Majors, Minors, & Certificates

Communication BA

The communication major aims to prepare students to develop intellectual skills to analytically and critically create, design, deliver, and interpret messages. We strive to nurture students in becoming influential leaders and active citizens who contribute to domestic and global communities as effective and ethical communicators. The program offers the study of applied and theoretical aspects of the communication process in interpersonal, professional, organizational, and intercultural contexts. The communication faculty are dedicated to creating a supportive academic environment for students’ success and providing guidance for careers with a communication degree. Students will be equipped with strong communication skills and knowledge necessary and relevant in various professions.

Media and Journalism (Large Plan)

Media and Journalism (Small Plan)

These majors train students to conceive ideas and collect and present information using words, pictures, video and sound for distribution to a diversity of audiences via a variety of media channels. Students will learn how to research, report, communicate and engage audiences with news and non-fiction storytelling that make a difference in people’s lives. Through coursework and experiential learning in the program’s student media outlets (The Observer, PULSE magazine, CentralNewsWatch), Media and Journalism majors will learn how to produce and deliver content for online, broadcast and print presentation. Students will also understand the ethical, legal, historical and societal environment of journalism and the fundamental role media plays in our social, political and economic systems.

Public Relations

Public relations has become an indispensable part of any organization, company, institution, or government trying to create a body of public opinion to support its mission, vision, or values. Understood as a management function in modern organizations in the corporate world, this same professional level has been adopted by NGOs, non-profit organizations, and even governments and countries as a whole. This new scenario offers plenty of opportunities for multifaceted public relations practitioners with skills in written and interpersonal communication, research, negotiation, leadership, creativity, logistics, and problem solving.

Advertising

The minor in advertising is open to students majoring in all fields. The program prepares students with effective written and visual communication, critical thinking, planning, production, distribution, and research skills related to advertising.

Communication

The communication minor introduces students to the study of communication within a modern social and cultural context.

Journalism

The minor in journalism is open to students majoring in all fields except to those majoring in journalism. This professionally-oriented program provides students with effective written and visual communication skills with a focus on news and feature storytelling.

Entertainment and Lifestyle Writing

The entertainment and lifestyle writing certificate offers students the opportunity to specialize in reporting and writing for the niche market of their choice. Students will take basic reporting and writing courses, then put those skills to practice for one of the student-run media (the lifestyle magazine PULSE, the weekly newspaper The Observer, or the weekly newscast CentralNewsWatch) as well as for their own websites and social media accounts. They will also learn how to pitch and market stories to professional outlets. Upon completion of this certificate, students will have begun the process of branding themselves as experts or go-to writers on the topic of their choice.

Non-Profit Organization Management 

The certificate in non-profit organization management is an interdisciplinary approach to provide an understanding of the organization, financing, and management issues in non-profit organizations. It is designed to complement majors in artistic, advocacy, and educational endeavors. The courses provide practical, hands-on skills as well as discussion of the issues facing non-profit organizations.