Communication and Media Department

Objectives

The Department of Communication & Media consists of two disciplines. The Communication Studies discipline blends the best principles of liberal arts education with the intention to prepare students for a professional role in a persuasively sophisticated, information oriented, working environment which may include, but is not limited to, the areas of corporate and organizational communication, public relations, marketing, and advertising. The Mass Communications discipline is designed to meet the needs of students who select careers in the fields of broadcasting, journalism, film and video production.

The Department strives to help students develop and apply their skills, critical judgments, and imaginations in areas of oral and mediated communications. Students are guided in the use of communicative and creative insights and abilities in ways consistent with high professional purpose, discriminating enjoyment of leisure, and dedication to the welfare of others. The Department intends that students discover and apply the knowledge and skills of Communication Studies and Mass Communication in a humanities context.

Special Facilities

The Instructional Resources Center houses two color television studios, several video editing suites, an audio studio, and film production facilities.

Minors

Six hours of overlap are allowed between the major and the minor.

Advertising: a program focusing on the ways in which persuasion and argument are employed in modern advertising campaigns.

Business Communication: an integrated study of the process of communication with business organizational structures.

Communication Studies: a program designed for students interested in working with people and persuasion in a variety of professions.

Documentary Studies: a program designed for students seeking to study the meaning and the making of creative non-fiction stories in video and audio formats.

Film: a study of film as an aspect of mass media and as an art form.

Journalism: a program designed for students seeking to study the practice and art of Journalism.

Mass Communications: a program for students studying mass media with special emphasis on the electronic media.

Public Relations: a program focusing on the ways in which persuasion, communication, and argumentation are employed in public relations.

Special Minors

Advertising and Public Relations are two minors that are complimentary to the Communication Studies major. They are available only to students who major in Communication Studies. Only one of these minors may be completed by a Communication Studies major.

Requirements for the Majors

Communication Studies: 36 s.h. in Communication Studies, including 3 s.h. each in Public Speaking and Survey of Communication Arts; 6 s.h. selected in Communication Process; 6 s.h. selected in Communication Settings; 6 s.h. in Communication Performance; and 12 s.h. of elective courses.

Mass Communications: 36 s.h. in Mass Communication, including 9 s.h. in core courses; 12 or 15 s.h. in major field; and 12 or 15 s.h. in specialization (Media Studies track, B.A/B.S.. or Production track, B.S.).

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor