Communications
Area of Performing, Visual & Communicative Arts
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Graduates with a major in communications are expected to 1) demonstrate an understanding of how various media shape modern life, emphasizing the relationship between Christian faith and life; 2) demonstrate the ability to think and write clearly and effectively in their area of expertise (broadcasting, digital media studies, film studies, journalism, and public relations 3) demonstrate a practical knowledge of their area of expertise; 4) demonstrate knowledge of current research in their field of expertise; 5) demonstrate skill in computer applications relating to their area of expertise.
The major in communications may be a B.A. program that requires completion of a foreign language through the intermediate level. The student may elect the B.S. degree that requires CIS 275 and, in the journalism and public relations emphases, MATH 213.
In addition to the 15 hours of core courses, a student must complete 24 hours in one of the following emphases: broadcasting, digital media studies, film studies, interpersonal and public communication, journalism, or public relations.
Additional Opportunities
Washington Journalism Center (WJC)
A cooperative program with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Washington Journalism Center is an advanced, experiential semester in Washington , D.C. Students engage in both classroom instruction and hands-on reporting. The program is designed to cultivate professional news skills and encourage students to think through the implications of being a Christian working in the news media. Students are enrolled as full-time students for the semester and receive academic credit for the program from the college.
Los Angeles Film Studies Program (LAFSP)
A semester-long, sixteen-credit hour program sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. This program allows students to study filmmaking in Los Angeles while doing internships at businesses in the entertainment industry. It is recommended that the LAFSP is taken during the first semester of one's Senior year.
Contemporary Music Center (CMC)
The Contemporary Music Center, located on Martha's Vineyard. Is a semester-long, sixteen-credit hour interdisciplinary off-campus study program that provides a community for young musicians and aspiring music executives to plumb the depths of their creative souls and test the waters of a career in popular music. Designed as an artists' community, the program seeks to develop artists and music executives with a Christ-centered vision for music content, production and delivery. The mission of the CMC is to prepare students academically and creatively for potential careers in the music industry. Both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary in nature, the CMC offers three tracks: the Artist Track, the Executive Track, and the Technical Track.
Communications major - B.A. or B.S. (39 hrs) with emphases
Required core courses (15 hrs)
COMM 101 Introduction to Mass Media: Culture and Religion (3 hrs)
COMM 201 Principles of Interpersonal Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 205 Reporting for Public Media (3 hrs)
COMM 270 Film and Television Aesthetics (3 hrs)
COMM 432 Communications Law and Ethics (3hrs)
Emphases
Broadcasting (24 hrs)
COMM 284 Digital Audio Production (3 hrs)
COMM 323 DV Production and Non-Linear Editing (3 hrs)
COMM 325 Broadcast Writing, Production, and Performance (3 hrs)
COMM 424 Broadcast Lab (1-3 hrs)
COMM 484 Radio Lab (1 hr)
COMM 491 Internship (3 hrs)
COMM 494 Senior Portfolio and Exam (1 hr)
COMM electives (8-10 hrs)
In addition, Broadcast students should take COMM 280-Media Effects on Children and Adolescents as a Social Learning Requirement and COMM 371-History of Fiction Film for their Ethnic Studies credit.
Digital Media Studies (24 hrs)
COMM 323 DV Production and Non-Linear Editing (3 hrs)
COMM 451 Multimedia Production I: History, Theory, and Management (3 hrs)
COMM 452 Multimedia Production II: Design and Production (3 hrs)
COMM 453 Digital Imaging (3 hrs)
COMM 491 Internship (3 hrs)
COMM 494 Senior Portfolio and Exam (1 hr)
COMM electives (5 hrs)
CIS 318 Web Theory and Design (3 hrs)
In addition, Digital Media students should take COMM 280-Media Effects on Children and Adolescents as a Social Learning Requirement and COMM 371-History of Fiction Film for their Ethnic Studies credit.
Film Studies (24 hrs)
COMM 275 Screenwriting Workshop (3 hrs)
COMM 323 DV Production and Non-Linear Editing (3 hrs)
COMM 372 History of Documentary Film OR COMM 373 History of Animated Film (3 hrs)
COMM 470 Film and Television Criticism (3 hrs)
COMM 475 Senior Film Workshop (Directed Studies) (3 hrs)
COMM electives (9 hrs)
In addition, Film Studies students should take COMM 371 History of Fiction Film for their Ethnic Studies credit. Interpersonal and Public Communication (24 hrs)
Required courses:
COMM 102 Speech Communication (3hrs)
COMM 341 Organizational Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 345 Dynamics of Small Group Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 350 Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasion (3 hrs)
COMM 494 Senior Portfolio and Exam (1 hr)
COMM 495 Storytelling (3 hrs)
Additional 8 hours from the following courses or other courses with approval of adviser:
CMIN 276 Homiletics (2 hrs)
CMIN 375 Narrative and Story Telling (2 hrs)
COMM 431 Feature Writing (3 hrs)
COMM 489 Directed Readings (1-4 hrs) Studies (1-4 hrs)
COMM 491 Internship (3 hrs)
ENGL 450 Introduction to Literary Criticism (3 hrs)
HIST 343 History of Biblical Interpretation (3 hrs)
PHIL 321 Ethics or BADM 421 Business Ethics (3 hrs)
PSYC 259 Research Methods in Psychology I (3 hrs)
SOCL 210 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3 hrs)
SOCL 461 Dynamics of Cultural Change (3 hrs)
THEA 141 Fundamentals of Voice and Stage Movement (3 hrs)
Journalism (24 hrs)
COMM 237 Basic Photography (3 hrs)
COMM 316 The Press in Society (3 hrs)
COMM 431 Feature Writing (3 hrs)
Production skills electives (6 hrs) from:
COMM 284 Digital Audio Production (3 hrs)
COMM 313 Desktop Publishing Layout and Design (3 hrs)
COMM 325 Broadcast Writing, Production, and Performance (3 hrs)
COMM 331 Specialty Reporting and Writing (3 hrs)
COMM 335 Editing and Style (3 hrs)
COMM 433 The American Magazine (3 hrs)
CIS 318 Web Theory and Design (3 hrs)
Visual skills elective (3 hrs) from:
COMM 323 DV Production and Non-linear Editing (3 hrs)
COMM 337 Photojournalism (3 hrs)
COMM 453 Digital Imaging (3 hrs)
COMM 456 Graphic Design (3 hrs)
Practicum (2 hrs; must emphasize journalistic content) from:
COMM 481 Print Media Lab
COMM 482 Visual Media Lab
COMM 484 Radio Lab
COMM 485 Multimedia Lab
COMM 491 Internship (3 hrs)
COMM 494 Senior Portfolio and Exam (1 hr)
Note: A student may pursue alternative paths through journalism in conjunction with his/her adviser. The convergent nature of journalism may direct a student to different applications such as print journalism, broadcast journalism, or digital journalism.
Public Relations (24 hrs)
COMM 311 Public Relations Practices (3 hrs)
COMM 313 Desktop Publishing Layout and Design (3 hrs)
COMM 341 Principles of Organizational Communication (3 hrs)
Advanced writing component (3 hrs) from:
COMM 411 Writing for Public Relations (3 hrs)
COMM 431 Feature Writing (3 hrs)
COMM 491 Internship (3 hrs)
COMM 483 Public Relations Lab (2 hrs)
COMM 494 Senior Portfolio and Exam (1 hr)
BADM 304 Advertising (3 hrs)
BADM 315 Marketing (3 hrs)
Communications minor (18 hrs)
COMM 101 Introduction to Mass Media: Culture and Religion (3 hrs)
COMM 201 Principles of Interpersonal Communication (3 hrs)
COMM 205 Reporting for Public Media (3 hrs)
COMM 270 Film and Television Aesthetics (3 hrs)
COMM electives at the 300 and 400 level (6 hrs)
Broadcasting minor (18 hrs)
COMM 101 Introduction to Mass Media (3 hrs)
COMM 323 Digital Video Production and Non-Linear Editing (3 hrs)
COMM 325 Broadcast Writing, Production, and Performance (3 hrs)
COMM 424 Broadcast Lab-Wired (5 hrs)
COMM 484 Radio Lab (1 hr)
Choice of one three-hour elective from the following:
COMM 205 Reporting for Public Media (3 hrs)
COMM 237 Basic Photography (3 hrs)
COMM 284 Audio Production (3 hrs)
COMM 313 Desktop Publishing: Layout and Design (3 hrs)
COMM 331 Specialty Reporting and Writing (3 hrs)
Film Studies minor (18 hrs)
Communications majors with a broadcasting emphasis interested in pursuing vocations in the film industry minor in Film Studies by taking one of two programs of study:
1. Completion of 18 hours of on-campus courses including COMM 275, 323, 371, 470, 475, and either 372 or 373.
2. Admission to and completion of the Los Angeles Film Studies program, a semester-long, 16-credit hour program sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). This program allows students to study filmmaking in Los Angeles while doing internships at businesses in the entertainment industry. In addition, the student must also complete COMM 371 while at Milligan. This course also satisfies the required ethnic studies general education requirement.
Journalism minor (20 hrs)
The journalism minor emphasizes skills and professional knowledge for students who are pursuing majors in other academic areas. This minor would be appropriate for students who have a strong interest in journalism but wish to graduate with a major in another field and for students who may wish to apply their major area of study to writing for publication in non-academic settings such as newspapers and magazines.
COMM 205 Reporting for Public Media (3 hrs)
COMM 316 The Press in Society (3 hrs)
COMM 331 Specialty Reporting and Writing OR COMM 335 Editing and Style (3 hrs)
COMM 431 Feature Writing (3 hrs)
COMM 432 Communications Law and Ethics (3 hrs)
COMM 481 Print Media Lab AND/OR
COMM 491 Internship (total of 2 hrs)
COMM elective (3 hrs)
Photography minor (18 hrs)
The photography minor fits well with numerous majors including but not limited to Bible, business administration, communications, and humanities. The study of photography may serve to foster students' avocational interests as well as prepare them for more concentrated photography studies in the future.
ART 237 Basic Photography (3 hrs)
ART 310 Intermediate Photography (3 hrs)
ART 312 Introduction to Color Photography (3 hrs)
ART 337 Photojournalism (3 hrs)
ART 466 History of Photography (3 hrs)
ART 490 Directed Studies or an equivalent (3 hrs)
Source: 2008-09 Catalog
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