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Communication and Media Studies (CMS)

Assistant Professor: Capo (Chair)
Instructors: B. Brigandi, D. Brigandi, Woods

  • Major: Communication and Media Studies
  • Courses required for major: 12
  • Capstone requirement: CMS 400 or 440
  • Minor: Communication and Media Studies

The major in Communication and Media Studies with a liberal arts base is the perfect choice for students interested in corporate communication, advertising, public relations, management and financial communication, marketing communication, and media relations.

Communication and Media Studies is a member of the Institute for Management Studies. For more information, see the Institute for Management Studies listing.

The program in Communication and Media Studies explores the way media interacts with society and prepares students for careers as publicists, social media managers, advertising specialists, creative directors, entertainment and sports professionals, news analysts, event managers, and for new roles on emerging platforms in digital communication. A strong grounding in theory merges with an emphasis on real-world, hands-on experiences to develop successful graduates who are nimble thinkers ready to take on complex issues faced by organizations, brands, and individuals in today’s dynamic media landscape.

Major Requirements

All students majoring in Communication and Media Studies must complete a total of 12 courses, distributed as follows:

Core Communication and Media Studies Courses
CMS 200  Media and Communication
CMS 324  Public Relations
CMS 332  Advertising

Communication and Media Studies Specialization Courses (select two)
CMS 211  Public Speaking
CMS 221  Event Management
CMS 222  Entertainment Industry Promotion
CMS 327  Sports and the Media
CMS 340  Trends
CMS 349  Political Communication

Digital Media Course (select one)
ART 240  Digital Photography I
ART 243  Introduction to Digital Art
FVA 100  Introduction to Visual Media
FVA 200  Digital Film and Video I

Business Related Courses (select two from different prefixes)
ACCT 110  Financial Accounting
ACCT 130  Accounting and Managerial Decision Making
BUS 244  Management and Organizational Behavior
BUS 314  Business Writing
ECON 110  Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 111  Principles of Microeconomics

Interdisciplinary Electives (select three additional courses)
Electives allow students to explore the business, social, political, and design principles inherent in the field. Students must complete any prerequisites associated with their electives. Electives have been broken down into categories, but students are not limited to any one category. Students may take any three courses from the below.

Students interested in advertising should consider the following electives:
ART 212  Color and Design
ART 240  Digital Photography I
ART 340  Digital Photography II
BUS 228  Marketing Principles
FVA 200  Digital Film and Video I
FVA 300  Digital Film and Video II

Students interested in public relations should consider the following electives:
BUS 310  Human Resource Management
CMS 211  Public Speaking
CMS 327  Sports and the Media
ECON 347  Game Theory
MATH 115  Applied Discrete Mathematics
MATH 123  Introduction to Statistics
PHIL 120  Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Students interested in consumer behavior should consider the following electives:
ANTH 103  Cultural Anthropology
ANTh/ARCH 210  Talking Trash: Archaeology of Everyday Life
CPTR 125  Introduction to Computer Science
ECON 111  Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 220  Money and Banking
PSY 237  Cognition
REL 231  magic and Myth in Popular Culture

Students interested in event planning should consider the following electives:
ACCT 225  Budgeting and Financial Statement Analysis
BUS 238  Fundamentals of Financial Management
CMS 221  Event Management
CMS 222  Entertainment Industry Promotion
THEA 146  Fundamentals of Production Design
THEA 227  Principles of Stage Management

Students interested in political communication should consider the following electives:
CMS 349  Political Communication
ECON 110  Principles of Macroeconomics
PHIL 334  Contemporary Political Philosophy
PSCI 220  Public Policy in America
PSCI 227  Media and Politics
PSCI 316  Public Opinion and Polling

CMS 330 Topics in Communication and Media Studies is also accepted as an elective.

Capstone Requirement (select one)

CMS 400  Communication and Media Studies Practicum
CMS 440  Capstone Project

Minor Requirements

The Communication and Media Studies minor will enhance the content of any major area of study with an additional set of communication skills. Five courses are required: CMS 200, CMS 324, two additional CMS courses, and one additional course that counts toward the CMS major.

200
MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
Focuses on the way brands interact with society using advertising, public relations, social media, and digital content. The course explores how brands work with their customers, their social media followers, journalists, and the community at large to maintain a reputation, shape their messaging, and foster relationships.

211
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Training in methods of informative and persuasive speaking, including formal speeches, impromptu situations, presentations, and persuasion in critical situations. Emphasizes the basic elements of effective public discourse: audience analysis, organization, content, and presentation skills. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107.

221
EVENT MANAGEMENT
An introduction to event planning and management, which includes event design, marketing, operations, logistics, risk, staffing, and finance. Includes planning and management of corporate, non-profit, sports, arts, cultural and mega-events, and conventions.

222
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROMOTION
Traces the music, television, film, and theater industries through the digital age (1980 to the present), the dominance of social media platforms, and the ways the entertainment industry affects society.

324
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Considers the practice, theory, philosophy, ethics, and history of public relations. Appraises the capacity of public relations 1) to inform; 2) to persuade; 3) to cause, maintain, or change events and perceptions; and 4) to foster strategic business choices and decisions through rhetorical means. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 107 and CMS 200, or consent of instructor.

327
SPORTS AND THE MEDIA
Examines the field of media relations as it pertains to the world of sports. Students gain an understanding of how and why sports entities communicate with the media and the public. Using leagues, teams, and players as case studies, the course analyzes written, broadcast, and digital platforms as well as public events such as press conferences, interviews, and the ability to deal with breaking news. Students work to construct strategic communication plans for sports entities that are factual, ethical, and useful.

330
TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES
Study of selected topics in communication and media studies. Recent topics include publicity, social media management, sports media, technical communication, and media bias.. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above or CMS 200 or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics are different.

332
ADVERTISING
Tracing the development of advertising into the broader field of integrated marketing communication, the course examines the concepts of branding, targeting, segmentation, positioning, and creative strategy. Students view and critique prominent advertising campaigns, create their own print and video advertisements, explore the psychology behind advertising, and assess the impact of advertising on society.

340
TRENDS
Students analyze current events and issues to predict the trends shaping the year ahead in business, social media, entertainment, science, sports, politics, and other industries. Prerequisite: two CMS courses or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit with instructor consent.

349
POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
Speechwriting, debate, political advertising, and the role of the press secretary are investigated in relation to political campaigns, elected officials, and political parties in the United States. Prerequisite: One CMS or PSCI course or permission of instructor. Fulfills Domestic Cultural Diversity Requirement.

400
COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES PRACTICUM
Provides students with practical work experience with local companies and organizations. Students work 10-12 hours per week for their sponsor organizations, in addition to attending a weekly seminar on topics relevant to their work assignments. Prerequisites: CMS 200, 324, and 332. Consent of instructor required.

440
CAPSTONE PROJECT
A semester-long project, the focus of which must be proposed by the student and approved by the Communication and Media Studies faculty. Possible approaches include original research projects, papers featuring substantial analysis of topics related to the course of study, the creation of a communication campaign for a real-world entity, the creation of a fully realized podcast or other digital communication project, or another project demonstrating competence in the major. Prerequisites: CMS 200, 324, and 332.

470
INTERNSHIP
Interns usually work off-campus in fields related to their areas of study. Students must apply for departmental and College approval prior to registration to be eligible for this course. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. 1-8 credits.

N80-N89
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Represents an opportunity to pursue specific interests and topics not usually covered in regular courses. Through a program of readings and tutorials, the student has the opportunity to pursue these interests and topics in greater depth than is usually possible in a regular course.

490-491
INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR DEPARTMENTAL HONORS