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 communicate effectively in varied personal, cultural, professional, and civic contexts.
Collect, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and properly use research sources.
Demonstrate thorough understanding and effective command of theoretical, disciplinary, and industry terminology.
Construct oral, written, and visual messages that are coherent, persuaive, and ethical.
Apply theories, perspectives, and principles across communication and media contexts that demonstrate an understanding of the discipline.

*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 (21 credits):

COMM.Q 101 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3
COMM 205 - Writing for Digital Media Credits: 3
COMM 207 - Oral Communication Credits: 3
COMM 300 - Communication Theory: Concepts, Approaches, and Paradigms Credits: 3
COMM 301 - Communication Research Methods 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 345 - Social Media Credits: 3
COMM 358 - Digital Storytelling Credits: 3
AVCD 154 - Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Credits: 3 /AVCD 154L Credits: 1

Public Relations Track

Students must complete all courses listed:

COMM 250 - Principles of Public Relations Credits: 3
COMM 350 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3
COMM 435 - Advanced Public Relations Campaigns Credits: 3

Writing and Editing Track

Students must complete all courses listed:

COMM 256 - Introduction to Journalism Credits: 3
COMM 351 - Editing for Publication Credits: 3
COMM 373 - Feature Writing Credits: 3

Communication and Media Major Electives

Students must complete 9 credit hours of electives; course options included below. Students are also allowed to take courses from their non-selected program track as electives.

ART 255 - Digital Photography Credits: 3
AVCD 201 - Introduction to Digital Video/Media Credits: 3
COMM 209 - Introduction to Human Communication Credits: 3
COMM 210 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
COMM 302 - Media Ethics and Law Credits: 3
COMM 312 - Communication and Media Campaigns Management Credits: 3
COMM 340 - Cinema Studies Credits: 3
COMM 341 - Representation in Media Credits: 3
COMM 352 - Linguistics and Communication Credits: 3
COMM 353 - Persuasion Credits: 3
COMM 360 - Health Communication Credits: 3
COMM 370 - The End Is Near: Crisis Narratives in Life and Literature Credits: 3
COMM 375 - Project Management Credits: 3
COMM 389 - International Graphic Narrative Credits: 3
COMM 401 - Issues in Academic Research: Ethics, Validity, and Voice 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 351 - Professional Writing Credits: 3
ENGW 377 - Creative Writing: Playwriting Credits: 3
MKT 216 - Principles of Marketing 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	COMM 205 Writing for Digital Media	3
First Year Seminar (FYS) PEQ (1)	3	PEQ (4)	3
COMM.Q 101 Introduction to Mass Communication PEQ (2)	3	PEQ (5)	3
PEQ (3)	3	Foreign Language with Lab (same language)	4
Foreign Language with Lab (same language)	4	Health & Wellness	0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	17	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	16

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
COMM 207 Oral Communication	3	Communication Elective or Professional Track Course	3
PEQ (6)	3	Communication Elective or Professional Track Course	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	15

JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
COMM 300 Communication Theory: Concepts, Approaches, and Paradigms	3	COMM 301 Communication Research Methods	3
Communication Elective or Professional Track Course	3	COMM 483 Communication and Media Internship I	3
Communication Elective or Professional Track Course	3	CME 050 Core Milestone Experience	0
Experiential Learning Pathway (EL)	0	Elective or Professional Program Track Course	3
Integrative Studies (IS) - 3	3	Liberal Arts Elective	3
Liberal Arts Elective	3	Communication Elective or Professional Track Course	3
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15	TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS	15

SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Communication Elective or Professional Program Track Course	3	Communication Elective or Professional Program Track Course	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.