Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Department of Communications

The accelerated bachelor’s degree program of study in Communications affords students the opportunity to prepare for careers in what may be the most rapidly expanding field in modern education and society-at-large. Blending traditional liberal arts with specific career-oriented coursework, students are given the foundations, skills, and ethical perspectives to be successful in their mass media careers and to be productive members of society. The combination of scholarly search for knowledge, development of essential skills, and the application of these in society guide the major in keeping with the Mission of the College.

The accelerated bachelor’s degree program in Communications as offered by the School of Professional and Graduate Studies specifically prepares students for careers in the promotional aspects of the discipline, as practiced in business and the not-for-profit sectors. However, course selections span broadcasting, film and video production, performance media, advertising, public relations, sports media, film studies, organizational communications, writing and journalism.

In order to demonstrate a student’s total accumulation of experience, skill, and integrative abilities in the major, each Communications student must submit a final portfolio of print and/or non-print materials; or research and write a final thesis. Thus, graduates of Albertus’ Communications Program are in the position to present potential employers with an actual portfolio or thesis paper that demonstrates their experiential base of knowledge and skills that will set them apart.

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The emphasis in Albertus’ Program in Communications is upon preparing students for positions in mass media and their related fields that are “above the line.” Above the line” positions are executive-oriented, gatekeeping positions. These decision-makers and gatekeepers are professionals, who actually create and influence media, who have both technical and broad integrative skills in the field, and who can work with and manage many different types of people.

Communications is a rapidly evolving field in society. Thus, the Department of Communications is constantly adapting to the changes that this exciting field presents.

Students who complete the Communications Major enjoy many graduate school options that include broadcasting, media, journalism, digital and social media, business, and law.

Potential Careers For Those Majoring In Communications

Advertising Creator, Television News Reporter, Public Relations Practitioner, Corporate Communications Specialist, Sportscaster, Digital Media Management, Radio Broadcaster, Photojournalist, Screenwriting, Sports Media Practitioner, Media Copywriter, Social Media Manager, Lawyer.

Major Requirements: Total of 45 Credits, including 36 credits in core courses, sequence courses, practical applications, capstone seminar and portfolio or thesis. The final 9 credits are taken in required correlatives.


Core Courses (Required of all majors) (15 Credits)

CO 121 Communications Overview (Level A)

CO 131 History of Mass Media

CO 141 Speech Communications (Level A)

CO 151 Writing for the Mass Media

CCO 220/SO 220 Sociology of Communications

Sequences

  • Each major must complete three courses from any one sequence and one of the following (Total of 12 Credits):
  • One course from any different sequence
  • One topics course

A. Promotional Communications Sequence

CO 260 Advertising Techniques

CO 261 Public Relations

CO 362 Persuasion and Propaganda (Level C)

B. Visual Communications Sequence

CO 250 Broadcast Writing

CO 251 Film and Video Production

CO 341 Film Appreciation (Level C)

C. Sports Communications Sequence

CO 202 Sports Marketing and Promotion

CO 203 Sports Writing and Information

CO 301 Organizational Communications (Level C)

D. Digital Communications Sequence

CO 229 Introduction to Digital Communications

CO 230 Internet Marketing and Advertising

CO 326 The Creative Mind (Level C)

E. Topics Course

CO/DR 117 Introduction to Theatre (Level A)

CO 118 Fundamentals of Acting (Level A)

CO 125 Digital Audio Recording

CO 228 Acting for Stage and Screen

CO 232 Films of Alfred Hitchcock

CO 233 Films of Steven Spielberg

CO 234 Gangster Films

CO 235 Magazine Editing and Production

CO 236 Film Noir

CO 237 Photojournalism

CO 238 Mass Media and the Law

CO 239 Broadcast Announcing

CO 240 Scriptwriting

CO 242 Electronic Field Production

CO 365 Writing for Interactive Media

CO 371 Political Communications in the 21st Century

Plus a variety of Special Topics courses (e.g., Writing for Digital Media, Screenwriting, The War Film, Journalism, Crisis Communications Management, Social Media, and other courses as the discipline evolves and as student interest demands.)

F. Practical Applications: Each major is required to complete an internship:

CO 380 Internship (3 to 12 credits) (Letter Grade)

G. Communications Seminar: Each major is required to complete Communications Seminar

CO 391 Communications Seminar (3 credits)

H. Portfolio or Thesis: Each major is required to complete either a senior portfolio or a senior thesis.

CO 392 Senior Portfolio (3 credits)

CO 393 Senior Thesis (3 credits)

I. Required Correlatives: Each major must complete 9 credits in a related discipline in consultation with the Department Chair

The description of Minor Requirements is listed below.

  • One course from the Communications Core
  • One course from any Sequence
  • One of the following:
  • One Topics Course
  • CO 391—Communications Seminar
  • Three courses to be determined in consultation with the Department Chair

Total: 18 credits

Sequence Course Choices

(One may be selected for the Communications major and one must be selected for the Communications minor.)

Visual Communications Sequence

CO 250 Broadcast Writing

CO 251 Film and Video Production

CO 341 Film Appreciation (Level C)

Sports Communications Sequence

CO 202 Sports Marketing and Promotion

CO 203 Sports Writing and Information

CO 301 Organizational Communications (Level C)

Digital Communications Sequence

CO 229 – Introduction to Digital Communications

CO 230 – Internet Marketing and Advertising

CO/DR 326 The Creative Mind (Level C)

Topics Course Choices

(One may be selected for the Communications major and one must be selected for the Communications minor.)

CO/DR 117 Introduction to Theatre (Level A)

CO/DR 127 Fundamentals of Acting (Level A)

CO 125 Digital Audio Recording and Editing

CO 171 Introduction to Political Communications (Level A)

CO/DR 228 Acting for Stage and Screen

CO 232 Films of Alfred Hitchcock

CO 233 Films of Steven Spielberg

CO 234 Gangster Films

CO 235 Magazine Editing and Production

CO 236 Film Noir

CO 237 Photojournalism

CO 238 Mass Media and the Law

CO 239 Broadcast Announcing

CO 240 Scriptwriting

CO 242 Electronic Field Production

CO 365 Writing for Interactive Media

CO 371 Political Communications in the 21st Century

Plus a variety of Special Topics courses

(e.g. Writing for Digital Media, Screenwriting, The War Film, Journalism, Crisis Communications Management, Social Media and other courses as the discipline evolves and as student interest demands.)