Department of Communication

The Department of Communication serves students through a study of communication, incorporating theory, history, and application in a variety of media and non-media contexts. The Department prepares its majors to function effectively as competent professionals with a Christian worldview.

The Department of Communication includes six major programs of study including Strategic Communication, Film & Broadcasting, Communication Arts Education (secondary ed.), Digital & Graphic Design, and Multimedia Journalism. Strategic Communication has two tracks or emphases the student may choose from: Advertising, Promotion and Public Relations and Communication Studies. All these programs have corresponding minors from which to choose. In addition, Photography is offered as a minor program of study. Each area makes appropriate contributions to the following objectives of the Department:

  1. To contribute to the arts and sciences emphasis of the University 
  2. To promote a Christ-centered value system 
  3. To be cognizant of cultural diversity and differing value systems 
  4. To provide professional preparation 
  5. To develop leadership skills in the communication fields 

A student may earn the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree within the Department of Communication. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is available in the areas of Film and Digital & Graphic Design. See the General Education section of the catalog for specific requirements.

Students earning a BA or BS in communication complete a 46 to 50-credit major plus a minor of the student's choice. For the major, the student elects one of the following areas: Strategic Communication, Film & Broadcasting, Digital & Graphic Design, Multimedia Journalism, or Communication Arts Education. Concentrations are available in Electronic Media, Multimedia Journalism and Strategic Communication. A student may combine a communication minor with a communication major to become a comprehensive communication major provided these are not the same area (see next paragraph). Students outside the department may select from any minor in the communication area. However, a Communication Studies minor may only be combined with a major outside of the Department of Communication. 

Students earning a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree in Film or Digital & Graphic Design complete a 70-credit program that includes both their major and minor. No further minor is needed as this is a comprehensive major. Students must receive pre-approval by communication faculty to begin the BFA program. BFA students must maintain a 3.0 GPA overall, plus a 3.5 GPA in the major. Students interested in the BFA should contact their academic advisor by the spring of their sophomore year.

Communication Arts Education majors may earn a BA or BS; however, the major is comprehensive and does not require a minor. The Communication Arts Education major includes a secondary emphasis in English education. When completed, the student will be certified to teach journalism and English in secondary schools.

The comprehensive option requires a minimum of 65 to 68 credits of communication course work. A student chooses one of the five communication majors and a then a minor from one of the six eligible minors in the Department of Communication. The student completes 43 - 46 credits in the major field and 22 credits in the minor field. The student must meet all the requirements of both the major and the minor. The minor must be outside of the student’s major emphasis. Remaining elective credits are selected from the Department of Communication courses in consultation with an advisor. No further minor or concentration is required for graduation. This option only applies to BA and BS students. Communication coursework taken for general education is typically included towards a comprehensive communication major. All incoming freshmen and transfer communication majors are required to take the COMM 100 University Seminar course, which provides orientation to the University in general and to the communication major. COMM 211 Public Speaking & Rhetoric or an equivalent course is required for all communication majors to achieve speech communication proficiency. This and other communication courses may be used to meet the 3-credit humanities requirement in general education.

COMM 205 Effective Communication is a general education course that does not meet major requirements. All communication majors must take COEM 175; however, students entering with extensive video and computer experience may apply for exemption from this requirement. Students who are granted exempt status must still take 2 credits of communication electives as part of the major. Communication elective courses must be 300 or 400 level, except for COEM 232.