Communication Arts Major, B.A.

Director: Liz Atwood

Housed in the Department of English and Communication Arts, the 50-credit CMA major is designed to provide students a broad-based skill set adaptable to all facets of converging media, including print, photography, graphics, video and audio. Students interested in particular specialties, such as journalism, public relations and digital media, are guided to choose history, theory and skills courses that address those fields.

Internships are required and integral to the program. Students have worked at public relations firms, nonprofit agencies, digital and print publications, television and radio stations, museums and other locations.

 

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 50 credits in communication arts at or above the 200 level (excluding independent study) is required.

Required Courses

CMA 100Mass Media and Society

3.0

CMA 201Media Writing I

3.0

CMA 202Visual Media Production

3.0

CMA 207Principles of Speech Communication

3.0

CMA 246Graphic Design I

3.0

CMA 301Media Writing II

3.0

CMA 305Communications Law

3.0

CMA 310Public Relations

3.0

CMA 325Principles of Editing

3.0

CMA 370Student Media Practicum

2.0

CMA 399Internship in Communications

3.0 - 9.0

CMA 470/IMC 470Seminar in Communication Ethics

3.0

CMA 490Senior Multimedia Project

3.0

History/Theory Courses (choose two)

CMA 205Mass Media in the Global Age

3.0

CMA 204Media History

3.0

CMA 209Mass Media and Revolution

3.0

CMA 222The Art of Skepticism

3.0

CMA 270AAlfred Hitchcock: Master of Suspense

3.0

CMA 270BReel Journalism

3.0

CMA 270CAmerica's Great Film Comedies

3.0

CMA 280Screen Craft

3.0

CMA 282History of American Film

3.0

CMA 290Sports Media and American Culture

3.0

CMA 312Introduction to Communication Research

3.0

CMA 350Television in America

3.0

Skills Courses (choose two)

ARCA 322Photojournalism

3.0

CMA 227Podcasting

3.0

CMA 281Introduction to Screenwriting

3.0

CMA 302Visual Media Production II

3.0

CMA 303Reporting for the Media

3.0

CMA 306Business Writing in the Digital Age

3.0

CMA 313Writing for Public Relations

3.0

CMA 316Event Planning

3.0

CMA 320Broadcast Writing and Reporting

3.0

CMA 336Graphic Design II

3.0

CMA 436Graphic Design III

3.0

CMA 402Visual Media Production III

3.0

CMA 410Crisis Communication

3.0

CMA 411Public Relations Campaigns

3.0

Electives

Depending on the topic, CMA 299 may count toward the History/Theory or Skills requirement for the major. Please see the program director for more information. 
CMA 299Special Topics in Communication Arts

1.0 - 3.0

CMA 375Independent Study

1.0 - 3.0