Mar 28, 2024  
Fitchburg State University 2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Fitchburg State University 2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Professional Communication Concentration, Communications Media, B.S.


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Communications Media


Chairperson
   
Mary Baker    
Professors
Associate Professors
Assistant Professors
Robert Carr Mary Baker Jonathan Amakawa
Robert Harris Cap Corduan Kevin McCarthy
Randy Howe Stephen Goldstein Kyle Moody
Jon Krasner M. Zachary Lee Les Nelken
Peter Laytin Viera Lorencova Britton Snyder
Richard McElvain Donald Tarallo, Jr. John (J.J.) Sylvia
Kelly Morgan Samuel Tobin  
Ann Mrvica    
Wayne Munson    
Charles Roberts    
Charles Sides    
Jeffrey Warmouth    
     

Objectives for the Program in Communications Media

The Communications Media Program prepares individuals to assume communication positions as freelancers, designers, independent producers, or employees of corporations, institutions, and media organizations.

The program provides a blend of the principles and practices necessary for the effective design, production, and evaluation of media for information presentation by graphic, photographic, film, video, electronic, and print technologies. In combination with the Liberal Arts and Sciences Program, Communications Media fosters the development of skills critical to adapting to an ever changing technological and knowledge-based society.  

Requirements for the Major in Communications Media


The Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Media requires 54 semester hours in its major requirements. Course requirements are organized into five phases.


* Fulfills Jr/Sr Writing requirement
** Computer Literacy requirement is met through a Production Concentration (e.g. COMM 3305 , COMM 3470 , COMM 3645 , COMM 3895 , COMM 3960 .)
***Fulfills speaking/listening requirements

Phase I Freshman Introductory Requirements


Phase I exposes students to the foundations, concepts, and practices used in the preparation, delivery, evaluation, and research of verbal and visual messages.

Phase II Applied Concentration


Phase II enables students to become involved with an in-depth investigation of an area in communications which is most closely aligned with individual talents and interests. Students must select and complete one concentration with the consent of their advisor. A minimum of five required courses must be taken within a concentration.

Note: Only students who have completed the requirements of a second concentration can formally declare this concentration to have it recognized on their transcript.  Students interested in Communication Studies as a second concentration may formally declare it at any time.

Note: For some concentration courses, students are expected to pay for supplies that may range in cost from $100 to $300 per course.

Professional Communication Concentration


Note:


It is recommended that students take the history course related to their concentration as part of their Liberal Arts and Sciences program. These courses include History of Film I, History of Film II, History of TV, History of Graphic Design, History of Photography, History of Theater I and II.

Phase III Advanced Electives


In consultation with their advisor, students select four courses from GAME, COMM, TETA, or THEA:

  • Four additional courses in the same concentration
  • Four courses in other concentrations
  • Four courses from a combination of concentrations, including additional theory, conceptual, or methodological courses

Any course which a student is using to fulfill either an LAS Requirement or a Minor may NOT be counted toward Phase III Requirements for the major.

Phase IV Upper-Level Theory/Conceptual/Methodological Requirements


Students in their junior/senior year will take the following:

Phase V Integrated Studies


This required senior level phase provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional environment.

Required Course


VISIONS


VISIONS is an annual juried exhibition of the best work by Communications Media students during that year. VISIONS is held in late April of each year.

Media History Requirement


Communications Media students are required to complete a media history course, prior to their capstone internship, selected from the following list.  The course may be used to fulfill an LA&S requirement or elective, OR a Communications Media requirement or elective, according to its current designation.  Dual concentration students need only take one media history course from either of their concentrations to fulfill the requirement.

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