BA Communications

BA Communications

The study of communication is vital for our public life as a nation, for our individual careers and for our interpersonal relations. Communication studies empowers students to become effective communicators, resulting in improved social interactions, greater academic success and the realization of career goals.

The program provides technical experiences in the creation of digital moving images, electronic journalism, audio technology, as well as the fundamentals of researching, reporting, and writing, across many media platforms. The project-based curriculum is structured to develop creative capacities in both individual and group work, foster critical thinking, and cultural awareness, helping to prepare students to live in today’s multi-faceted society.


Major Requirements

Course Code Course Title Credits
BDST 406 Intermediate Television production: studio 3
BDST 211 Production Essentials: Audio 3
CIN 206 Basic Motion Picture Production 3
CIN 212 Basic Editing and Sound 3
CMA 210 Media Law and Ethics 3
COMM 201 Cross-Media Communications: Introduction to Critical Models 3
COMM 202 Research Methods 3
JOU 203 Basic Reporting 3
JOU 205 Writing for Radio, TV and Web 3
PR 202 Writing and Editing for Public Relations I 3
BDST 230 Producing: Concept to Audience 3
PR 238 Social Media Tools 3
Required Writing Course - Choose one (3 credits):
JOU 204 Beat Reporting 3
CIN 109 Screenwriting I 3
Required Production Course - Choose one (3 credits):
BDST 246 Web Video Production 3
CIN 224 Video Documentary Workshop II 3
BDST 27 Applied TV Communications Electives - Choose two (6 credits):
BDST 204 Digital Audio Production 3
BDST 225 Intermediate Television: Field Production 3
CIN 204 Major Figures in the Cinema 3
JOU 220 Photojournalism 3
JOU 252 Interviewing Skills for Media 3
PR 236 Marketing for Media 3
Communications Capstone Requirements (6 credits):
COMM 291 Capstone 1 3
COMM 292 Capstone 2 3

Core Requirements

Institutional Learning Outcome (ILO)

Courses

ILO 1: Creative and Reflective Capacities

 (3 credits)

Openness to new ideas, integrative and reflective thinking, investigation, and synthesis of existing knowledge as a way of creating, appreciating, and reflecting on original, innovative work grounded in scientific, humanistic, historical, and/or aesthetic disciplinary knowledge.

ART 101: Introduction to Art

ART 105: Introduction to Beginning Drawing

ART 106: 3D Visualization and Production

ART 131: Pottery and Ceramic Sculpture I

CIN/FIL 109: Screenwriting II

CIN 111: History of World Cinema

CMA 109: Media Arts and Technology

DNC 108: History of Dance

ENG 167: Creativity and Nature

ENG 182: Introduction to Creative Writing

ENG 183: Creative Non-Fiction

JOU 110: Journalism, Media and You

MA 109: Media Arts and Technology

MUS 101: Introduction to Musical Concepts

MUS 102: Music Fundamentals

MUS 110: Introduction to World Music

PHI 172: Philosophy and the Mind

SPE/ORC 105: Public Speaking

THE 100: Introduction to Drama

THE 111: The Art of Theatre

THE 143: Shakespeare in Performance

THE 193: Theatre Research/Performance

ILO 2: Historical and Intercultural Awareness (6 credits)

Recognition of oneself as a member of a global community consisting of diverse cultures with unique histories and geographies.

History

HIS 100: American Civilization to 1877

HIS 101: Perspectives on Premodern World History

HIS 102: Perspectives on Modern World History

HIS 108: American Civilization since 1877

Intercultural Awareness

ANT #: Any Anthropology Course

ART 104: Introduction to Visual Arts

CIN 105: The Art of Documentary

ENG 115: Global Literatures

ENG 132: Shakespeare

ENG 158: American Literature

FRE 111: Introduction to French I

FRE 112: Introduction to French II

GGR 102: Geography and the Global Citizen

HIS 144: Topics in Asian History

HIS 157: Topics in Latin American History

ITL 111: Introduction to Italian I

ITL 112: Introduction to Italian II

MUS 103: Music in Western Civilization

MUS 146: History of Hip Hop

MUS 147: History of Rock Music

MUS 159: History of Country Music

PHI 170: Philosophies of Love and Sex

POL 150: International Relations

POL 161: Introduction to Comparative Politics

SPA 111: Introduction to Spanish I

SPA 112: Introduction to Spanish II

SOC 103: Gender and Sexual Diversity

SOC 135: Global Cultures

SOC 165: Culture and Society

SOC 103: Gender and Sexual Diversity

SOC 165: Culture and Society

SPE 100: Oral Communication

THE 142: Modern Theatre History

ILO 3: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning (7-8 credits)

Competence in interpreting numerical and scientific data in order to draw conclusions, construct meaningful arguments, solve problems, and gain a better understanding of complex issues within a discipline or in everyday contexts.

Scientific Reasoning

AST 109/109A: Introductory Astronomy I

AST 110/110A: Introductory Astronomy II

BIO 120/120L: General Biology I

BIO 124/124L: Foundations of Biology I

BIO 125/125L: The Science of Sustainability

BIO 126/126L: DNA and Human Life

BIO 137/137L: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

CHM 101/101L: Chemistry for Health Science I

CHM 103/103L: Principles of Chemistry I

ERS 101/101L: Weather and Climate

ERS 102/102L: Planet Earth

ERS 103/103L: Oceanography

ERS 125/125L: Environmental Sustainability Science

FSC 100/100L: Introduction to Forensic Chemistry

PHY 103: University Physics I

PHY 104: University Physics II

PHY 120/120L: The Physical Universe

PHY 127/127L: Physics for Pharmacy

PHY 131/131L: General Physics I

PHY 131/131L: College Physics I

PHY 132/132L: General Physic II

PHY 132/132L: College Physics II

Quantitative Reasoning

MTH #: Any Mathematics Course

ILO 4:

Oral and Written Communication

(6 credits)

Knowledge and skill in exchanging informed and well-reasoned ideas in effective and meaningful ways through a range of media to promote full understanding for various purposes, among different audiences and in a variety of contexts and disciplines.  

Written Communication

ENG 110: Writing I – Composition and Analysis

ENG 111: Writing II – Research and Argumentation

ILO 5: Information and Technological Literacies

 (3 credits)

Ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and effectively and responsibly use and share that information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.

AI 105: AI Fundamentals

CGPH 126: Web Design for Everyone

DA 108: Applied AI: Strategy and Innovation

EDI 100: Contemporary Issues in Education

ENG 148: Ideas and Themes n Literature

ENG 173: Writing in the Community

ENG 175: Writing in the Professions

ENG 178: Writing in the Sciences

HIS 107: Engaging the Past

HIS 190: Research Problems in History

POL 100: Research Problems in Political Science

SOC 102: Social Problems

SOC 148: Medical Sociology

SOC 148: Sociology of Health and Illness

ILO 6: Critical Inquiry and Analysis 

(3 credits)

Reflective assessment and critique of evidence, applying theory, and practicing discernment in the analysis of existing ideas and in the production of new knowledge across a broad array of fields or disciplines.

ENG 103: Grammar and the Structure of English

ENG 112: World Literatures I

ENG 113: World Literatures II

ENG 140: Introduction to Literature

ENG 180: Literary Genres

FRE 100: French Cinema

GGR 101: The Geography of Sustainable Development

HIS 104: Topics in American History

HIS 120: Topics in Medieval History

HIS 164: History of Gender and Sexuality

HIS 167: History of Science and Technology

PHI 100: Beginning Philosophy

PHI 163: Philosophy of Art

PHI 179: Social and Political Philosophy

POL 147: Political Psychology

POL 156: Diplomacy and Negotiation

PSY 103: General Psychology

PSY 111: Psychological Perspectives on Teaching and Learning

SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology

SOC 112: Gender, Race and Ethnicity

SOC 126: Sociology of Gender

SOC 161: Sociology of Sport

ILO 7: Ethical Reasoning and Civic Engagement (3 credits)

Evaluation of ethical issues in conduct and thinking, development of ethical self-awareness, consideration of various perspectives, and responsible and humane engagement in local and global communities.

AI 110: AI Ethics and Society

ART 177: High Impact Art

CIN/FIL 103: Major Forces in the Cinema

ECO 101: Microeconomics

ECO 102: Macroeconomics

ENG 150: Empathy and Literature

HIS 116: History of Race and Society

HIS 158: History of Politics and Power

PHI 105: Bioethics

PHI 113: Philosophy and Film

PHY 178: Ethics and Society

POL 101: Introduction to Political Science

POL 102: Introduction to American Politics

POL 123: Political Parties and Public Opinion

SOC 108: Sociology of Youth

SOC 109: Social Movements and Change

SOC 110: Human Rights and Social Justice

SOC 119: Sociology of the Family

SOC 122: American Social Problems/Global Context

SPA 105: The Hispanic World

Course Descriptions

COMM 201 Cross-Media Communications: Introduction to Research Models
This course introduces students to research methods in communications, with particular attention to issues of race, ethnicity, class and sexuality that arise in the media professions today. The goal is to provide a forum for organized discussion and a framework for developing the students' research approaches. Students will work individually or in pairs to create class presentations to discuss and analyze current issues in communications. This leads to them developing critical perspective they can apply to their future research projects. Additional topics include historical, socioeconomic, and institutional influences on media, including print, film, video, radio and online content.
Credits: 3
Annually

COMM 291 Captsone 1
Comm 291 integrates the range of skills and practices offered in the major to prepare the student for work in a range of professions. The first of two capstone courses, this class requires that students demonstrate knowledge of a range of applied communications practices. Working with a faculty advisor the student develops the research and writing plan that will lay the foundation for the project to be produced in the second semester. Weekly faculty/student meetings are required, along with a set of agreed upon goals and deliverables.
Pre requisites: Senior status, B+ GPA in major
Credits: 3
Every Semester

COMM 292 Capstone 2
This is the second semester of the capstone project and is when the media project is produced. This project builds on the research and development done in the first capstone semester. This can be a piece produced in a single media or multi-media formats, and is a major piece for the student's portfolio. Students continue to meet each week with their faculty advisor and develop a work-plan for the production and initial distribution of their media project.
Pre requisites: COMM 291 and B+ average in the major.
Credits: 3
Every Semester

Media Arts Courses
CMA 109 Media Arts and Technology
In this introductory class students analyze mass media and their impact on society and culture. Studies of various media forms and content are used to explore questions about the relationship among media, their audiences and the culture at large. Special attention is paid to new media such as social media and digital games and their implications for social interaction.
Prerequisite of Non-Majors only is required.
Credits: 3
Annually

CMA 202 Mass Media in American Society
This course will introduce the student to ways of thinking critically about media and gaining a historical perspective on the media that surround us. It will stress ways of understanding the relationships among media, society and the individual through the to the present, and how the changes have impacted individuals and groups in society. This course provides an opportunity to think critically and gain understanding of global changes that impact worldwide culture.
Credits: 3
Annually

CMA 204 Media Literacy: Behind the Message
The main objective of this class is to foster an analytical approach in each student to media and to her or his own media consumption. The class will study the technologies and processes that create our media experiences and shape our responses to them, both as individuals and as a society. It will analyze the intentions of those who create and deliver the media content we consume, and the technological and financial choices the media producers make. We can describe this as becoming "media literate". This course gives the student the critical and analytical skills needed to interpret media messages and understand their effects on audiences. This course is an opportunity to understand global trends and gain the tools to analyze them.
Credits: 3
Every Semester

CMA 204H Introduction to Media Culture
Introduces Honor's students to ways of thinking systematically and critically about our mass-mediated culture and how it continues to evolve in the digital age. Critical and theoretical approaches to popular media are applied to a variety of media genres drawn from radio, television, print media and online media. Special attention will be given to social media and digital game paradigms. The aesthetic merits and social influence of media forms are considered. Students conduct several small, first-hand research projects to assess media's impact. Students may take CMA 204H.
Prerequisite of Non-Majors as well as Honors College are required.
Credits: 3
On Occasion

CMA 204H Introduction To Media Culture
Introduces Honors students to ways of thinking systematically and critically about our mass-mediated culture. Critical and theoretical approaches to popular media are applied to a variety of genres drawn from radio, television, print media, online media and digital games. The aesthetic merit and social influence of media forms are considered. Students conduct small first hand research projects to assess media's impact. Students may take CMA 204H if the subjects are different. If the syllabus is the same, a student may only take 204H.
Prerequisite of Non-Majors as well as Honors College are required.
Credits: 3
Annually

CMA 210 Media Law and Ethics
This course is an opportunity for students to gain an understanding of the media environment, media law, ethics, its history, its present and its prospects. The goal is to acquaint students with the American Government System, Supreme Court Cases, mass media and their social structures. Case studies lead to discussions about the role of media ethics, freedom of expression, transnational communication and social media worldwide. The class ends with exchanges about future challenges in the field. By engaging in this work, students gain essential knowledge about cultural and global trends.
Credits: 3
Every Spring