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Communication Arts—Bachelor of Arts

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Website: Department of Communication Arts

College/School: School of Media and Design 

Apply to UIW: Application for the Bachelor of Arts in Communications Arts program

Concentrations: Film · Media and Culture · Multimedia · Strategic and Corporate Communication

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts program at UIW uses a unique blend of theory-driven and experienced-based classes where students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in today’s changing media world. With four different concentrations, our graduates are strongly prepared for a large number of career opportunities such as social media specialist, broadcast journalist, event planner, filmmaker, public relations specialist, teacher, videographer, bilingual journalist, and marketing & advertising specialist, among others. The goals of the program are to cultivate students’ imagination and creativity through mastery of technical skills needed to become effective professionals in the field of communications: to create an environment fostering the exploration of diverse perspectives and encourages students to use their skills and resources to serve their community and society, so that they are prepared to participate confidently, ethically, and competently as concerned and enlightened citizens.

Through its unique blend of theory-driven and experience-based classes, students of the Communication Arts program gain both scholarly perspective and insight as well as the skill proficiency that can help them launch careers as anything from journalists and traditional media professionals, to organizational communications managers, to digital and emerging media specialists.

The goals of the program are to cultivate students' imagination and creativity through mastery of technical skills needed to become effective professionals in the field of communications; to create an environment fostering the exploration of diverse perspectives and encourages students to use their skills and resources to serve their community and society, so that they are prepared to participate confidently, ethically and competently as concerned and enlightened citizens.

Practical skill development is a critical part of the Communication Arts program and students can develop their broadcasting skills through UIWTV and KUIW radio, and strengthen their writing and journalism skills through the Logos, the student-run newspaper. Students also have the opportunity to meet like-minded peers and grow their developing networks through student organizations like Lambda Pi Eta, the Communications Honor Society.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts Degree Plan

Students may complete the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts degree program in one of four concentrations: Film, Media and Culture, Multimedia, and Strategic and Corporate Communication. Each program concentration requires a minimum of 122 credit hours to complete. 

Film Concentration

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts with a concentration in Film requires a minimum of 122 credit hours to complete.

UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum

UIW core coursework is required. Review The Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.

 

UIW Core Curriculum 
 Composition and Rhetoric  6 credit hours 
 Literature and Art 6 credit hours 
 Science and Mathematics 7 credit hours 
 History and Behavioral Science 6 credit hours 
 Philosophy and Religion  9 credit hours 
 Second Language  6 credit hours 
 Wellness and Physical Education  3 credit hours
  43 total core credit hours
   
 Community Service  45 clock hours (non-credit) 

Total Credit Hours:43

Communication Arts Core Coursework

43 credit hours of Communication Arts core coursework is required.

COMM 1100Orientation to Communication Arts

1
COMM 1301Introduction to Mass Communication

3
COMM 1305Digital Literacy

3
COMM 1311Public Speaking

3
COMM 2315Writing for the Media

3
COMM 3310Theories of Communication

3
COMM 3317Diversity in the Media

3
COMM 3320Aesthetics of Vision and Sound

3
COMM 3332Rhetorical Criticism

3
COMM 3365Multimedia Design and Production

3
COMM 4315Media Ethics

3
COMM 4328Internship

3
COMM 4332Law and the Media

3
COMM 4372Interpersonal Communications

3
COMM 4390Senior Portfolio

3
Total Credit Hours:43

Film Concentration Coursework

COMM 1320Editing for Film

3
COMM 2320Audio Production I

3
COMM 2350Film History I

3
COMM 3325Writing the Script

3
COMM 3350Screenwriting

3
COMM 3381Digital FIlm Production I

3
COMM 3382Digital Film Production II

3
COMM 4322Seminar in Selected Film Topics

3
COMM 4327Auteur Study

3
COMM 4330Cinematography and Lighting

3
COMM 4351Advanced Digital Editing and Production

3
COMM 4358Producing and Directing Seminar

3
Total Credit Hours:36

Media and Culture Concentration

UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum

UIW core coursework is required. Review The Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.

 

UIW Core Curriculum 
 Composition and Rhetoric  6 credit hours 
 Literature and Art 6 credit hours 
 Science and Mathematics 7 credit hours 
 History and Behavioral Science 6 credit hours 
 Philosophy and Religion  9 credit hours 
 Second Language  6 credit hours 
 Wellness and Physical Education  3 credit hours
  43 total core credit hours
   
 Community Service  45 clock hours (non-credit) 

Total Credit Hours:43

Communication Arts Core Coursework

43 credit hours of Communication Arts core coursework is required.

COMM 1100Orientation to Communication Arts

1
COMM 1301Introduction to Mass Communication

3
COMM 1305Digital Literacy

3
COMM 1311Public Speaking

3
COMM 2315Writing for the Media

3
COMM 3310Theories of Communication

3
COMM 3317Diversity in the Media

3
COMM 3320Aesthetics of Vision and Sound

3
COMM 3332Rhetorical Criticism

3
COMM 3365Multimedia Design and Production

3
COMM 4315Media Ethics

3
COMM 4328Internship

3
COMM 4332Law and the Media

3
COMM 4372Interpersonal Communications

3
COMM 4390Senior Portfolio

3
Total Credit Hours:43

Media and Culture Concentration Coursework

18 credit hours of Media and Culture courses are required for this concentration.

COMM 2316Introduction to Media and Culture

3
COMM 3384Seminar: Media and Culture

3
COMM 4305Communications, Technology, and Society

3
COMM 4322Seminar in Selected Film Topics

3
COMM 4325Global Media Studies

3
COMM 4381Seminar: Issues in Cultural Communcation

3
Total Credit Hours:18

Required English Coursework

ENGL 2365Professional and Technical Communication

3
Total Credit Hours:3

General or Communication Elective Coursework

15 credit hours of COMM electives or General Electives are required.

Total Credit Hours:15

Multimedia Concentration

Designed for students hoping to pursue careers in media, the Bachelor of Arts in Communications Arts—Multimedia Concentration offers three tracks through which they may tailor their studies. Each track offers courses that sharpen practical and technical skills while also emphasizing production and media theory. Students will also work and build from a strong ethical foundation and approach to media production and presentation.

Multimedia concentration tracks:

Convergent Media

Journalism

Production

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts with a concentration in Multimedia requires a minimum of 122 credit hours to complete.

UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum

UIW core coursework is required. Review The Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.

 

UIW Core Curriculum 
 Composition and Rhetoric  6 credit hours 
 Literature and Art 6 credit hours 
 Science and Mathematics 7 credit hours 
 History and Behavioral Science 6 credit hours 
 Philosophy and Religion  9 credit hours 
 Second Language  6 credit hours 
 Wellness and Physical Education  3 credit hours
  43 total core credit hours
   
 Community Service  45 clock hours (non-credit) 

Total Credit Hours:43

Communication Arts Core Coursework

43 credit hours of Communication Arts core coursework is required.

COMM 1100Orientation to Communication Arts

1
COMM 1301Introduction to Mass Communication

3
COMM 1305Digital Literacy

3
COMM 1311Public Speaking

3
COMM 2315Writing for the Media

3
COMM 3310Theories of Communication

3
COMM 3317Diversity in the Media

3
COMM 3320Aesthetics of Vision and Sound

3
COMM 3332Rhetorical Criticism

3
COMM 3365Multimedia Design and Production

3
COMM 4315Media Ethics

3
COMM 4328Internship

3
COMM 4332Law and the Media

3
COMM 4372Interpersonal Communications

3
COMM 4390Senior Portfolio

3
Total Credit Hours:43

Required English Coursework

ENGL 2365Professional and Technical Communication

3
Total Credit Hours:3

General Elective Coursework

Elective credit hours are required as needed to fulfill the 122 credit hour program requirement.

Multimedia Concentration Coursework

In addition to 15 credit hours of Multimedia core courses, students select from among the Production, Journalism, and Creative Publishing tracks, completing 12 hours from the listed COMM courses for that track AND 6 hours of additional COMM electives or General Electives. ENGL 2365, Professional and Technical Communication, is also required.

COMM 2320Audio Production I

3
COMM 2354Journalism I

3
COMM 3381Digital FIlm Production I

3
COMM 4347Social Media

3
And
COMM 3355Publications Practicum

3
Or
COMM 3390Radio Practicum

3
Or
COMM 3395Television Practicum

3
Total Credit Hours:15

 

Convergent Media Track Coursework

Choose 12 credit hours from this list of courses.

COMM 3313Event Planning

3
COMM 4340Design, Layout and Print Production

3
COMM 4343Convergent Media

3
COMM 4349Digital Publishing

3
COMM 4399Selected Topics in Communication Arts

3
Total Credit Hours:12

 

Journalism Track Coursework

Choose 12 credit hours from this list of courses.

 

COMM 3354Journalism II

3
COMM 3353Broadcast Journalism

3
COMM 4343Convergent Media

3
COMM 4348Journalism History

3
COMM 4399Selected Topics in Communication Arts

3
Total Credit Hours:12

 

Production Track Coursework

Choose 12 credit hours from this list of courses.

COMM 3325Writing the Script

3
COMM 3382Digital Film Production II

3
COMM 3386Studio Production

3
COMM 4330Cinematography and Lighting

3
COMM 4322Seminar in Selected Film Topics

3
COMM 4351Advanced Digital Editing and Production

3
COMM 4358Producing and Directing Seminar

3
COMM 4399Selected Topics in Communication Arts

3
Total Credit Hours:12

 

Strategic and Corporate Communication Concentration

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts—Strategic and Corporate Communication Concentration uses a unique blend of theory-driven and experienced-based classes where students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. The concentration provides students with an in-depth knowledge of the corporate environment. Students will study and analyze organizational dynamics and corporate communication.

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts with a concentration in Strategic and Corporate Communication requires a minimum of 122 credit hours to complete.

UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum

UIW core coursework is required. Review The Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.

 

UIW Core Curriculum 
 Composition and Rhetoric  6 credit hours 
 Literature and Art 6 credit hours 
 Science and Mathematics 7 credit hours 
 History and Behavioral Science 6 credit hours 
 Philosophy and Religion  9 credit hours 
 Second Language  6 credit hours 
 Wellness and Physical Education  3 credit hours
  43 total core credit hours
   
 Community Service  45 clock hours (non-credit) 

Total Credit Hours:43

Communication Arts Core Coursework

43 credit hours of Communication Arts core coursework is required.

COMM 1100Orientation to Communication Arts

1
COMM 1301Introduction to Mass Communication

3
COMM 1305Digital Literacy

3
COMM 1311Public Speaking

3
COMM 2315Writing for the Media

3
COMM 3310Theories of Communication

3
COMM 3317Diversity in the Media

3
COMM 3320Aesthetics of Vision and Sound

3
COMM 3332Rhetorical Criticism

3
COMM 3365Multimedia Design and Production

3
COMM 4315Media Ethics

3
COMM 4328Internship

3
COMM 4332Law and the Media

3
COMM 4372Interpersonal Communications

3
COMM 4390Senior Portfolio

3
Total Credit Hours:43

Strategic and Corporate Communication Concentration Coursework

Students are required to complete the 18 hours of Strategic and Corporate Communication courses listed below AND 15 hours of COMM electives or General Electives AND ENGL 2365, Professional and Technical Communication. 

COMM 4347Social Media

3
COMM 3375Corporate Communication

3
COMM 3383Organizational Dynamics and Leadership

3
COMM 3385Strategic Communication

3
COMM 4380Critical Issues and Crucial Conversations

3
And
COMM 3355Publications Practicum

3
Or
COMM 3390Radio Practicum

3
Or
COMM 3395Television Practicum

3
Total Credit Hours:18

Required English Coursework

ENGL 2365Professional and Technical Communication

3
Total Credit Hours:3

General or Communication Elective Coursework

Elective credit hours are required as needed to fulfill the 122 credit hour program requirement.

Total Credit Hours:15