Majors | Minors | Certificates

Majors

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.

Media and Journalism BA (Large Plan and Small Plan)

This major trains 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.

Public Relations BA

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. Students must complete the communication foundation courses prior to acceptance into the public relations major.

Minors

Advertising Minor

The minor in advertising develops competence in advertising planning, production, and distribution. Students majoring in majors within the department are encouraged to take the advertising minor. However, it must be done in addition to the requirements of the majors, and does not qualify as an outside minor.

Communication Minor

The communication minor introduces students to the study of communication within a modern social and cultural context. Students in teacher education must meet with the department chair and the certification director to determine the course of study necessary for endorsement.

Journalism Minor

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.

Non-Profit Organization Management Minor

The minor in non-profit organization management is an interdisciplinary minor designed 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 minor provides practical, hands-on skills as well as discussion of the issues facing non-profit organizations.

Organizational Communication Minor

The minor in organizational communication is designed to complement a broad spectrum of majors leading to careers in government, education, social and community services. Emphasis is placed on an understanding of the basic nature of communication in organizations, and on the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for effective communication in organizations at the interpersonal small group, and public (large group) levels.

Certificates

Entertainment and Lifestyle Writing Certificate

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 Central News Watch) 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 Certificate

The certificate in non-profit organization administration is an interdisciplinary approach designed 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.

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