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Communication Studies

All Majors

Overview

Communication is pervasive, such that Aristotle claimed that it is the one discipline that affects all the rest. Our Communication Studies degree will prepare you for careers in areas ranging from public relations, marketing and media, journalism, ministry, politics, theatre and film.

Our communication alumni are serving as political communication directors and lobbyists, event planners, marketing and public relations specialists, teachers, pastors and missionaries, news media reporters, writers, actors, radio announcers, community relations directors, media critics and filmmakers.

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Our Commitment to You



Mr. Michael Palmer explains a concept.
We commit to provide an academically rigorous program of study which explores communication and a Christian worldview, with its implications for personal development and career possibilities.

It means aiding students in studying communication as the art of interpreting the meaning and significance of people's shared meanings and cultural activities. What words, images and acts mean, where they originate, and how they sometimes change over time is the concern of the vibrant and thoughtful Christian. An implicit concern is with a developed personal epistemology – how we know what we know. This specifically concerns what we believe, why we believe it, and how we know it is true.

An additional central goal is to help students achieve beliefs that are both privately engaging and also socially relevant, where, as salt and light, living out the cultural and redemptive mandates occurs. This also means helping to mature a conceptual communication grasp which enables individuals to fashion complex combinations of interaction as we co-create culture (systems of meaning) and society (rules, regulations, and social structure) through four relationships:  with God, with neighbors, with the world at large and with the self.

The corollary to this approach and grasp is to hone students applied abilities in areas such as persuasion, presentations, interpersonal skills, group dynamics, and intercultural effectiveness.

Click for the Four-Year Plan for Each Option

  • Communication Studies – A broad and inclusive option that allows students to tailor their communication program to fit their personal career goals.
  • Corporate Communication – For students planning to work in profit and non-profit organizations with an accompanying skill set which includes management, leadership, conflict resolution, presentations, public relations and sales.
  • Journalism – Enjoy writing for various forms of media? This option allows students to develop writing, researching, interviewing and reporting skills in both traditional print (newspaper/magazines) and electronic formats. Includes i-pod media, writing for the school newspaper and going to the Big Apple for journalism conferences.
  • Political Communication – Our hybrid between Communication Studies and Politics/Government Studies. If you lean more towards the communication side of politics (lobbying, creating media, running political campaigns), this option is for you. Includes participation in local, state, and/or national political campaigns.
  • Film and Media – Heavy emphasis on film (script-writing, camera work, editing, pre- and post-production skills) and other relevant media skills. Whether creating film for storytelling, instruction, commercials, or videos for business websites, this option prepares you for a variety of forms of filmmaking. Includes participation in local and regional film festivals.
  • Theatre – This option is tied closely to the separate Theatre major.

Potential Jobs

  • Actor
  • Lobbyist
  • Ministry/Missions Staff
  • News Media Writer/Reporter
  • Political Campaign Advisor
  • Public Relations Representative
  • Scriptwriter
  • Videographer/Filmmaker
  • Advertising
  • More »

Graduate Schools

  • Columbia University School of Journalism
  • Hollings University
  • Middle Tennessee State University
  • Oklahoma University
  • Regent University
  • University of Illinois
  • University of Tennessee

Minors

Sampling of Classes

  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Popular Culture & Communication
  • Principles of Public Relations
  • Nonverbal Communication
  • Mass Communication Law & Ethics
  • Copyediting & Publication Design
  • Political Readings
  • Introduction to Film
  • Digital Imaging
  • Stagecraft

Faculty