Communication Studies Major
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 101 | Introduction to Media Culture | 3 |
| CM 102 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 |
| CM 230 | Digital Publications | 3 |
| CM 258 | Social Media Strategy | 3 |
| CM 301 | Advanced Seminar in Communication | 3 |
| CM 397/398 | Senior Project I and II | 3 CR each |
Required Courses for Advertising Media/Public Relations Concentration
| CM 126 | History of Advertising & Public Relations | 3 |
| | |
| CM 211 | News Writing & Reporting I | 3 |
| or | |
| CM 256 | Magazines & Body Image | 3 |
| or | |
| CM 257 | Women & Advertising | 3 |
| | |
| CM 227 | Advertising & PR Writing | 3 |
Required Courses for Sports Media Concentration
| CM 211 | News Writing & Reporting I | 3 |
| or | |
| CM 271 | TV News Production I | 3 |
| or | |
| CM 300 | Special Topics in Multimedia Production | 3 |
| | |
| CM 252 | Sport, Communication & Culture | 3 |
| CM 272/372 | Sports 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 221 | Digital Film & Video Production I | 3 |
| CM 222/322 | Television Studio Production I and II | 3 CR each |
| CM 223 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| CM 224 | Democratic Technologies | 3 |
| CM 225 | Multimedia Field Production | 3 |
| CM 226 | Magazine Production I | 3 |
| CM 326 | Magazine Production II | 3 |
| CM 227 | Advertising & PR Writing | 3 |
| CM 228 | Radio Production: Journalism/Podcasting | 3 |
| CM 229 | Photojournalism | 3 |
| CM 241 | Comics & Animation | 3 |
| CM 271 | TV News Production I | 3 |
| CM 272/372 | Sports Broadcasting I and II | 3 CR each |
| CM 273 | Television & New Media Journalism | 3 |
| CM 275 | DVD Authoring | 3 |
| CM 276 | Digital Editing | 3 |
| CM 277 | Screenwriting | 3 |
| CM 278 | Broadcast News Reporting | 3 |
| CM 300 | Special Topics in Multimedia Production | 3 |
| CM 311 | News Writing & Reporting II | 3 |
| CM 325 | Visual FX & Motion Graphics | 3 |
| CM 396 | Internship | 1-6 |
History and Theory (Choose Three)
| CM 121 | History of Film I | 3 |
| CM 122 | History of Film II | 3 |
| CM 123 | History of Film III | 3 |
| CM 124 | History of Broadcasting | 3 |
| CM 125 | History of Journalism | 3 |
| CM 126 | History of Advertising & Public Relations | 3 |
| CM 212 | Media Literacy | 3 |
| CM 251 | Studies in Self-Help Books | 3 |
| CM 253 | Digital Culture | 3 |
| CM 254 | Media & Democracy | 3 |
| CM 255 | History of Documentary Still Photography | 3 |
| CM 256 | Magazines & Body Image | 3 |
| CM 257 | Women & Advertising | 3 |
| CM 299 | Special Topics in Communication & Media Studies | 3 |
| CM 351 | Women in Film & Television | 3 |
| CM 352 | Documentary Film/Television | 3 |
| CM 353 | National Cinemas | 3 |
| CM 354 | Film & Television Genres | 3 |
| CM 355 | Film & Television Directors | 3 |