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Department of Communications

Faculty

Kat Lombard-Cook, Assistant Professor
Kristina Markos, Associate Professor of Practice
Briana Martino, Assistant Professor and Chair
Erica Moura, Assistant Professor of Practice
Bob White, Professor
Judith Aronson, Professor Emeritus
Ellen Grabiner, Professor Emeritus

Overview

The Department of Communications offers concentrations in:

  • Design
  • Integrated Media
  • Journalism

Joint majors in:

  • Public Relations and Marketing Communications (with Business)
  • Web Design and Development (with Computer Science)

Minors in:

  • Cinema and Media Studies (with Literature and Writing)
  • Design
  • Integrated Media
  • JournalismPublic Relations and Marketing Communications (with Business)
  • Social Media
  • Web Design and Development (with Computer Science)

And, online adult learner Complete Degree programs in:

  • Digital Communications
  • General Studies
  • Public Relations and Marketing Communications.

 

The Communications major 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. Whatever they choose to study in Communications, student learn to meaningfully create content and critically approach the meanings they encounter in the world.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

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.

6. 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 Communications does not offer the designation “departmental recognition.” Instead, outstanding students may be named to Lambda Pi Eta (LPH), the National Communications Association’s honor society for students in communications. Communications also confers several departmental awards each year including:

Department Faculty Award

  •   Jenks Prize
  • Mariana Evans Creel Award in Journalism
  • Public Relations and Marketing Communications Award
  • Graphic Design Award
  • Media Arts Award
  • Visual Communications Award
  • Madfis Award