Communication

William Petkanas, Chair
petkanasw@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 213c, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8255
(203) 837-8912 (fax)

Karen Walsh, Department Secretary
walshk@wcsu.edu

Berkshire Hall 120b, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8250
(203) 837-8912 (fax)

Faculty

W. Petkanas, Chr	E. Davis	K. Lever
H. McCarney	K. Raftery	D.L. Stephenson
K. Wiss

Overview

The Department of Communication employs a variety of resources designed to help students improve their ability to participate in and evaluate the communication process. The department’s curriculum provides a balance of theory and practice that can be applied to personal relationships, business, media and other communication environments.

Students who major in communication prepare for graduate studies and/or careers directly related to: small group interaction in settings such as social service agencies and corporations; media use,creation, performance, analysis and criticism; and related fields that require public speaking and application and/or analysis of interpersonal and public speaking skills.

In addition to these academic functions, the department serves the campus and community by offering interpersonal and public speaking workshops and other programs devoted to improving human communication.

Mission

Consistent with the university’s mission to serve as an accessible, responsive and creative intellectual resource for the people and institutions of Connecticut, the communication department endeavors to provide a thorough, modern education in communication skills and theory that is tailored to the individual student’s background and career objectives.

Objectives

To accomplish this mission, the Department of Communication:

Offers high quality undergraduate programs in communication, theory, performance, TV studio production and interpersonal communication.
Emphasizes speaking, writing, performance and production techniques throughout the undergraduate curriculum to develop students’ ability to understand and deliver appropriate performance and theoretical concepts.
Provides a personalized learning environment for students through faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects and internships.
Prepares students for graduate education in any area of the arts and communication.
Assists students in discerning appropriate careers through diligent advising.
Provides and fosters the growth and development of faculty through research, attendance at professional meetings, and publication and presentation of scholarly work.
Continues to collaborate with media industry professionals in the tri-state area to support professional growth of faculty as well as internship opportunities for students.

Student Standing

Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0, with 2.5 in courses used to satisfy major requirements. Courses with grades lower than “C “ will not be accepted as meeting the requirements for the major, although they may be used for electives.

Lambda Pi Eta

The department sponsors a chapter of Lambda Pi Eta (LPH), the National Communication Honors Society. As an organization, LPH recognizes, fosters and rewards outstanding scholastic achievement in the field of communication. To qualify, a student must be a full-time communication major and have earned 60 credits with 12 in communication courses. S/he must also have a minimum 3.25 GPA in communication courses and a 3.0 overall GPA. Students must demonstrate commitment to the field. Students may contact the department chair for more information.

Degree Programs in Communication

Bachelor of Arts

Options:
Communication Studies
Media Arts
Relational Communication

Bachelor of Science

Elementary Education

Minor Programs

Communication
Broadcast Journalism

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (B.A.)

Requirements:

Students must complete all general education requirements, the courses and credits listed below by option and additional free electives to total a minimum of 122 semester hours, including foreign language and physical education.

Option I: Communication Studies

COM 110 Sight, Sound & Motion

COM 170 Communication Environments

COM 219 Ethical Issues in Communication

COM 290 Communication Theory

COM 390 Research Methods in Communication

COM 495 Senior Thesis

Three courses in one area; one course each in two other areas: 1. Media Production, 2. Media Studies, 3. Rhetoric, Language & Public Address, 4. Relational Communication.

Option II: Media Arts

COM 110 Sight, Sound, & Motion
COM 146 Basic Video Production
COM 230 History of Mass Media
COM 270 Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting
COM 271 Exploring the Film
COM 290 Communication Theory
Three Activity Credits:
COM 275 Radio Workshop or (3 Sem. Hrs.) or
COM 274 Television Workshop
COM 480 Television Criticism
COM 495 Senior Thesis

Two courses in general communication, media and society, production and performance. One course in writing and media aesthetics.

Option III: Relational Communication

COM 170 Communication Environments or

COM 210 Non-Verbal Communication
COM 200 Language and Communication
COM 212 Effective Listening

COM 219 Ethical Responsibility
COM 290 Communication Theory

COM 390 Research Methods in Communication
COM 420 Advanced Interpersonal

COM 495 Senior Thesis
Five courses (15 semester hours) in major electives from approved list.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (B.S.)

Communication Studies Option, as well as the Elementary Education requirements. Students wishing to complete a different communication program must submit a request in writing to the chair of the communication department.

MINOR IN COMMUNICATION

Eighteen (18) semester hours in communication which must include at least 12 semester hours above the 100 level. Emphasis may be on communication; or radio, television and film.

MINOR IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Eighteen (18) semester hours including the following:
ENG 270 Basic News Writing
ENG 333 The Editorial Environment
COM 243 Broadcast Writing
COM/THR 252 Acting for the Camera
COM 270 Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting
One 300-level or 400-Level writing course from among the following:
ENG 340 Public Relations Writing
ENG 335 Fact-Based Opinion Writing
ENG 338 Writing About Specialized Subjects
ENG 442 Text, Image, Desktop Production
ENG 490 Internship/Practicum in Writing

Sample Four Year Sequence Communication Major Options

Notes

First year free electives may be Math or English 100
World Languages requirement counts as General Education Humanities or free elective.
Free electives in the senior year are often used for professional internships.

Communication Studies Option

First Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 161 or 162 Comm Skills

COM 110 Sight, Sound & Motion

General Education - Humanities

General Education Social/Behavioral Sci

Free Elective

Spring Semester (15)

Major Elective (concentration area)

General Education -Humanities (W)

General Education Social/Behavioral Sci

General Education Mathematics, Computer Science

Free Elective

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 170 Communication Environments

COM 290 Communication Theory

General Education Social/Behavioral Science

Free Elective

Spring Semester (17)

COM 219 Ethical Issues in Communication

Major Elective (concentration area)

General Education HPX Fitness for Life (2)

Free Elective

Junior Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 390 Communication Research

Major Elective (concentration area)

General Education-Humanities

General Education Natural Sciences with Lab

Free Elective

Spring Semester (15)

Major Elective (other area)

General Education Math, Computer Science or Natural Science

Free Elective

Senior Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 495 Senior Thesis

Free Elective

Spring Semester (15)

General Education Social/Behavioral Science

Free Elective

Media Arts Option

First Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 110 Sight, Sound & Motion

COM 161/162 Decision Making or Interpersonal

General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences

General Education Humanities

Free Elective

Spring Semester (15)

COM 146 Basic Video Production

Major Elective: Media & Society

General Education Humanities (W)

General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences

Free Elective

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (16)

COM 230 History of Mass Media

COM 270 Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting

Major Activity Credit (1)

Major Elective: General Comm

General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences

Free Elective

Spring Semester (16)

COM 271 Exploring the Film

Major Activity Credit (1)

COM 290 Communication Theory

General Education Math, Computer Science

Major Elective: Production

Free Elective

Junior Year

Fall Semester (16)

General Education Natural Sciences (with lab)

COM 480 Television Criticism

Major Elective: Writing course

Major Elective: Performance

Free Elective

Spring Semester (15)

Major Elective: Production

Major Elective: Media Aesthetics

General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences

General Education Science or Math, Computer Science

General Education HPX Fitness for Life

Major Activity Credit (1)

Senior Year

Fall Semester (15)

Major Elective: General Comm

Major Elective: Media & Society

General Education Humanities

Free Elective

Spring Semester (14-15)

COM 495 Senior Thesis

Major Elective: Performance

Free Elective

Free Elective (2 or 3 cr)

Relational Communication Option

First Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 161 or 162 Communication Skills course

COM Major Elective

General Education Math, Computer Science

General Education Social & Behavior Sciences

General Education Humanities

Spring Semester (15)

COM Major Elective

General Education Humanities (W)

General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences

Free Elective

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 170 Comm Environments

COM 219 Ethical Responsibility

General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences

Free Elective

Spring Semester (17)

COM 200 Language and Communication

COM 290 Communication Theory

General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences

General Education HPX Fitness for Life (2)

Free Elective

Junior Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM 212 Effective Listening

COM 390 Research Methods

General Education Humanities

General Education Natural Sciences (with lab)

Free Elective

Spring Semester (15)

COM 420 Advanced Interpersonal

COM Major Elective

General Education Math, Computer Science or Natural Science

Free Elective

Senior Year

Fall Semester (15)

COM Major Elective

Free Elective

Spring Semester (15)

COM 495 Senior Thesis

Free Elective