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. It should be noted that students in this major are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 before moving into their internship which typically occurs during the junior year.

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.

Core Curriculum Requirements

All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures for specific core curriculum requirements.

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.Q 101 - Introduction to Media Studies Credits: 3
ENGW 250 - Written and Visual Rhetoric Credits: 3
COMM 301 - Communication Research Methods Credits: 3
COMM 302 - Media Ethics and Law Credits: 3
COMM 312 - Communication and Media Campaign Management 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 Program Tracks

Choose one track from the following:

Digital Media Track

Students must complete all courses listed:

COMM 205 - Writing for Digital Media Credits: 3
COMM 345 - Social Media Credits: 3
COMM 358 - Digital Storytelling Credits: 3
AVCD 154 - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Credits: 3
AVCD 154L - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Graphics Lab Credits: 1
MKT 216 - Principles of Marketing Credits: 3
3 credit hours of elective courses (electives not required for students in the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood major)

Public Relations Track

Students must complete all courses listed:

COMM 205 - Writing for Digital Media Credits: 3
COMM 435 - Public Relations Campaigns Credits: 3
AVCD 154 - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Credits: 3
AVCD 154L - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Graphics Lab Credits: 1
ENGW 350 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3
6 credit hours of elective courses (electives not required for students in the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood major)

Writing and Editing Track

Students must complete all courses listed:

ENGW 356 - Editing for Publication Credits: 3
ENGW 375 - Feature Writing Credits: 3
COMM 205 - Writing for Digital Media Credits: 3
AVCD 154 - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Credits: 3
AVCD 154L - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Graphics Lab Credits: 1
6 credit hours of elective courses (electives not required for students in the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood major)

Strategic Communication Track

Students must complete all courses listed.

COMM 205 - Writing for Digital Media Credits: 3
AVCD 154 - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Credits: 3
AVCD 154L - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Graphics Lab Credits: 1
6 credit hours of classes from any other professional track (Digital Media, Public Relations, Writing and Editing)
6 credit hours of elective courses (electives not required for students in the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood major)

Communication and Media Major Electives

Credit hours of electives required vary by track. Elective course options include:

ART 255 - Digital Photography Credits: 3
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
MKT 363 - Marketing Communications 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
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
ENGW 101 Exposition	3	ENGW 102 Argument and Research	3
ACS 101 Academic and College Success	1	Foreign Language with Lab (same language)	4
First Year Seminar (FYS) PEQ (1)	3	PEQ (4)	3
COMM.Q 101 Introduction to Media Studies PEQ (2)	3	PEQ (5)	3
PEQ (3)	3	PEQ (6)	3
Foreign Language with Lab (same language)	4	Health & Wellness	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
COMM 205 Writing for Digital Media	3	AVCD 154 Digital Imaging Foundation for Design /AVCD 154L	4
ENGW 250 Written and Visual Rhetoric	3	Communication Elective	3
PEQ (7) Science with Lab	4	Liberal Arts Elective	3
PEQ (8)	3	Integrative Studies (IS) - 1	3
Liberal Arts Elective	3	Integrative Studies (IS) - 2	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16

JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
COMM 301 Communication Research Methods	3	COMM 353 Persuasion	3
COMM 312 Communication and Media Campaign Management	3	COMM 483 Communication and Media Internship I	3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 3	3	CME 050 Core Milestone Experience	0
Experiential Learning Pathway (EL)	0	Elective or Professional Program Track Course	3
Communication Professional Program Track Course	3	Liberal Arts Elective	3
Liberal Arts Elective	3	Communication Elective	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15

SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Communication Professional Program Track Course	3	COMM 302 Media Ethics and Law	3
Liberal Arts Elective	3	COMM 450 Communication and Media Senior Seminar	3
Liberal Arts Elective	3	COMM 499 Communication and Media Senior Experience	0
General Elective (or Liberal Arts elective if needed)	3	Liberal Arts Elective	3
General Elective (or Liberal Arts elective if needed)	3	General Elective	3
	15	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	12
Notes Students in Bachelor of Arts degree programs must complete 90 credits of liberal arts coursework.