2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog

Communication Studies Major

CIP Code

09.0100

The Communication Studies (CS) major, with concentrations in Advertising Media/Public Relations and Sports Media, is a distinct major that moves SHU students through a unique educational pathway. With its emphasis on media production and the cultural and critical interrogation of the media, the CS major produces graduates who are ethically aware content creators across multiple media platforms. CS majors are socially responsible twenty-first-century digital citizens who explore the intersection of media and culture and specifically the role of sports, advertising, and public relations in society. As part of this major, students produce in-depth presentations, campaigns, and written work in addition to finishing with a capstone project that showcases both their production skills and their critical thinking ability.

Communication Studies majors acquire the knowledge and technical skill to pursue careers in public relations, advertising, and sports media and develop a theoretical, aesthetic, and historical understanding of the professional communication field.

The major in Communication Studies consists of 48 credit hours, including 10 required courses and 18 elective credits. Students may choose either the Advertising Media/Public Relations concentration or the Sports Media concentration as follows:

Program Requirements

Required Courses for Major in Communication Studies

CM 101Introduction to Media Culture

3

CM 102Introduction to Media Production

3

CM 230Digital Publications

3

CM 258Social Media Strategy

3

CM 301Advanced Seminar in Communication

3

CM 397/398Senior Project I and II

3 CR each

Required Courses for Advertising Media/Public Relations Concentration

CM 126History of Advertising & Public Relations

3

 

CM 211News Writing & Reporting I

3

or

CM 256Magazines & Body Image

3

or

CM 257Women & Advertising

3

 

CM 227Advertising & PR Writing

3

Required Courses for Sports Media Concentration

CM 211News Writing & Reporting I

3

or

CM 271TV News Production I

3

or

CM 300Special Topics in Multimedia Production

3

 

CM 252Sport, Communication & Culture

3

CM 272/372Sports Broadcasting I and II

3 CR each

In addition, six (6) CMS electives are required of all Communication Studies Majors.

Three (3) of these must be in media production courses and three (3) must be in media history or theory.

Production (Choose Three)

CM 221Digital Film & Video Production I

3

CM 222/322Television Studio Production I and II

3 CR each

CM 223Digital Photography I

3

CM 224Democratic Technologies

3

CM 225Multimedia Field Production

3

CM 226Magazine Production I

3

CM 326Magazine Production II

3

CM 227Advertising & PR Writing

3

CM 228Radio Production: Journalism/Podcasting

3

CM 229Photojournalism

3

CM 241Comics & Animation

3

CM 271TV News Production I

3

CM 272/372Sports Broadcasting I and II

3 CR each

CM 273Television & New Media Journalism

3

CM 275DVD Authoring

3

CM 276Digital Editing

3

CM 277Screenwriting

3

CM 278Broadcast News Reporting

3

CM 300Special Topics in Multimedia Production

3

CM 311News Writing & Reporting II

3

CM 325Visual FX & Motion Graphics

3

CM 396Internship

1-6

History and Theory (Choose Three)

CM 121History of Film I

3

CM 122History of Film II

3

CM 123History of Film III

3

CM 124History of Broadcasting

3

CM 125History of Journalism

3

CM 126History of Advertising & Public Relations

3

CM 212Media Literacy

3

CM 251Studies in Self-Help Books

3

CM 253Digital Culture

3

CM 254Media & Democracy

3

CM 255History of Documentary Still Photography

3

CM 256Magazines & Body Image

3

CM 257Women & Advertising

3

CM 299Special Topics in Communication & Media Studies

3

CM 351Women in Film & Television

3

CM 352Documentary Film/Television

3

CM 353National Cinemas

3

CM 354Film & Television Genres

3

CM 355Film & Television Directors

3