Paid certificate
10	Certificate in Mass Communication	Canadian Institute of Mass Communication (CIMC)	Paid (~$250 USD)	Self-paced	Paid certificate

Now that we have looked broadly into the overview, let's understand these courses in detail with regard to what they contain, what they offer, and what you gain after completion of these mass communication courses.

1. NBCU’s Fundamentals of Journalism

Detail	Information
Platform	NBCU Academy
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	Around 3 hours, self-paced
Where Available	Online globally through NBCU Academy’s portal
What It Covers	Basics of journalism, news writing, ethics, interviewing, introduction to broadcasting courses and PR awareness
Outcome	Understanding of how newsrooms work, ability to write and present simple reports, awareness of PR and broadcasting fields

2. Effective Communication Skills available on Great Learning Academy

Detail	Information
Platform	Great Learning Academy
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	About 3 hours, self-paced
Where Available	Online through Great Learning Academy’s platform
What It Covers	Foundations of effective communication, writing with clarity, body language, professional interactions, and basics useful for PR courses
Outcome	Stronger ability to express ideas clearly, improved speaking and writing skills, better preparation for roles in mass communication, PR, and broadcasting courses

3. English for Journalists, Part 1 on edX

Detail	Information
Platform	edX (University of California, Berkeley)
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	About 5 weeks, 3–4 hours per week
Where Available	Online on the edX platform
What It Covers	News vocabulary, grammar for journalism, writing news articles, using English effectively in media and PR contexts
Outcome	Improved English skills for reporting, writing, and broadcasting; stronger command over language for those aiming to study further PR courses or broadcasting courses

4. edX’s Journalism for Social Change Course

Detail	Information
Platform	edX (University of California, Berkeley)
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	About 4 weeks, 2–4 hours per week
Where Available	Online on the edX platform
What It Covers	Role of journalism in shaping society, how reporting can highlight social issues, links between journalism, PR courses, and advocacy
Outcome	Ability to use journalism as a tool for awareness and change, stronger understanding of how media connects with PR and broadcasting to influence public opinion

5. Global Muckraking – Investigative Journalism & Global Media (edX)

Detail	Information
Platform	edX (Columbia University)
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	About 5–6 weeks, 3–4 hours per week
Where Available	Online on the edX platform
What It Covers	History and practice of investigative journalism, global case studies, techniques for uncovering hidden stories, links to broadcasting courses
Outcome	Ability to think critically about media, improved skills for deep reporting, awareness of how investigative journalism supports PR and broadcasting strategies

6. International Standards on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists available on edX

Detail	Information
Platform	edX (Oxford University)
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	About 7 weeks, 1–3 hours per week
Where Available	Online on the edX platform
What It Covers	Media law, rights of journalists, freedom of expression, safety issues in reporting, ethics relevant to PR courses and broadcasting courses
Outcome	Understanding of legal frameworks, ability to report responsibly, awareness of ethical standards in journalism and broadcasting

7. Certificate Course in Journalism – Udemy

Detail	Information
Platform	Udemy
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	Around 1.5 hours of core lessons (self-paced)
Where Available	Online on Udemy platform
What It Covers	Basics of journalism, difference between mass communication and journalism, storytelling, short intro to PR and broadcasting courses
Outcome	Quick introduction to journalism, simple skills in writing and reporting, awareness of broader fields like PR and broadcasting within media

8. edX’s Feature Journalism Professional Certificate Course

Detail	Information
Platform	edX (University of Cape Town)
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	Several weeks, depending on the learner’s pace
Where Available	Online on the edX platform
What It Covers	Writing feature stories, interviewing techniques, narrative building, connecting journalism with broadcasting courses and PR storytelling
Outcome	Skills in long-form reporting, ability to write human-interest pieces, better preparation for media, PR, and broadcasting careers

9. Creative Arts & Media Online Courses on FutureLearn

Detail	Information
Platform	FutureLearn
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	Usually 2–6 weeks, 3–5 hours per week
Where Available	Online on the FutureLearn platform
What It Covers	Wide variety of subjects including film, photography, digital media, broadcasting courses, and creative communication
Outcome	Exposure to multiple aspects of media and arts, practical skills in content creation, and preparation for PR and broadcasting industries

10. Certificate in Mass Communication provided by CIMC

Detail	Information
Platform	Canadian Institute of Mass Communication (CIMC)
Type	Mass communication course online
Duration	Self-paced, usually a few months depending on the learner
Where Available	Online through CIMC’s learning portal
What It Covers	Broad overview of mass communication, journalism, PR courses, broadcasting courses, and media management
Outcome	Comprehensive understanding of mass communication, readiness for careers in PR, journalism, and broadcasting fields

Your journey into mass communication starts with taking that first step and enrolling in any of these courses. If it is your first time, perhaps start with the free ones to see which field attracts you the most-journalism, PR, or broadcasting. Remember, every media mogul you admire started where you are right now; so, choose a course today and begin your own trip down the road of a dream career in mass communication!

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