Professional Writing Track
The required interdisciplinary courses in the professional writing track allow students to investigate varied aspects of communication as they pertain to writers; individual students can tailor the track to accommodate their own particular fields of interest within writing and the larger field of communication. Students in the track receive a strong grounding in writing practice as well as vital experience in visual and speech communication and cultural analysis.
Requirements for the B.A. in Communication – Professional Writing:
1. COMM 180: Public Communication in the Digital Age
2. COMM 181: Introduction to Communication Studies
3. COMM 473: Senior Seminar in Communication
4. At least twelve hours in advanced writing to be selected from the following:
- COMM/ENGL 212: Advanced Grammar, Rhetoric, and Composition
- COMM/ENGL//BUSN 217: Communication for Business and the Professions
- COMM/ENGL 219: Creative Writing
- COMM/ENGL 312: Literary Journalism
- COMM/ENGL 314W: Advertising and Public Relations
- COMM/ENGL 315: The Essay
- COMM/ENGL 316: Writing for the Mass Media
- COMM/ENGL 319S: Screenwriting
5. At least three hours in visual, audio, and multimedia production to be selected from the following:
- COMM/ART 218: Introduction to Photography
- COMM/ART 221: Introduction to Video and Film Production
- COMM/ART 251: Design Communication
- COMM/ENGL 282: Multimedia Writing and Literature
- COMM/ART 318: Advanced Photography
- COMM/ART 321: Advanced Video and Film Production
- COMM/ART 351: Web Design
- COMM/ENGL 382: Radio Broadcasting
- COMM/ART 451: Topics in Multimedia Design
6. At least six hours in cultural history and analysis to be selected from the following:
- ART 101: Survey of Art History I
- ART 102: Survey of Art History II
- THEA 112 Analysis and Criticism
- COMM/ENGL/ART 172: Introduction to Visual Culture
- COMM/ENGL/ART 178: Introduction to Film Art
- COMM/ENGL 262: Shakespeare and Film
- ART 305W: History of American Art
- ART 306S: Foundations of Modern Art
- ART 310: History of Photography
- THEA 307S: History of the Theatre
- THEA 308W History of the Theatre
- ENGL 361: Arts of Representation
- COMM/ENGL 368: History of Film to 1939
- COMM/ENGL 369: History of Film from 1939 to the Present
- COMM/ENGL 373S: Theory and Criticism of Film
- COMM /ENGL 383: Digital Cultures
- COMM/ENGL/ART 399: Seminar in Film and Television Studies
At least twelve hours of coursework in Communication must be at the 300- or 400-level.
All communication majors are strongly encouraged to take COMM 400: Internship in Communication.
COMM 400 can be substituted for a 300- or 400-level course that covers an advanced topic related to the internship work. In other words, a writing internship can substitute for an advanced writing course, a film/television internship can substitute for an advanced film course, and a multimedia internship can substitute for an advanced multimedia course.
Ten Courses: 30 hours
Supportive Requirements:
- Completion of the intermediate level of a foreign language
Minor Requirements:
1. COMM 180: Public Communication in the Digital Age
2. COMM 181: Introduction to Communication Studies
3. At least twelve hours in advanced writing to be selected from the following:
- ENGL 212: Advanced Grammar, Rhetoric, and Composition
- COMM/ENGL 217/BUSN 217: Communication for Business and the Professions
- ENGL 219: Creative Writing
- COMM/ENGL 314W: Advertising and Public Relations
- COMM/ENGL 315: The Essay
- COMM/ENGL 316: Writing for the Mass Media
- COMM/ENGL 319S: Screenwriting
At least six hours of coursework in Communication must be at the 300- or 400-level.
COMM 400 can be substituted for a 300- or 400-level course in advanced writing.
Six Courses: 18 hours