Nov 08, 2024  
Fitchburg State University 2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Fitchburg State University 2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Graphic Design Concentration, Communications Media, B.S.


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Communications Media


Chairperson

   
Mary Baker    
     
Professors Associate Professors Assistant Professors
Robert Carr Jonathan Amakawa Rachelle Dermer
Robert Harris Mary Baker John (J.J.) Sylvia
Randy Howe Kevin McCarthy Mary Vreeland
Jon Krasner Kyle Moody  
Viera Lorencova Les Nelken  
M. Zachary Lee Britton Snyder  
Kelly Morgan Donald Tarallo, Jr.  
Charles Roberts Samuel Tobin  
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 General Education Program, Communications Media fosters the development of skills critical to adapting to an ever changing technological and knowledge-based society.  

Student Learning Outcomes

B.S. in Communications Media

  • Students should demonstrate proficiency in the core tools and skills of their discipline.
  • Students should be able to apply aesthetic principles to their work by developing and defending a portfolio that demonstrates craftship and meets professional standards for their discipline.
  • Students should be able to explain how their work fits in the historical and theoretical context of their discipline.
  • Students should apply core theoretical principles to the analysis and critique of media.
  • Students should recognize and apply ethical perspectives to their work.

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.


General Education Program Requirement


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.

Additional General Education Requirement


Note: ART1400 Drawing is required for all graphic design concentrations.

Graphic Design Concentration


Media History Requirement


Communications Media students are required to complete a media history course, prior to their capstone internship, selected from the following list. Dual concentration students need only take one media history course from either of their concentrations to fulfill the requirement.

Required Courses


Phase III Departmental 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 a General Education Program 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:

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.

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