Department of Communication
The Department of Communication offers major programs in Mass Communication. The Mass Communication program offers academic sequences in Public Relations, Journalism & Digital Media Production, and Communication Studies. This major program may lead to the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree. The department offers minor fields in Communication Studies, Digital Media Production, Journalism, and Public Relations, as well as basic course work required in the general education component in all degree programs.
All sequences in the Department of Communication provide students with skills to pursue careers in their academic disciplines. The areas of study are well suited for students wishing to pursue additional post-graduate study.
The Mass Communication major provides pre-professional communication training, including a core of skills-based mass communication coursework to establish effective writing and research skills, with a liberal arts-based education. Students in Mass Communication learn to gather, analyze and convey information through mass communication platforms.
The Journalism & Digital Media Production option provides students with the writing, production, and theoretical skills necessary for careers in mass media.
The Public Relations option provides pre-professional training for careers in public relations practices or further study in applied communication.
The Communication studies option emphasizes the applied and theoretical aspects of human communication as a social science.
Students are assisted in their career entry with Communication Capstone (COM 420); topics include employment opportunities, resume development, financial literacy and preparation of a professional profile.
Communication majors participate in activities related to their academic sequences through course credit, required internships and extracurricular activities.
A minimum passing grade of “C” is required for all COM courses taken by Mass Communication majors and Communication minors when taken as part of the major or minor program. If a “C” is not earned in a COM course taken as part of a major or minor, the course will not count toward the completion of the major or minor and must be repeated.
