Strategic Communications, BA

A professionally oriented major that converges public relations with reputation management and brand communications. Special emphasis is placed on preparing students to lead projects for social change in their communities. The major is complemented by the Center for Strategic Communications, which oversees a student-run consultancy committed to helping values-driven organizations. Members of the student agency engage and service real world clients to achieve specific communication goals. Graduates from this major go on to careers in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Requirements

In order to earn the bachelor of arts degree with a major in strategic communications, students must complete a minimum of 180 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and major/program grade point average of 2.00, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

ENGL 110 - College Writing: Inquiry and Argument
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking
HIST 120 - Origins of Western Civilization
ENGL 120 - Introduction to Literature
MATH 107 or MATH 110 or above
Lab Science
Fine Arts (one approved 5 credit course)
PHIL 220 - Philosophy of the Human Person
Social Science I
Social Science II (different discipline from Social Science I)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase II (200-299 )
Ethics (PHIL 358 recommended)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase III (300-399 )
Interdisciplinary Course (CMJR 480 recommended)
Senior Synthesis (CMJR 494 required for major)*

*Included in major GPA.

II. College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

Modern Language 115, 125, 135 or equivalent (15)

NOTE:

All students with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency through the level of 135 in a language other than English. This competency is ordinarily achieved by successful completion of the three-course sequence: 115, 125, and 135. Because these courses are a college requirement, no courses in the sequence may be taken on a pass/fail, correspondence, or audit basis. Placement into other than the beginning course of the sequence is achieved by acceptable performance on the Modern Language Competency Examination. See the Modern Languages Department for details on the examinations. Courses used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences language requirement may not be used to fulfill communication major requirements.

Choose one of the following courses:

III. Major Requirements

60 credits in communication courses, including:

Area I: Communication Foundation

Area II: Strategic Communications Concentration

Choose one of the following:

Choose one of the following for 5 credits:

Area III: Electives

Choose communication electives (with advisor approval): (10)

Recommended electives include any optional courses in Strategic Communications not selected above or:

CMJR 341 - New Media Communication
CMJR 343 - Critical Analysis of Digital Media
CMJR 355 - Interpersonal Communication
CMJR 383 - Organizational Communication
CMJR 385 - Intercultural Communication
Advanced Journalism writing classes
Courses chosen from marketing and nonprofit leadership

NOTE:

Courses marked with asterisk (*) must be graded C (2.00) or better to count toward the major or to count as prerequisites for appropriate advanced courses.
Courses taken to fulfill major requirements may not simultaneously be used to fulfill core or college requirements. For example, a single course cannot count as both a core interdisciplinary course and a major elective.
No more than one additional 200-level course may be counted.