Communication
Katy Wiss, Chair
wissk@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 213a, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8260
(203) 837-8912 (fax)
Karen Walsh, Department Secretary
walshk@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 120b, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8250
(203) 837-8912 (fax)
Faculty
| K. Wiss, Chair | J.C. Barone | J. Eckstein |
| T. Keys | K. Lever-Mazzuto | M. Murtha |
| W. Petkanas | K. Raftery | D. Saraceno |
| D. L. Stephenson |
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 free 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.
Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.
Degree Programs in Communication
Bachelor of Arts
Communication
Options:
Communication Studies
Relational Communication
Media Arts
Options:
Media Production
Media Studies
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 exercise science.
Option I: Communication Studies
COM 110 Sight, Sound & Motion or
COM 190 Introduction to Mass Communication
COM 170 Communication Environments
COM 219 Ethical Responsibility 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 170 Communication Environments or
COM 210 Non-Verbal Communication
COM 200 Language and Communication
COM 212 Effective Listening
COM 219 Ethical Responsibility in Communication
COM 290 Communication Theory
COM 390 Research Methods in Communication
COM 420 Advanced Interpersonal Communication
COM 495 Senior Thesis
Five courses (15 SH) in major electives from approved list
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MEDIA ARTS (B.A.)
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.
Requirements
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
COM 390 Research Methods in Communication
COM 495 Senior Thesis
15 credits of Major Electives (Production or Media Studies)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (B.S.)
Education students fulfill the requirements for Option I: Communication Studies and the requirements for certification in elementary education.
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, radio, television and film.
MINOR IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM
WRT 270W News Writing
WRT 333W The Editorial Environment
COM 243 Broadcast Writing
COM/THR 252 Acting for the Camera
COM 270 Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting
One 300- or 400-level writing course from among the following:
WRT 340W Public Relations Writing
WRT 335W Fact-Based Opinion Writing
WRT 338W Writing About Specialized Subjects
WRT 442W Publication Design and Development
WRT 490W Internship/Practicum
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
Free Elective
Spring Semester (17)
COM 219 Ethical Issues in Communication
Major Elective (concentration area)
General Education HPX Fitness for Life (2)
Free Elective
Free Elective
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)
Major Elective (other area)
General Education Math, Computer Science or Natural Science
Free Elective
Free Elective
Senior Year
Fall Semester (15)
COM 495 Senior Thesis
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Spring Semester (15)
General Education Social/Behavioral Science
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
•Relational Communication Option First Year
Fall Semester (15 SH)
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 SH)
COM Major Elective
General Education Humanities (W)
General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences
Free Elective
Free Elective
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester (15 SH)
COM 170 Comm Environments
COM 219 Ethical Responsibility in Communication
General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences
Free Elective
Free Elective
Spring Semester (17 SH)
COM 200 Language and Communication
COM 290 Communication Theory
General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences
General Education HPX Fitness for Life (2 SH)
Free Elective
Free Elective
Junior Year
Fall Semester (15 SH)
COM 212 Effective Listening
COM 390 Research Methods in Communication
General Education Humanities
General Education Natural Sciences (with lab)
Free Elective
Spring Semester (15 SH)
COM 420 Advanced Interpersonal Communication
COM Major Elective
General Education Math, Computer Science or Natural Science
Free Elective
Free Elective
Senior Year
Fall Semester (15 SH)
COM Major Elective
COM Major Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Spring Semester (15 SH)
COM 495 Senior Thesis
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Sample Four-Year Sequence Media Arts Major • Media Studies Option and Media Production Option First Year
Fall Semester (15 SH)
COM 110 Sight, Sound & Motion
General Education Comm Skills
General Education Humanities
General Education Math/Computer/Science
General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences
Spring Semester (15 SH)
COM 146 Basic Video Production
General Education Humanities W - Writing Intensive Course
General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences
Free Elective
Free Elective
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester (15 SH)
COM 230 History of Mass Media
Major Elective
General Education Humanities
General Education Math/Computer/Science
Free Elective
Spring Semester (17 SH)
COM 271 Exploring the Film
General Education Humanities
Major Elective
COM 290 Communication Theory
General Education HPX Fitness for Life
Free Elective
Junior Year
Fall Semester (16 SH)
COM 270 Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting
Major Elective
General Education Humanities
General Education Math/Computer/Science (Lab)
Free Elective
Spring Semester (15 SH)
COM 390 Research Methods in Comm
General Education Social & Behavioral Sciences
Major Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Senior Year
Fall Semester (15 SH)
COM 495 Senior Thesis
Major Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Spring Semester (14 SH)
Free Electives
