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An Overview
The study of communication involves the investigation of how messages and media influence relationships, organizations and communities.
Through rigorous academic courses and required internships, communication students are prepared for graduate study and for professional work in communication and media business, social advocacy, and business and social service organizations.
Curriculum
The communication curriculum has three major components:
- Core classes in communication theory, media, public speaking, linguistics, ethics and critical thinking;
- Sdvanced-level courses in a communication concentration along with classes in allied disciplines;
- Integrative capstone seminars and individual internships. All seniors produce a portfolio of their academic and internship work.
Concentrations
Media and mass communication. Courses in media, communication technology, public communication, political communication and persuasion are complemented with courses in journalism, graphic design, photography and electronic music. Students prepare for careers in media organizations and for media and communication technology-related work in journalism, business, public relations and public service.
Organizational communication. Course work in organizational and group communication is supplemented with courses such as management, marketing, administrative theory and public affairs. Career options: corporate training, management and marketing in private, public, health and nonprofit organizations; public relations and corporate communications. This major is also strong preparation for graduate study, including an MBA.
Interpersonal communication. Students usually take courses in psychology, sociology or religion to support advanced classes in interpersonal, health, group and intercultural communication. In addition to graduate work in communication, career options include counseling, personnel, human relations, mediation and social work.
Double majors. Because communication requires interdisciplinary work, many students take a second major in fields such as business administration, English, political science, psychology, sociology and theatre and dance.
Communication minor. A 24-credit minor in communication complements majors such as art and design, business administration, English, history, political science, psychology, sociology and theatre and dance.
New media studies minor. A minor in new media studies combines core classes in media and new communication with courses in art and design, music, the sciences and computer science that emphasize the applications of new communication and information technologies.
Practical Experiences
Communication majors complete an internship in professional settings. Most are through local and instate agencies and organizations. Many students also choose to attend internship programs at the Philadelphia Center, the New York City Semester, the Washington Center and the Urban Life Center in Chicago.
Typical internship positions include radio and television news and operations, newspaper and magazine writing, sales, legal affairs, youth counselling, corporate training, advertising and public relations.
Communication students are also encouraged to participate in student-managed College media: The Almanian, the weekly student newspaper; the Pine River Anthology and Vespine, journals of the arts; the Scot, the College yearbook; and WQAC, the campus radio station.
Graduate Experiences
Alumni have moved on to graduate work at the University of Illinois, the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Western Michigan University, the University of Colorado and Central Michigan University and also to schools of law, dentistry and counselling. Graduates have found jobs in business and public service fields such as marketing, journalism, announcing, technical writing, corporate communication, training, human relations and corporate consulting.
Facilities
A campus-wide network of microcomputers and peripherals provides ready access to the Internet and the World Wide Web. Laboratory resources for multimedia production give ample opportunity to explore the uses and effects of communication technology. Students create and edit multimedia and digital communication projects in the communication laboratory.
