Communication Major
The communication major educates students to become critical thinkers and humane communicators capable of using traditional and emerging technologies effectively. Students select at least one of four possible concentrations to complete the degree: communication studies, media studies, writing for media and communication, and/or critical media practice.
The communication studies concentration focuses on communication practices and theory. Students learn to understand the social and cultural factors that shape communication and learn to apply diverse theories and problem-solving skills. The concentration is for students who plan careers in professions and industries that use or leverage communication to reach various and/or specific audiences. In addition to for-profit and nonprofit organizations, professions include media industries, government, law, business, health and international relations. The major and concentration also prepares students for a variety of post-graduate degrees.
The media studies concentration focuses on the study of media practices, and their role, history and power in society. Students learn to understand the social, cultural and historical forces that shape media and, in turn, how media shapes society. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The concentration is for students who plan careers in professions and industries that require a wide range of understanding of media and communication. In addition to media industries, such professions include government, law, business, health and international relations. The concentration also prepares students for a range of post-graduate degrees.
The writing for media and communication concentration focuses on applied traditions and forms of media writing in such fields as news, advertising, public relations, screenwriting and interactive media. Students learn advanced theories and techniques. The concentration is for students who plan careers in professions and industries that require expertise in media writing and communication.
The critical media practice concentration focuses on the forms, crafts, content and technologies of media in order to critically engage social issues and problems. Students learn to develop analytical, problem-solving and communication skills as they utilize media for specific goals. The concentration is for students who wish to practice critical and strongly rhetorical communication through new and traditional media for civic engagement, advocacy, activism and public address.
Communication majors must complete a minimum of 57 credit hours, including:
Core Requirements (12 credit hours)
Core Electives in the following areas (20 credit hours):
- Media, Culture and Society (8 credit hours)
- Writing (8 credit hours)
- Production (4 credit hours)
Concentration Courses in one of the following areas (16 credit hours):
- Communication Studies
- Media Studies
- Writing for Media and Communication
- Critical Media Practice
Additional Electives (8 credit hours)
Portfolio Review (1 credit hour)
Students must declare at least one of the following concentrations: communication studies, media studies, writing for media and communication, and/or critical media practice. Within the required 16 concentration credit hours, a minimum of 12 credit hours must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.
Among the “Additional Electives,” one course must be at the 300 level or above.
Students may take a maximum of 8 credit hours of independent study to fulfill the requirements of the major.
A student who wishes to enroll in COM 499 Senior Project should secure a faculty sponsor the semester preceding the semester in which she or he plans to enroll.
The program provides individual access to production equipment in courses involving production. Students will be required to sign financial responsibility statements to gain access to the equipment.
During their senior year, students must complete a 1-credit pass/fail Portfolio Review before graduation.
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements (12 Credit Hours)
Communication majors must take the following courses:
Core Electives (20 Credit Hours)
Note: Some courses listed require prerequisites that are outside of the list, but students can take those prerequisites as part of their “Additional Electives” and/or concentration courses if they choose to, so that no additional credits are required for the major.
Media, Culture, and Society Core Electives (8 Credit Hours)
Communication majors must select at least two courses from the following list:
ART 211 | Art and Technology | 4 |
ART 277 | Modern Art | 4 |
COM 222 | Media Aesthetics and Creativity | 4 |
COM 260 | American Cinema | 4 |
COM 261 | World Cinema | 4 |
COM 283 | Principles of Advertising | 4 |
COM 284 | Principles of Public Relations | 4 |
COM 300 | The Documentary Tradition | 4 |
COM 301 | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 4 |
COM 323 | Frontiers of Communication | 4 |
COM 327 | Communication and Law | 4 |
COM 332 | Television Criticism | 4 |
COM 334 | Information and the New World Order | 4 |
COM 335 | Survey of Independent Video and Film | 4 |
COM 360 | Film Directors | 4 |
COM 361 | Film Genres | 4 |
COM 365 | Critical Analysis of Media Events | 4 |
COM 370 | Women, Film and Popular Culture | 4 |
COM 380 | Culture, Society and Computing Technology | 4 |
COM 401 | Intercultural Communication | 4 |
COM 425 | Information Technology and Human Values | 4 |
COM 426 | Public Opinion, the Media and Power | 4 |
COM 431 | Traditions of Digital Media | 4 |
COM 435 | Women Directors: Theory and Criticism | 4 |
COM 436 | Critical Studies in Public Communication | 4 |
COM 443 | Communication and Cultural Studies | 4 |
COM 445 | The Image and the Reality | 4 |
COM 450 | Experimental Cinema: History and Theory | 4 |
COM 455 | Film Theory and Criticism | 4 |
COM 465 | Senior Seminar in Cinema Studies | 4 |
COM 466 | International Advertising | 4 |
COM 470 | Communication Research Methods | 4 |
COMH 220 | Revolutions in and on TV (Honors) | 4 |
COMH 390 | Ethnicity in Film and Literature (Honors) | 4 |
ENG 249 | Transformation: Fiction to Screen | 4 |
ENG 444 | Wordimagebookscreen | 4 |
GWA 326 | Political Campaigns and Electoral Politics | 4 |
JOU 101 | Introduction to Journalism | 4 |
PHL 308 | Film Aesthetics | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Writing Core Electives (8 Credit Hours)
Communication majors must select at least two courses from the following list:
COM 225 | Media Writing | 4 |
COM 226 | Introduction to Scriptwriting for Motion Pictures and Television | 4 |
COM 325 | Writing for Broadcast News | 4 |
COM 337 | Corporate Uses of Media | 4 |
COM 340 | Screenwriting I | 4 |
COM 346 | Writing for Interactive Media | 4 |
COM 348 | Writing the Situation Comedy | 4 |
COM 383 | Writing for Advertising | 4 |
COM 384 | Writing for Public Relations | 4 |
COM 440 | Screenwriting II | 4 |
JOU 271 | News Reporting and Writing | 4 |
JOU 371 | Feature Writing | 4 |
WRI 240 | Writing Drama | 4 |
WRI 247 | Dramatic Writing for Radio and Alternative Performance | 4 |
WRI 285 | Information Design | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Production Core Electives (4 Credit Hours)
Communication majors must select at least one course from the following list:
Concentration Courses (16 Credit Hours)
Students must declare at least one Concentration from the following areas: Communication Studies, Media Studies, Writing for Media and Communication, or Critical Media Practice. A minimum of 16 credit hours must be completed in a concentration. Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300-level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400-level.
Note: Some courses under each list require prerequisites that are outside of the list, but students can take those prerequisites as part of their “Core Electives” and/or “Additional Electives” if they choose to, so that no additional credits are required for the major.
Communication Studies Concentration (16 Credit Hours)
Communication majors declaring a concentration in Communication Studies must take at least 16 credit hours from the following list. Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.
COM 283 | Principles of Advertising | 4 |
COM 284 | Principles of Public Relations | 4 |
COM 301 | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 4 |
COM 323 | Frontiers of Communication | 4 |
COM 327 | Communication and Law | 4 |
COM 334 | Information and the New World Order | 4 |
COM 380 | Culture, Society and Computing Technology | 4 |
COM 401 | Intercultural Communication | 4 |
COM 425 | Information Technology and Human Values | 4 |
COM 426 | Public Opinion, the Media and Power | 4 |
COM 436 | Critical Studies in Public Communication | 4 |
COM 466 | International Advertising | 4 |
COM 470 | Communication Research Methods | 4 |
COM 499 | Senior Project | 4 |
GWA 326 | Political Campaigns and Electoral Politics | 4 |
JOU 101 | Introduction to Journalism | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Media Studies Concentration (16 Credit Hours)
Communication majors declaring a concentration in Media Studies must take at least 16 credit hours from the following list. Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.
ART 211 | Art and Technology | 4 |
COM 260 | American Cinema | 4 |
COM 261 | World Cinema | 4 |
COM 300 | The Documentary Tradition | 4 |
COM 332 | Television Criticism | 4 |
COM 335 | Survey of Independent Video and Film | 4 |
COM 360 | Film Directors | 4 |
COM 361 | Film Genres | 4 |
COM 365 | Critical Analysis of Media Events | 4 |
COM 370 | Women, Film and Popular Culture | 4 |
COM 431 | Traditions of Digital Media | 4 |
COM 435 | Women Directors: Theory and Criticism | 4 |
COM 443 | Communication and Cultural Studies | 4 |
COM 445 | The Image and the Reality | 4 |
COM 450 | Experimental Cinema: History and Theory | 4 |
COM 455 | Film Theory and Criticism | 4 |
COM 465 | Senior Seminar in Cinema Studies | 4 |
COM 499 | Senior Project | 4 |
COMH 220 | Revolutions in and on TV (Honors) | 4 |
COMH 390 | Ethnicity in Film and Literature (Honors) | 4 |
ENG 249 | Transformation: Fiction to Screen | 4 |
PHL 308 | Film Aesthetics | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Writing for Media and Communication Concentration (16 Credit Hours)
Communication majors declaring a concentration in Writing for Media and Communication must take at least 16 credit hours from the following list. Within these 16 credits, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of those courses must be at the 400 level.
COM 225 | Media Writing | 4 |
COM 226 | Introduction to Scriptwriting for Motion Pictures and Television | 4 |
COM 250 | Practicum in Broadcast Management | 1-4 |
COM 325 | Writing for Broadcast News | 4 |
COM 337 | Corporate Uses of Media | 4 |
COM 340 | Screenwriting I | 4 |
COM 346 | Writing for Interactive Media | 4 |
COM 348 | Writing the Situation Comedy | 4 |
COM 383 | Writing for Advertising | 4 |
COM 384 | Writing for Public Relations | 4 |
COM 440 | Screenwriting II | 4 |
COM 499 | Senior Project | 4 |
JOU 271 | News Reporting and Writing | 4 |
JOU 273 | Practicum in Student Publications | 1-4 |
JOU 371 | Feature Writing | 4 |
WRI 220 | Writing on and for the Web | 4 |
WRI 240 | Writing Drama | 4 |
WRI 247 | Dramatic Writing for Radio and Alternative Performance | 4 |
WRI 285 | Information Design | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Critical Media Practice Concentration (8 Credit Hours)
Communication majors declaring a concentration in Critical Media Practice must complete the two required courses and the requirements in “Theory” and “Form” below.
The following courses are required for the Concentration in Critical Media Practice:
COM 375 | Critical Media Practice | 4 |
COM 475 | Seminar in Critical Media Practice | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Critical Media Practice Concentration: Theory Electives (4 Credit Hours)
Students claiming a concentration in Critical Media Practice must choose at least one course from the list below:
COM 300 | The Documentary Tradition | 4 |
COM 323 | Frontiers of Communication | 4 |
COM 332 | Television Criticism | 4 |
COM 334 | Information and the New World Order | 4 |
COM 365 | Critical Analysis of Media Events | 4 |
COM 380 | Culture, Society and Computing Technology | 4 |
COM 425 | Information Technology and Human Values | 4 |
COM 426 | Public Opinion, the Media and Power | 4 |
COM 431 | Traditions of Digital Media | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Critical Media Practice Concentration: Form Electives (4 Credit Hours)
Communication majors claiming a concentration in Critical Media Practice must choose at least one course from the list below:
ART 210 | Beginning Digital Arts | 4 |
ART 311 | Online Production | 4 |
COM 222 | Media Aesthetics and Creativity | 4 |
COM 241 | Introduction to Sound, Image and Motion | 4 |
COM 303 | Studio Television I | 4 |
COM 313 | Documentary Production | 4 |
COM 314 | Experimental Filmmaking | 4 |
COM 315 | Web Design | 4 |
COM 333 | Studio Television II | 4 |
COM 339 | Mobile Application Design | 4 |
COM 373 | Interactive Journalism Production | 4 |
COM 463 | Multimedia and Installation Art | 4 |
JOU 221 | Multimedia Journalism I: The Digital Tool Kit | 4 |
JOU 304 | Multimedia Journalism II: The Converged Newsroom | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Additional Electives (8 Credit Hours)
Communication majors are required to take 8 credit hours of electives from any list of Communication course offerings, including the courses in categories above and those listed below. One course must be at 300 or 400 level.
COM 250 | Practicum in Broadcast Management | 1-4 |
COM 354 | Internship in Communication | 1-4 |
COM 392-399 | Independent Study in Communication | 1-4 |
COM 446 | Advanced Topics in Communication | 4 |
COM 452 | Advanced Producing and the International Film Market | 4 |
COM 460 | Senior Seminar in Film and Digital Production | 4 |
COM 466 | International Advertising | 4 |
COM 499 | Senior Project | 4 |
COM 583 | Advertising Campaigns | 4 |
COM 584 | Public Relations Campaigns | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Communication Major: Portfolio Review (1 Credit Hour)
During their senior year, Communication Majors must complete a 1-credit pass/fail Portfolio Review before graduation. Students are eligible to submit their portfolio in their senior year.
COMO 490 | Portfolio Reivew | 1 |
Total Credit Hours: | 1 |
All portfolios must include:
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A three- to five-page essay that describes, contextualizes, and connects the works submitted in the Portfolio. The essay should (a) explain why the student has chosen the selected works and make a case for their significance; and (b) explain how they fit or represent the student’s overall goals.
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A writing sample relevant to the Communication field that demonstrates advanced research and analytical skills.
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A work of “media” (e.g., web page, film/video, publication) that demonstrates technical proficiency, mastery of aesthetic principles and creativity.
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A paper or project that demonstrates highly developed knowledge and skills related to the student’s Concentration.
Students who choose more than one Concentration must submit work for each Concentration.
Total Credit Hours: 57