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Department of Communications

Faculty

Cathryn Mercier, Professor and Acting Chair
Judith Aronson, Professor
Kris Erickson, Assistant Teaching Professor
Rachel Gans-Boriskin, Assistant Professor of Practice
Traci Griffith, Associate Professor
Kat Lombard-Cook, Assistant Professor
Kristina Markos, Associate Professor of the Practice
Briana Martino, Assistant Professor
Erica Moura, Assistant Professor of Practice
Bob White, Professor

Overview

The mission of the Department of Communications at Simmons University is to ensure that students receive a rigorous liberal arts education and the knowledge and competencies to prepare them for careers and/or graduate study. The major in communications focuses on generating meaning within and across multiple contexts, cultures, channels, and media. Meaning making and deciphering is central to the work we do, and is the tie that binds together courses distributed across the areas of Design, Journalism and Integrated Media as well as the core courses required of all of our majors. Whether a student is studying journalism, design, public relations and marketing communications, web design and development, or cinema and media studies they learn to intelligently create content and critically approach those meanings they encounter in the world. Our mission is reflected in the core values and competencies we embrace and emphasize for our students.

Student Learning Outcomes

The following is a list of Student Learning Outcomes that are appropriate to all communications majors no matter what they choose to explore.

  1. Students craft clear visual, oral, written, and multimedia content for contemporary communications professions, audiences, and the purposes they serve.
  2. Students work independently and collaboratively developing evaluative, creative, analytic, and professional skills necessary to succeed across or among the evolving fields of communication. 
  3. Students analyze and critique meaning-making practices through the study of communications history and theory. 
  4. Students skillfully employ appropriate digital technologies, tools, and platforms for various communications professions. 
  5. Students demonstrate a knowledge of media laws and an understanding of the responsibilities of ethical and civic communication. 
    Students develop intersectional awareness and appreciation for the ways that cultures, identities, and values shape and are shaped by the media we consume and produce.

 

Departmental Recognition

The Department of Communication does not offer the designation “departmental recognition.” Instead, outstanding students may be named to Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communications Association’s honor society for students in communications.