The communications department at Simmons is an interactive, student-centered learning environment that employs a creative approach to communication education led by a faculty of professionals and scholars. Students become lifelong learners committed to excellence. They find a balance between an in-depth understanding of concepts and theory, and the practical skills needed to produce media content in a variety of professional settings including business, education, social services, journalism, broadcast—TV, radio, video, and Internet—newspapers, magazines, public relations, advertising, and design. This balance prepares our students for jobs today— and for the jobs of tomorrow—because they have also learned to adapt to the demands of the rapid changes in technology. Our approach is highly interdisciplinary—collaborating with and within the disciplines of political science and international relations, computer science, art, sociology, and cinema and media studies—and highly experiential. This program of study culminates in advanced coursework and capstone experiences like internships and Studio Five—the department’s student-run, professional communications agency. Each student majoring in communications is required to take 42 semester hours of study in the Department of Communications.
Degree Requirements
The communications department offers a program in Communications, a joint program between Communications and The Business School in Public Relations and Marketing Communications, a joint program between Communications and Computer Science in Web Design and Development, and two Complete Degree programs, which are entirely on-line and geared toward adult learners. The course requirements for these programs follow.
BA in Communications
Communications majors must complete 42 credits in Communications, including 3 required core courses, 2 1-credit technology skills workshops, 4 courses in the concentration, 2 courses outside their concentration, and an independent learning capstone experience.
Step One: Core Requirements
All Communications students take a three-course core:
Step Two: Technology Workshops
All students complete at least two-credits of technology skill-based courses:
| COMM 110 | Introduction to 2D Design Technology | 1 |
| COMM 112 | Introduction to Animation & Motion Graphics Technology | 1 |
| COMM 114 | Introduction to Audio and Video Editing | 1 |
Step Three: Course Distribution
Courses are broadly organized around the areas of Design, Integrated Media, and Journalism.
Students take 4 courses in one of the areas below, and 2 courses distributed in the other two areas. At least two of these six courses should be at the 300 level.
| Design |
Integrated Media |
Journalism |
| COMM 210 Introduction to Graphic Design (S/F) |
COMM 120 Communications Media (S1, S2) |
COMM 181 Public Speaking and Presentation (S1) |
| COMM 230 Design Thinking (S1) |
COMM 163 Radio Operations and Performance (F1, F2) |
COMM 215 Blogging and Op-Ed (F2) |
| COMM 240 - Intermediate Graphic Design I: Typography (F1, F2) |
COMM 186 Introduction to Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications (F1, F2) |
COMM 260 Journalism (F1, F2)
|
| COMM 244 Web Design (F1, F2) |
COMM 224 Storytelling (F1, F2)
|
COMM 263 Social Media Journalism (F2) |
| COMM 246 Digital Imaging (S1, S2) |
COMM 220 Video Production (F1, F2)
|
COMM 310 In-Depth Storytelling (S1) |
| COMM 248 Intermediate Graphic Design II: Type and Image (S2) |
COMM 222 Animation (S2) |
COMM 312 Health Communications (S1, S2) |
| COMM 286 Advertising and Branding (S1, S2) |
COMM 262 Media Convergence |
COMM 320 Media and the First Amendment (F1, F2)
|
COMM 333 Responsive Design (S2)
|
COMM 269 Globalization: InterCultural Communications (periodic travel course) |
COMM 322 Video Journalism (S1) |
| COMM 340 Advanced Design (S1) |
COMM 281 Content Creation and Strategies (F1, F2)
|
COMM 327 Culture of the News (S2) |
| |
COMM 323 Digital Cultures (S1, S2)
|
|
| |
COMM 324 Social Media: Social Listening and Analytics (F2) |
|
Step Four: Capstone
Students choose one capstone independent learning experience in the senior year:
| COMM 380 | Capstone Internship | Variable |
| COMM 390 | Studio 5: A Communication Workplace | 4 |
Concentrations in the Communications Major
Design Concentration
In addition to the Communications Core, Technology Workshops, and Capstone, students take 4 courses in the Design column and 2 in Journalism and/or Integrated Media.
Journalism Concentration
In addition to the Communications Core, Technology Workshops, and Capstone, students take 4 courses in the Journalism column and 2 in Design and/or Integrated Media.
Integrated Media Concentration
In addition to the Communications Core, Technology Workshops, and Capstone, students take 4 courses in the Integrated Media column and 2 in Design and/or Journalism.
Complete Degree in Digital Communications
The Complete Degree program in digital communications provides adult degree completers an opportunity to participate in a high-touch online experience with the values, teaching styles and priorities found in the on-the-ground communications program. This program accommodates, acknowledges, and prepares students for the rapid changes in all areas of communications The combination of required and elective courses that comprise the Communications program, explores the nuances of visual, written, and verbal communication across multiple platforms. As students examine how messages can generate meaning, they focus on honing a vision and voice as a communicator.
Step One: Core
Step Two: Required Courses
| COMM 210 | Introduction to Graphic Design: Principles and Practice | 4 |
| COMM 244 | Web I: Design for the World Wide Web | 4 |
| COMM 281 | Content Creation and Strategy | 4 |
| COMM 286/BUS 232A | Intro to Advertising Practice and Branding | 4 |
| COMM 323 | Digital Cultures: Communication and Social Media | 4 |
Step Four: Capstone Experience
Step Three: Electives
Choose Two: