The major in Communication seeks to provide a foundation in communication theory and media criticism as well as expertise in a particular area of communication. All students majoring in Communication must complete the five courses listed in the Core and eight additional courses in one of the three areas of concentration listed below: four required courses and four elective courses. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have declared a major in Communication are required to enroll in and successfully complete the non-credit Media Arts Colloquium during each semester they are on campus or until they have successfully completed at least four semesters of this noncredit course. All students in this major should consider electing an internship before graduation.

The major in Communication enables students to pursue employment and/or graduate studies in a variety of fields including corporate communication, public relations, audio and video production, print and broadcast journalism, professional media writing, and media research and analysis.

Computer Science; ART 222 and 223; courses in contemporary American and/or international history, economics, and political science; and courses in literature from the Departments of Theatre, English, and Foreign Languages and Literatures.

The following courses have has been designated as writing intensive and may be offered as such: COMM 211, 326. Students should check semester class schedules to determine which courses are offered as "W" courses for that semester.

A minor in Communication consists of any five courses offered by the Communication Department (courses offered by other departments count only toward the major in Communication, not toward the minor). One of these five courses must be selected from COMM 326, COMM 348, or COMM 440.

Required for all students in this concentration:

COMM 212 Group Communication and Conflict Resolution
COMM 235 Writing and Speaking in Business and the Professions
COMM 324 Public Relations Cases and Problem-Solving
PSCI 436 Mass Media Law and Regulation

ART 227 Introduction to Photography
BUS 228 Marketing Principles
BUS 244 Organization and Management
BUS 332 Advertising and Promotion
PSCI 210 Communciation and Society
PSY 225 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
PSY 324 Social Psychology

Required for all students in this concentration:

COMM 218 Audio Production for Radio
COMM 223 Basic Video Production
COMM 348 Advanced Video Production
THEA 114 Film Art: Motion Picture Masterpieces

Elective choices for students in this concentration must include at least one additional course in Communication as well as one course at the 300-level or above. Students may elect to take as many additional communication courses as they choose. Elective courses offered by other departments that may be used to fulfill elective requirements in this concentration include the following:

ART 227 Introduction to Photography
ART 343 Computer Graphics for Print Media
ART 344 Computer Graphics for Electronic Media
BUS 228 Marketing Principles
PSCI 210 Communication and Society
PSCI 436 Mass Media Law and Regulation
PSY 324 Social Psychology

Required for all students in this concentration:

COMM 225 The Art of Script Writing
COMM 229 Print and Broadcast Journalism
COMM 323 Feature Writing for Special Audiences
PSCI 436 Mass Media Law and Regulation

Elective choices for students in this concentration must include at least one additional course in Communication as well as one course at the 300-level or above. Students may elect to take as many additional communication courses as they choose. Elective courses offered by other departments that may be used to fulfill elective requirements in this concentration include the following:

ART 227 Introduction to Photography
ENGL 217 Critical Writing Seminar
ENGL 240 Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 321 Advanced Writing: Technical and Professional
ENGL 322 Advanced Writing: The Creative Essay
PSCI 210 Communication and Society
THEA 114 Film Art: Motion Picture Masterpieces

Introduction to the basic theories and principles of communication as they apply to the process of sending messages among individuals, small groups, and mass audiences. Consideration of the ethical issues involved in the communication process. Active learning through readings, case studies, simulations, oral reporting, and library research. Prerequisite: ENGL 105, or exemption.

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Intensive drill and practice in desktop publishing and the basic forms of media writing. Major emphasis on the elements of lead, style, and structure. Designed for students with little or no experience in desktop publishing and writing for the media. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107.

Speaking extemporaneously in a variety of situations to general as well as targeted audiences. Emphasis on researching and solving problems having to do with persuasion and informative speaking. Training in using rhetorical theory to prepare, deliver, and evaluate the student’s own speeches. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107.

Readings, case studies, simulations, and practice in the methods of working in groups and in resolving conflicts within and between groups in various contexts, including education, industry, and professional situations. Contemporary theory and methods for motivating and maintaining the productivity of groups will be examined in some detail. Prerequisites: ENGL 106 or 107 and one other course in Communication (211 recommended), Psychology, Education, or Business.

AUDIO PRODUCTION FOR RADIO AND VIDEO

Study of the principles and techniques of audio production as applied to radio and other media.Consideration of various program formats and the use of sound media as an art form. Includes historical and contemporary examples of audio production and sound design.

BASIC VIDEO PRODUCTION

Training in the fundamentals of preproduction, production, and postproduction for video. Emphasis on mastering the basics of video production from concept to completion. Prerequisites: course work or experience in technical theatre, photography, film studies, and/ or audio production; or consent of instructor.

THE ART OF SCRIPTWRITING

Training in analyzing and writing scripts for defined audiences and purposes. Developing the original screenplay as well as scripts for business, advertising, and education will be considered. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107, and THEA 114; or permission of instructor.

PRINT AND BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Study of form and content of news gathering and beat reporting. Training in researching, interviewing, organizing, and editing a variety of news stories for the Lycoming College newspaper and for campus radio. Considers the ethical issues of reporting for print and broadcast. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107.

WRITING AND SPEAKING IN BUSINESS AND THE PROFESSIONS

Study of communication theory as applied to business and professional settings. Using writing, speaking, research, and the electronic media to solve a variety of communication problems that frequently occur in the world of work. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107.

LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION

The theory and practice of leadership communication in diverse settings and contexts. Classic leadership styles will be examined and researched in regard to how these relate to goal-setting and motivating individuals and groups. Field work on- and off-campus is a major component of this course. Prerequisites: ENGL 106 or 107; at least one of these: COMM 211, 212, or 235; or permission of the instructor. Corequisite (if not already completed):COMS 105 or 106. Alternate years.

Practice in writing a variety of feature stories and editorials for different media and audiences. Study of the ways in which feature writing for magazines compares and contrasts with feature writing for newspapers and feature stories for television. Readings, peer review, and training in how to develop ideas using primary and secondary research. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107.

Training in methods of public relations research, program planning and evaluation, working with the media, writing for public relations and advertising, and conducting a public relations campaign to solve a problem or crisis. Emphasis on writing, speaking, and electronic communication. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107 and COMM 235; or permission of instructor.

MEDIA CRITICISM AND CULTURAL STUDIES: LITERATURE, FILM, AND TELEVISION

Introduction to methods of analyzing popular culture and the arts using one or more of these approaches: textual criticism, content analysis, semiotics, auteur criticism, historical criticism, frame theory, and structural analysis. Comparison of the ways in which different media create values and portray individuals, social conflicts, and human aspirations. Prerequisite: THEA 212 or ENGL 217.

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TOPICS IN MEDIA THEORY AND PRACTICE

Study of communication theory as applied to a special area or style of communication. Readings, discussions, and practical experiences in creating materials for print and/or electronic media. Possible topics include: docudrama and investigative reporting, communicating in cyberspace, creative advertising, instructional television and video. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107.

ADVANCED VIDEO PRODUCTION

Advanced production of documentary, narrative, and experimental video. Exploration of a variety of approaches to motivating talent and directing for the camera. Prerequisite: COMM 223 and THEA 114, or advanced course work in acting and directing, or consent of instructor.

MEDIA ARTS COLLOQUIUM

A seminar in which faculty, students, and invited professionals meet two or three times each semester to discuss topics pertaining to the field of communication and to the work students are doing in campus media. Each student enrolled in the seminar is required to keep a log and to work for a minimum of three hours each week in one or more of the following: campus newspaper; campus yearbook; campus radio; campus television; public relations; corporate communication. Open only to majors. Non-credit and Pass/Fail. Once the major is declared, students are required to enroll in the seminar each semester until they graduate or until they have successfully completed four semesters, whichever comes first.

PRACTICUM

An elective for junior and senior majors who wish to acquire additional experience in working with practicing professionals. Open only to majors and minors.

SENIOR SEMINAR

Reading and discussion of one or more topics of interest to communication specialists. Focus on preparing individual projects related to seminar topics and the student’s area(s) of expertise for public presentation. Majors are required to enroll in this course either in their junior or senior year. Prerequisite: COMM 326. Open to nonmajors with consent of instructor.

INTERNSHIP

Interns usually work off-campus in a field related to their area of study. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

INDEPENDENT STUDY (See index)

Studies involve research related to the area of study of the student.