Communication and Media - Major

Communication and Media prepares students to become versatile communicators in spoken, written, and visual forms. By bridging liberal arts and professional practice, our program provides students with a holistic foundation in critical thinking, theory, and craft. Graduates are well-positioned for a variety of careers, not only in typical communication-related fields such as media, advertising, and public relations, but also in a wide range of other fields such as marketing, law, and event management. Recognizing communication’s applied nature, our students receive pre-professional training in the form of internships and client-based seminar projects.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to perform a theoretically grounded critical evaluation of communication practices and situations in support of a cohesive argument.
Collect, analyze, and cite a variety of print and electronic sources.
Demonstrate thorough understanding and effective command of key communication terms and theories.
Construct a thoughtful and persuasive written and oral argument.
Create aesthetically pleasing or persuasive content that demonstrates an understanding of communication theories.

*Note: Only five courses (or 15 credits) will be accepted as transfer credit toward the Communication and Media major.

Communication and Media Major Requirements

All Communication and Media majors are required to take the following (24 credits):

*For students combining the Communication and Media major with teacher certification, student teaching will count as their internship, although they may choose to do a separate internship.

COMM 201 - Introduction to Media Studies Credits: 3
COMM 202 - Media Ethics and Law Credits: 3
COMM 205 - Writing for Digital Media Credits: 3
ENGW 250 - Written and Visual Rhetoric Credits: 3
COMM 301 - Communication Research Methods Credits: 3
COMM 353 - Persuasion Credits: 3
COMM 450 - Communication and Media Senior Seminar Credits: 3
COMM 483 - Communication and Media Internship I Credits: 3
COMM 499 - Communication and Media Senior Experience Credits: 0

Communication and Media Praxis Strand

Communication and Media Praxis - Choose one strand from the following (6 credits, plus lab if required):

**If the schedule permits, a student seeking Teacher Certification may choose one praxis strand.

Digital Media Strand

Choose two courses:

ART 221 - Photography I Credits: 3 to 4
CIS 260 - Introduction to Web Design Credits: 3
COMM 358 - Digital Storytelling Credits: 3

Marketing Strand

Choose two courses:

COMM 345 - Social Media Credits: 3
MKT 216 - Principles of Marketing Credits: 3
MKT 363 - Integrated Marketing Communications Credits: 3

Public Relations Strand

Choose two courses:

ART 221 - Photography I Credits: 3 to 4
ENGW 350 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3
COMM 435 - Public Relations Campaigns Credits: 3

Visual Design Strand

Choose two courses:

ART 221 - Photography I Credits: 3 to 4
AVCD 154 - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Credits: 3 /AVCD 154L Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Graphics Lab Credits: 1
AVCD 355 - Web-Based Visual Design Credits: 3 /AVCD 355L Web-Based Visual Design Lab Credits: 1

Writing and Editing Strand

Choose two courses:

ENGW 351 - Professional Writing Credits: 3
ENGW 356 - Editing for Publication Credits: 3
ENGW 375 - Feature Writing Credits: 3

Communication and Media Major Electives

Students are required to take 9 credit hours of elective courses.

At most, two COMM or ENGW praxis courses may be counted as communication and media electives. These cannot be praxis courses taken to fulfill the praxis strand requirements.

Elective course options include:

COMM 207 - Oral Communication Credits: 3
COMM 209 - PII Introduction to Human Communication Credits: 3
COMM 210 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
COMM 340 - PII Cinema Studies Credits: 3
COMM 341 - Race and Ethnicity in Media Credits: 3
COMM 352 - Linguistics and Communication Credits:
COMM 360 - Health Communication Credits: 3
COMM 375 - Project Management Credits: 3
COMM 389 - International Graphic Narrative Credits: 3
COMM 410 - Female Pioneers in Media Credits: 3
COMM 411 - Contemporary Rhetorical Theory Credits: 3
COMM 430 - Reading the Wire: Representing Urban America Under Siege Credits: 3
COMM 434 - Special Topics in Communication and Media Credits: 3
ENGW 377 - Creative Writing: Playwriting Credits: 3

Communication and Media Major Senior Experience

The Communication and Media Senior Experience allows students to design and present a project/portfolio of work that bridges the academic and professional worlds. Students are expected to design a project that will apply what they have learned over the course of their study. The Senior Seminar class will provide a community in which to work on this project. Projects will be presented at the end of the semester in a public forum.

COMM 450 - Communication and Media Senior Seminar Credits: 3
COMM 499 - Communication and Media Senior Experience Credits: 0

Sample Program for Communication and Media Major

Freshman Year

Perspectives - Enduring Questions (PEQ) Math and Science with Lab Credits: 7
Perspectives - Enduring Questions (PEQ) Credits: 9
Foreign Language (in the same language) Credits: 3
Foreign Language (in the same language) Credits: 3
Health and Wellness Credits: 0

As well as:

ENGW 101 - Exposition Credits: 3
ENGW 102 - Argument and Research Credits: 3
ACS 101 - Academic and College Success Credits: 1
FYS course taken with ACS 101

Sophomore Year

Perspectives - Enduring Questions (PEQ) Credits: 9
Integrative Studies (IS) Credits: 6
Experiential Learning Pathway (EL) Credits: 0

As well as:

COMM 201 - Introduction to Media Studies Credits: 3
COMM 202 - Media Ethics and Law Credits: 3
COMM 205 - Writing for Digital Media Credits: 3
ENGW 250 - Written and Visual Rhetoric Credits: 3
Plus one communication elective (3 credits)

Junior Year

Integrative Studies (IS) Credits: 3
Core Milestone Experience (CME) Credits: 0
Communication Electives Credits: 3
Liberal Arts Electives Credits: 9
Plus two courses in one of the following concentrations, depending on career choice: Writing and Editing, Digital Media, Marketing, Visual Design, or Public Relations (see Praxis Strands above for specific course options) Credits: 6 (plus lab, if required)

As well as:

COMM 301 - Communication Research Methods
Credits: 3
COMM 353 - Persuasion
Credits: 3
COMM 483 - Communication and Media Internship I
Credits: 3

Senior Year

Communication Electives Credits: 3
Electives Credits: 24

As well as:

COMM 450 - Communication and Media Senior Seminar
Credits: 3
COMM 499 Communication and Media Senior Experience Credits: 0