Communication

Associate in Arts

Communication

spring-registration-calloutThe Communication degree helps prepare students to work in the communication industry or to successfully transfer to four-year schools. The program provides opportunities to learn about careers within communication including television, radio, film, public relations, recordings, magazines, publishing, advertising, newspapers, and new media. Courses in the program are taught from a real-world perspective and emphasize the development of strong writing skills, one of the most important ingredients to success in the communication field.  Students choose a specialization within the Communication degree following one of three tracks: Creative Writing, Journalism/Public Relations, or Radio/Television/Film. Students may also gain additional real-world experience by taking an optional three-credit internship in communication with Communication Fieldwork (COMM295).

For more information, contact faculty advisor, Keith Forrest or contact department chair, Dr. Augustine Nigro.

Upon completion of the Communication program, students will be able to:

  • Appraise the media’s influence on politics, purchases, entertainment, and how it affects the culture in shaping beliefs and attitudes;
  • Apply the public relations process to planning, research, writing and analysis;
  • Demonstrate proficiency in oral and human communication by applying audience analysis, listening, and other techniques to real-world exchanges;
  • Create effective journalistic and creative writing works utilizing industry techniques and procedures.

    View Communication Advising Guide

Program requirements
Courses Credits
GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES - 38 credits
When a General Education course is not specified, refer to the list of approved General Education courses.
Communication (9 credits)  
    ENGL101-Composition I
3
    ENGL102-Composition II
3
    COMM120-Public Speaking
3
Mathematics-Science-Technology (8 credits)  
    MATH220-Statistical Methods
4
    General Education Science course
4
Social Science (6 credits)  
    PSYC101-General Psychology
3
    SOCL101-Principles of Sociology
3
Humanities (6 credits)  
    Choose two: ENGL201, ENGL202, ENGL205, ENGL206, ENGL213, ENGL214 
6
History (6 credits)  
    Choose two General Education History courses
6
Diversity (3 credits)  
    Choose ANTH103, ENGL201, ENGL202, GEOG102, GEOG110, HIST210, PHIL105, PHIL/RELG111
3
TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION CREDITS
38
PROGRAM COURSES - 18 credits
    Program Requirements (9 credits)
    COMM103-Introduction to Mass Media
3
    COMM104-Introduction to Public Relations
3

    Arts Course (Choose one): ARTS103, ARTS108, ARTS109, ARTS115, DANC170, MUSC100 or THEA110

3

    Program Electives (9 credits)

    Choose a Track:
(Before selecting a sequence, meet with your advisor to ensure your choice aligns with your academic goals.)

9

    CREATIVE WRITING TRACK 

    COMM220-Creative Writing I and COMM221-Creative Writing II

    Choose: COMM205-Television History, COMM207-Popular Music & Radio History, or COMM208-Film History

    JOURNALISM/PUBLIC RELATIONS TRACK 

    COMM209-Journalism I and COMM211-Journalism II

    Choose: COMM205-Television History, COMM207-Popular Music & Radio History, or COMM208-Film History

    RADIO/TELEVISION/FILM TRACK 

    COMM205-Television History and COMM208-Film History

    COMM207-Popular Music & Radio History

TOTAL PROGRAM & TRACK CREDITS
18

FREE ELECTIVES - 4 credits
Choose any college-level course(s)

4
Technological Competency: 0-4 Credits
(Is fulfilled with CISM125 or CISM132, testing or reviewed departmental portfolio)
 
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE:
60
(COMC) EFFECTIVE FALL 2023  

RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE OF COURSES FOR EACH TRACK:

CREATIVE WRITING TRACK - Recommended Sequence of Courses

Recommended Sequence of Courses-Creative Writing Track
Course Code Course Name Course Credits

CREATIVE WRITING TRACK

Recommended Sequence of Courses

First Semester

 (16 credits)

COMM103

Introduction to Mass Media

3

COMM120

Public Speaking

3

ENGL101

Composition I

3

MATH220

Statistical Methods

4

PSYC101

General Psychology

3

Second Semester  

 (16 credits)

COMM104

Introduction to Public Relations

3

ENGL102

Composition II

3

Choose

COMM205, COMM207, or COMM208

3

Choose

General Education Science course

4

Choose

General Education History course

3

Third Semester  

 (15 credits)

COMM220

Creative Writing I

3

Choose

General Education History course

3

Choose

ANTH103, ENGL201, ENGL202 GEOG102, GEOG110, HIST210, PHIL105, or PHIL111

3

Choose

ENGL201, ENGL202, ENGL205, ENGL206, ENGL213, ENGL214

3

Choose

ARTS103, ARTS108, ARTS109, ARTS115, DANC170, MUSC100 or THEA110

3

Fourth Semester   (13 credits)

COMM221

Creative Writing II

3

SOCL101

Principles of Sociology

3

Choose

ENGL201, ENGL202, ENGL205, ENGL206, ENGL213, ENGL214

3

Choose

Free elective(s)

4

JOURNALISM TRACK - Recommended Sequence of Courses

sequence of courses
Course Code Course Name Course Credits

First Semester

 (16 credits)

COMM103

Introduction to Mass Media

3

COMM120

Public Speaking

3

ENGL101

Composition I

3

PSYC101

General Psychology

3

MATH220

Statistical Methods

4

Second Semester

 (16 credits)

COMM104

Introduction to Public Relations

3

ENGL102

Composition II

3

Choose

COMM205, COMM207, or COMM208

3

Choose

General Education Science course

4

Choose

General Education History course

3

Third Semester

 (15 credits)

COMM209

Journalism I

3

Choose

ENGL201, ENGL202, ENGL205, ENGL206, ENGL213, ENGL214

3

Choose

General Education History course

3

Choose

ANTH103, ENGL201, ENGL202, GEOG102, GEOG110, PHIL105, or PHIL111

3

Choose

ARTS103, ARTS108, ARTS109, ARTS115, DANC170, HIST210, MUSC100 or THEA110

3

Fourth Semester

 (13 credits)

COMM211

Journalism II

3

SOCL101

Principles of Sociology

3

Choose

ENGL201, ENGL202, ENGL205, ENGL206, ENGL213, ENGL214

3

Choose

Free elective(s)

4

RADIO/TELEVISION/FILM TRACK - Recommended Sequence of Courses

sequence of courses
Course Code Course Name Course Credits

First Semester 

 (16 credits)

COMM103

Introduction to Mass Media

3

COMM120

Public Speaking

3

ENGL101

Composition I

3

PSYC101

General Psychology

3

MATH220

Statistical Methods

4

Second Semester

 (16 credits)

COMM104

Introduction to Public Relations

3

COMM205

Television History

3

ENGL102

Composition II

3

Choose

General Education Science course

4

Choose

General Education History course

3

Third Semester 

 (15 credits)

COMM208

Film History

3

Choose

ENGL201, ENGL202, ENGL205, ENGL206, ENGL213, ENGL214

3

Choose

General Education History course

3

Choose

ANTH103, ENGL201, ENGL202, GEOG102, GEOG110, HIST210, PHIL105, or PHIL111

3

Choose

ARTS103, ARTS108, ARTS109, ARTS115, DANC170, MUSC100 or THEA110

3

Fourth Semester

 (13 credits)

COMM207

Popular Music & Radio History

3

SOCL101

Principles of Sociology

3

Choose

ENGL201, ENGL202, ENGL205, ENGL206, ENGL213, ENGL214

3

Choose

Free elective(s)

4