Curriculum & Courses

The Communications Department focuses on written and visual communication, including journalism, multimedia, public relations, radio, television and video production. Students will explore this rapidly growing field that offers career paths in business or corporate communications as well as the newspaper/broadcast industry and public relations. Emphasis will be given to current technology as well as historical development.

The communications core required of all majors consists of COM 115 or 222, 121, 220, 280-283, 316, 342, 350, 431, 433, and completion of an internship.

Courses required for the electronic track emphasis are COM 110, 124, 222, 310, and 448.

Courses required for the print track emphasis are COM 112, 115, 312, and 323.

Courses required for the public relations track emphasis are COM 110, 112, 124, 225, and 325.

Courses required for the web programming track emphasis are CIS 130, 233, 311, 340, and 442.

A minor in communications requires completion of COM 115, 121, 220, and 342, plus three of following courses: COM 112, 225, 316, 350, or 431.

The bachelor’s degree requires completion of 124 credits, a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a grade of C– or above in all communications core and required courses in the major.

Suggested Curriculum

Print Media (Journalism)

Semester I

Religion 103, (3)
English 101, (3)
Critical Inquiry 111, (3)
News Gathering 115, (3)
Speech 111 or Radio 124, (3)
Wellness 101, (1)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester II

English 102, (3)
Mass Communications 121, (3)
Artistic Expression 120, (3)
Math Elective, (4)
Psychology 111, (3)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester III

History Elective, (3)
Sociology 221, (3)
Visual Comm. 220, (3)
Elective, (3)
Lab Science Elective, (4)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester IV

Religion Elective, (3)
Publication Design 112, (3)
Global Requirement, (3)
Elective, (3)
Elective, (3)
Phy. Ed. Electives, (1)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester V

Mass Media Law 350, (4)
Photojournalism 323, (4)
Internship 395, (4-8)
Total credits, 12-16

Semester VI

Int. Journalism 312, (3)
300+ Level Elective, (3)
Editing 316, (3)
Web Design I 342, (4)
Elective, (3)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester VII

Elective, (3)
Digital Imaging 340, (4)
Internship 395, (8)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 15.5

Semester VIII

Senior Seminar 431, (4)
Senior Capstone 433, (4)
Senior Religion, (4)
300+ Level Elective, (3-4)
Total credits, 15-16


Electronic Media

Semester I

Radio 124 or TV Prod. 110, (3)
Mass Communication 121, (3)
Religion 103, (3)
English 101, (3)
Critical Inquiry 111, (3)
Radio or TV Practicum, (5)
Total credits, 15.5

Semester II

Radio 124 or TV Prod. 110, (3)
Visual Comm. 220, (3)
English 102, (3)
Artistic Expression 120 , (3)
Psychology 111, (3)
Radio or TV Practicum, (5)
Total credits, 15.5

Semester III

Broadcast 222 or Web I 342.3-4 Elective, (3)
Math Elective, (4)
History Elective, (3)
Phy. Ed. Electives, (1)
Wellness 101, (1)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 15.5-16.5

Semester IV

Broadcast 222 or Web I 342, (3-4)
Religion Elective, (3)
Physical Science 151, (4)
Computer Applications I 101, (2)
Sociology 221, (3)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 15.5-16.5

Semester V

Mass Media Law 350, (4)
Elective, (4)
Internship 395, (8)
TV Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester VI

EFP 310, (3)
Web Design II 421, (4)
Global Requirement, (3)
Senior Religion, (4)
Editing 316, (3)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 17.5

Semester VII

Elective, (4)
Digital Imaging 340, (4)
Internship 395, (4)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 12.5

Semester VIII

Advanced Media 448, (4)
Senior Seminar 431, (4)
Senior Capstone 433, (4)
Elective, (3-4)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 15.5-16.5


Public Relations

Semester I

Religion 103, (3)
English 101, (3)
Critical Inquiry 111, (3)
Mass Communication 121, (3)
Radio 124 or TV Prod. 110, (3)
Wellness 101, (1)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester II

English 102, (3)
News Gathering 115, (3)
Visual Comm. 220, (3)
Math 101 (or higher), (4)
Artistic Expression 120, (3)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester III

Religion Elective, (3)
History Elective, (3)
Sociology 111, (3)
Psychology 111, (3)
Web Design I 342, (4)
Phy. Ed. Electives, (1)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 17.5

Semester IV

Lab. Science, (4)
Elective, (3)
Radio 124 or TV Prod. 110, (3)
Intro. to Public Relations 225, (3)
Publication Design 112, (3)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester V

Mass Media Law 350, (4)
Elective, (4)
Internship 395, (4)
Total credits, 12

Semester VI

Editing 316, (3)
Elective, (3)
Elective, (4)
Public Relations Skills 325, (3)
Elective, (3)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester VII

Elective, (4)
Digital Imaging 340, (4)
Internships 395, (8)
Practicum, (.5)
Total credits, 16.5

Semester VIII

Senior Seminar 431, (4)
Senior Capstone 433, (4)
Religion/Career Values 435, (4)
Elective, (3-4)
Total credits, 15-16


Web Programming

Semester I

Computer Applications 101 (2)
Info. Systems Seminar 101A (1)
English 101/106 (3)
Critical Inquiry 111 (3)
Graphic Technology 101 (2)
Mass Communication 103 (3)
Wellness 201 (1)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 15.5

Semester II

Prog. Fundamentals 130 (3)
Digital Technology 102 (2)
English 102/107 (3)
Artistic Expression 120 (3)
Religion 103 (3)
Phy. Ed. Electives (1)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 15.5

Semester III

Math Elective (4)
History Elective (3)
Psychology 111 (3)
Visual Communications 201 (3)
Religion Elective (3)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 16.5

Semester IV

Radio 203 or Speech 111 (3)
Physical Science 151 (4)
Prog. Fundamentals II 233 (4)
Intro to Sociology 221 (3)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 14.5

Semester V

Mass Media Law 441 (4)
Internship 395 (4)
Editing 318 (3)
IS Theory and Practice 311 (4)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 15.5

Semester VI

News Gathering 104 or Broadcast
Journalism 322 (3)
Web Design 401 (4)
Analysis and Design 340 (4)
Artistic Expression 120 (3)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 15.5

Semester VII

Media Literacy 442 (4)
Internship 395 (4)
E-Business Strategies 442 (4)
Global Requirement (3)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 15.5

Semester VIII

Senior Capstone 452 (4)
Web Design II 461 (4)
Senior Religion 435 (4)
Elective (3)
Practicum (.5)
Total Credits, 15.5