Communication
Major
The Communication major, Corporate Cognate, explores organizational, intercultural, and interpersonal skills in marketing, training, and development. This major provides background for public relations, corporate training, organizational communication, and professional public speaking, as well as continued education in communication. The wide variety of classes, combined with an internship, make these graduates highly marketable in today’s job market.
Examples of projects you may complete with this major are the creation of training and public relations materials, group problem-solving, service learning projects along with development and implementation of marketing plans. Alumni from our program work in a variety of fields and positions. Students graduating with this major will be prepared for a variety of careers including: corporate trainer, executive recruiter, admission counselor, motivational speaker, marketing manager, communication consultant, corporate education developer, technical writer and researcher, special events coordinator and corporate spokesperson.
Major
The Communication major, Digital Media Management Cognate, explores digital media formats and management while developing skills in public relations, social media management, communication theory and website design. Offering both face-to-face and online classes, this program can be completed exclusively online. The wide variety of classes, combined with an internship, make these graduates highly marketable in today’s job market. Alumni from our program work in a variety of fields and positions. Students graduating with this major will be prepared for a variety of careers including: social media manager, public relations practitioner, advertising and marketing specialist, public affairs officer, director of media relations, multi-media writer, media sales representative, campaign director, professional blogger, and digital media manager.
Examples of projects you may complete with this major are digital public relations projects for clientele, creation of public relations materials for organizations, creation and management of a digital media campaign and web page development.
Major
The Communication major, Journalism & Media Cognate, explores print, broadcast, and digital communication formats while developing skills in journalism, public relations, digital media, and media convergence. This program is offered both face-to-face and completely online. The wide variety of classes, combined with an internship, make these graduates highly marketable in today’s job market.
Alumni from our program work in a variety of fields and positions. Students graduating with this major will be prepared for a variety of careers including: newspaper reporter, public relations practitioner, advertising and marketing specialist, public affairs officer, director of media relations, multimedia writer, media sales representative, campaign director, research specialist or columnist.
Examples of projects you may complete with this major are analysis and application of concepts from movies or television programming, creation of public relations materials for organizations, beat reporting, web page development and creation of digital media.
GET INVOLVED IN YOUR MAJOR
- Society of College Journalists
- Lambda Pi Eta
- Student Media
Practical Experience
You will gain many skills throughout your time in this program including: public speaking confidence, interviewing skills, ability to write for a variety of media, tools for effective interpersonal communication, ability to communicate with people from a variety of cultures, and creating new technology including podcasts, web pages, video streaming, and other digital media.
During your junior or senior year, you will have the opportunity to practice your skills and gain hands-on experiences through an internship. Students have recently completed internships through areas such as television stations, radio stations, newspapers, marketing departments, public relation firms, realty offices and social media management departments.
“As a small university, VCSU focuses greatly on helping each individual student find the right internships that are relevant to their degrees and future plans. As a communication major, internships have given me real-world experience in the media and have better prepared me for the future.” —Anna Weisenberger ’14, Jamestown, N.D.
“VCSU’s technology and experienced professors, along with the convenience of earning my degree 100 percnet online, provided me with a “real world” education that I am able to put to use in my current job, while readying me for starting my own business down the road.” —Heidi Bollinger, Jamestown, N.D.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English Composition | ||
| Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
or ENGL 125 | Introduction to Professional Writing | |
| or | ||
| College Composition II | ||
or ENGL 125 | Introduction to Professional Writing | |
| College Composition III | ||
| Speech Communication | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Algebra | ||
| Finite Mathematics | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Lab Science | ||
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Concepts of Biology | ||
| General Biology I | ||
| General Biology II | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| Introductory Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Introduction to Earth Science | ||
| The Earth Through Time | ||
| Concepts of Physics | ||
| Introductory Astronomy | ||
| Introductory College Physics I | ||
| Introductory College Physics II | ||
| University Physics I | ||
| University Physics II | ||
| Introduction to Psychology Lab (Corequisite: PSYC 111 Introduction to Psychology) 1 | ||
| Technology, Engineering, and Design | ||
| Wellness | ||
| HPER 100 | Concepts of Fitness and Wellness | 2 |
| Technology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Computer Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Programming in Java | ||
| Introduction to Structured Programming I | ||
| Discovering Computing | ||
| Humanities | ||
| Literacies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Introduction to Film | ||
| World Literature I | ||
| World Literature II | ||
| American Literature I | ||
| American Literature II | ||
| Civilization, Thought, and Literary Heritage | ||
| Ethics and Philosophy of Science | ||
| 1st Year Spanish I | ||
| 1st Year Spanish II | ||
| 2nd Year Spanish I | ||
| 2nd Year Spanish II | ||
| Introduction to Theatre Arts | ||
| Acting One | ||
| Art and Music | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to the Visual Arts | ||
| Fine Arts and Aesthetics | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Music Fundamentals | ||
| World Music | ||
| History of Rock and Roll | ||
| Social Science | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Understanding Media and Social Change | ||
| Human Communication | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| United States to 1877 | ||
| United States to Present | ||
| World Civilizations to 1500 | ||
| World Civilizations since 1500 | ||
| Environmental History | ||
| Native American Studies | ||
| American National Government | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Introduction to Psychology 1 | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Additional Humanities or Social Science | ||
| Select one additional course from Humanities or Social Science or select from the following: | 2 | |
| Design | ||
| Drawing I | ||
| Ceramics I | ||
| Survey of Geography | ||
| Group Piano for Non-Majors | ||
| Group Piano for Non-Majors | ||
| Valkyries | ||
| Concert Choir | ||
| Athletic Band | ||
| Concert Band | ||
| Planetarium Science | ||
| Theatre Practicum | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| 1 | PSYC 111L Introduction to Psychology Lab with PSYC 111 Introduction to Psychology will satisfy the Lab Science requirement. PSYC 111 Introduction to Psychology without PSYC 111L Introduction to Psychology Lab will satisfy the Social Science requirement. PSYC 111 Introduction to Psychology may not be used to satisfy both requirements. |
Major Requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COMM 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 312 | Gender Communication | 3 |
| COMM 360 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| COMM 411 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 491 | Senior Capstone | 1 |
| COMM 497 | Internship | 3 |
| or COMM 487 | Field Experience | |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Students Choose from One of the Following Cognates:
Corporate Cognate
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 311 | Communication and Interviewing | 3 |
| COMM 304 | Corporate Communication | 3 |
| COMM 314 | Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 483 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Students should choose 3 COMM courses at 200 level or above in consultation with their advisor | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Journalism & Media Cognate
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 311 | Communication and Interviewing | 3 |
| COMM 414 | Social Media Management | 3 |
| COMM 415 | Sports Information | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Students should choose 3 COMM courses at 200 level or above in consultation with their advisor | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Digital Media Management Cognate
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 314 | Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 315 | Digital Communication | 3 |
| COMM 414 | Social Media Management | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Students should choose 3 COMM courses at 200 level or above in consultation with their advisor | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Total General Education 39 Hrs
Total Major Requirement 19 Hrs
Total Cognate Requirement 21 Hrs
Total Credits Needed to Graduate 120 Hrs
Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 115 (Gen Ed) | 4 | BIOL 111 (Gen Ed) | 4 |
| CIS 170 (Gen Ed) | 3 | COMM 112 (Gen Ed) | 3 |
| COMM 110 (Gen Ed) | 3 | ENGL 125 (Gen Ed) | 3 |
| ENGL 110 (Gen Ed) | 3 | HPER 100 (Gen Ed) | 2 |
| UNIV 150 | 1 | MATH 103 (Gen Ed) | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| COMM 114 | 3 | COMM 212 (Digital Media and Journalism) | 3 |
| COMM 200 (Journalism) | 3 | COMM 312 (Corporate) | 3 |
| COMM 216 (Corporate and Journalism) | 3 | Elective | |
| COMM 299 (ELECTIVE: Consult Advisor (Corporate and Digital Media)) | 1-4 | HIST 103 (Gen Ed) | 3 |
| Directed Elective | Minor Course | ||
| ENGL 220 (Gen Ed) | 3 | ||
| MUS 100 (Gen Ed) | 3 | ||
| 16-19 | 9 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Art and Music (Gen Ed) | 3 | COMM 212 | 3 |
| COMM 304 | 3 | COMM 314 (Digital Media) | 3 |
| COMM 311 (Corporate and Journalism) | 3 | COMM 414 (Journalism) | 3 |
| COMM 216 | 3 | COMM 415 (Journalism) | 3 |
| COMM 200 | 3 | Directed Elective (Corporate or Digital Media) | |
| COMM 360 (Journalism) | 3 | Elective (consult advisor) | |
| Elective (Corporate) | Minor Course (consult advisor) | ||
| Minor Course (consult advisor) | Minor Course (consult advisor) | ||
| Minor Course (consult advisor) | |||
| 18 | 12 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| COMM 497 | 3-12 | COMM 312 | 3 |
| COMM 360 | 3 | COMM 314 | 3 |
| COMM 315 | 3 | COMM 411 | 3 |
| Elective (Journalism - consult advisor) | COMM 414 | 3 | |
| Minor Course (consult advisor) | COMM 483 (Corporate) | 3 | |
| Minor Course (consult advisor) | COMM 491 | 1 | |
| Directed Elective (Corporate and Journalism) | |||
| Minor Course (consult advisor) | |||
| 9-18 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 109-121 | |||
Please note: This plan is intended for general information only. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor each semester before registration.