COURSE CURRICULUM

The Communication major requires students to complete a comprehensive set of core and foundation courses designed to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for careers in media, public relations, advertising, and related fields. As part of the liberal arts core, students take courses such as Beginning Photography or Survey of Film I and Mass Media & Society, ensuring a strong grounding in both artistic and social perspectives. The Art and Communication Foundations, totaling 30 to 33 credit hours, include Digital Citizenship, Digital Media Design Software, Principles of Shooting & Lighting, Principles of Advertising, Principles of Editing & Audio, Public Relations Concepts, and Composition II: Rhetorical Argument, all of which require a minimum grade of “C.” Students also complete a capstone experience through an internship (AR 495 or CO 495) and the Senior Seminar (CO 499), providing hands-on professional practice and integrative learning. Additionally, the communications core requirements include courses such as Issues in Media Law or Legal Aspects of Business I and Communication Theory, equipping students with critical understanding of media ethics, law, and theoretical frameworks. To tailor their education to specific career goals, students choose one concentration, allowing them to focus on areas such as media production, strategic communication, or organizational communication, ensuring they graduate with both specialized expertise and broad communicative competence for the modern workforce.