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Communication Major

For information, contact Department Chair and Professor James Brancato at , or 610-606-4666, ext. 3389

Program Description

A major in Communication focuses on the analysis and criticism of media institutions and media texts, how people experience and understand media content, and the roles of media in producing and transforming culture. Students are expected to be able to talk and write about communication, its forms, media, content and activities. They are also expected to develop the capacity for critical thinking and insight needed both for professional excellence and as an educated citizen in a world dominated by media information and persuasion.

Beyond the critical component of the major, students are trained in the creative production techniques. Students will use new technologies, equipment, methodologies, and facilities that will prepare them for a wide array of career and graduate study possibilities.

Students work personally with their communication advisor to shape their course of study around their areas of interest and after graduation pursue careers in many fields, including journalism, public relations, development, marketing, personnel, advertising, video production and broadcasting. Many students also go on to graduate study in a variety of disciplines. The program opens up opportunities in research, teaching, corporate communication, government, public information, international relations, human services and media and book publishing.

Program Requirements (42 credits minimum)

A grade of C- or better is needed for courses that fulfill major requirements. Courses transferred from other colleges may count towards the major only with the approval of the department.

Capstone Requirement

The program provides students with the opportunity to choose between writing a senior research thesis and conducting a senior professional project in order to fulfill their capstone requirement. This latter option may be done in conjunction with an internship.

Students conducting a senior project are required to submit for pre-approval a proposal outlining their project, the project’s connection to a field of literature in Communication, a schedule for the submission of progress reports, their internship responsibilities (if applicable), and a final analysis of their project. Students may work with an outside co-advisor in a related field for their senior capstone requirement. For instance, a student interested in public relations may want to work with a co-advisor in marketing, etc.

Optional LCMC Consortium Concentrations

Communication majors can choose to add optional online concentrations, which are made available by a variety of colleges in the Low Cost Model Consortium (LCMC). These optional concentrations consist of credits taken in addition to the required Communication courses, and feature the following areas:

  • Digital Marketing Concentration (15 credits)
  • Web Design Concentration (39 credits), with an optional Web Development Elective Track (9 additional credits)

See below for the specific course requirements.  Full description of the LCMC courses can be found under the Business Programs section in the Catalog.

Internships

Students are not required to complete an internship for the major. However, it is highly recommended that students who do not plan on immediately continuing on to graduate school complete at least one, if not more, internships. Internships may fulfill up to 6 credits towards completion of the major (the completion of two internships of three credits each is specifically recommended).

The Cedar Crest Communication Club (CCC On Air)

Students have the opportunity to participate in the Cedar Crest Communication Club (CCC Air) .  Students from around the campus meet to do radio shows, shoot video, plan events, invite speakers, and more.   The CCC Radio station is staffed and run completely by students, where they learn to announce, copy edit, develop advertising and promotional campaigns, program direct, and oversee the finances of an online radio station.  The department encourages students at all levels, including freshmen, to join CCC On Air and the CCC Radio Station, located in the basement of Butz Hall.

Lighting and Audio Studios

Cedar Crest students are invited to use the lighting studio and the digital audio studio, both located on the second floor of Alumnae Hall.  Contact Tom Ardizzone for more information.

Course Requirements for the Communication Major

A major in Communication requires 42 credits of coursework. All students are required to complete courses in four categories: Communication Core Curriculum (18 credits), Perspectives (9 credits), Applications (9 credits),  Communication Electives (6 credits). 

Communication Core Curriculum (18 credits)

The Communication Core is required of all majors in the Communication Department. The goal of the core curriculum is to introduce all students to the history, research and theory in Communication and to provide students with a general understanding of how research in Communication is conducted.

COM 100 Introduction to Communication 3 credits
COM 102 Media Literacy
COM 120 Introduction to Media Production 3 credits
COM 200 Communication Theory and Research 3 credits
COM 350 Senior Seminar I (typically taken in fall of senior year) 3 credits
COM 352 Senior Seminar II (typically taken in spring of senior year) 3 credits

Perspectives (3 courses required, 9 credits)

This category of courses provides students with the opportunity to explore the range of Communication as an academic discipline.

COM 130 Women in Games 3 credits
COM 140 Introduction to Film 3 credits
COM 150 Introduction to Journalism 3 credits
COM 207 Social Media and Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations 3 credits
COM 210 Interpersonal Communication 3 credits
COM 212 Intercultural Communication 3 credits
COM 215 Organizational Communication 3 credits
COM 216 Public Relations and Society 3 credits
COM 244 Topics in Film 3 credits (can only be taken once in this category, and no more than twice toward the major)
COM 240 History of Cinema 3 credits
COM 245 Topics in Popular Culture 3 credits (can only be taken once in this category, and no more than twice toward the major)         
COM 246 Women in Digital Culture 3 credits
COM 252 Digital Journalism 3 credits
COM 255 Media Law and Ethics 3 credits
COM 260-265 Special Topics in Communication 3 credits (advisor permission is needed to use Special Topics courses to count toward major requirements)
COM 270 Race and Gender in the Media 3 credits
COM 272 Children and the Media 3 credits
COM 275 Persuasion and Propaganda 3 credits
COM 278 Debate and Argumentation 3 credits
COM 280 Social Media: Promises and Pitfalls 3 credits
COM 282 Intro to Health Communication 3 credits
COM 285 Global Issues in New Media 3 credits
COM 300 Readings in Communication and Culture 3 credits
COM 310 News Media in America 3 credits

Applications (2 courses required; 6 credits minimum. Only 3 credits may be satisfied through an internship)

The courses in this category provide students with practical experience in various applications connected with Communication.

COM 107 Digital Imaging with Photoshop 3 credits
COM 108 Digital Design with Adobe Illustrator 3 credits
COM 121 Introduction to Animation 3 credits
COM 133 Introduction to Game Design 3 credits
COM 209 Motion Graphics 3 credits
COM 224 Intro to Video Production 3 credits
COM 225 Digital Photography 3 credits
COM 260-265 Special Topics in New Media 3 credits
COM 324 Video Production II 3 credits
COM 325 Advanced Digital Photography 3 credits
COM 370 Internship up to 6 credits

Electives in the Major (2 courses required; 6 credits minimum

Two classes (6 credits) to be chosen from the above courses.

Optional LCMC Concentrations for Communication Majors

* Courses with a DMK or WBD prefix are provided exclusively online through the LCMC Consortium.

Digital Marketing (15 Credits): 

Beyond traditional marketing techniques and strategies, modern digital marketing skills and technologies continually evolve.  Designed in conjunction with leading business firms, this curriculum teaches students in-demand skills like search engine marketing and optimization, analytics, social media strategy, and email marketing.  Students also engage with viral growth, influencer marketing, and data-driven techniques to leverage both technology and complexity.  

  • COM 207 Social Media and Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations 3 credits, –OR–  
    DMK 101 Social Media Marketing 3 credits, –OR–
  • MRK 334 Digital Marketing 3 credits
  • DMK 111 Email Marketing 3 credits 
  • DMK 121 SEO/SEM 3 credits 
  • DMK 221 Digital Marketing Analytics 3 credits 
  • DMK 301 Viral and Organic Growth 3 credits 

Web Design (39 Credits):

Web design is multi-disciplinary by nature, combining insights from computer science, marketing, aesthetics, and the cognitive science of user psychology.  Students in this program combine goal-direction design (intentionality), aesthetics development that successfully leverages branding, and technical execution of functional coding in a variety of modern standards-compliant languages.  In addition to completing the core minor, students may take additional courses to further their skills in development. 

  • ART 110 Principles of Visual Organization 3 credits
  • ART 238 Elements of Design 3 credits
  • COM 107 Digital Imaging with Photoshop 3 credits 
  • COM 208 Digital Design with Adobe Illustrator 3 credits, –OR– 
  • COM 121 Introduction to Animation 3 credits
  • COM 224 Intro to Video Production 3 credits, –OR–
  • COM 225 Digital Photography 3 credits 
  • COM 255 Media Law and Ethics 3 credits
  • COM 106 Computational Thinking and Programming Logic 3 credits, –OR– 
  • CSC 101 Internet History, Security, and Technology 3 credits
  • CSC 111 Programming for Everyone I 3 credits 
  • CSC 112 Programming for Everyone II 3 credits 
  • CSC 113 Web Development 3 credits
  • WBD 101 Understanding User Experience 3 credits 
  • WBD 201 Building Compelling User Experiences 3 credits
  • WBD 301 Capstone: Goal-Oriented Web Design 3 credits 

Optional Web Development Elective Track (9 Additional Credits):

  • CSC 211 Application Development I 3 credits
  • CSC 212 Application Development II 3 credits
  • CSC 260 Product Development 3 credits

Recommended Courses

For students interested in Journalism:

ENG 235 Topics in Nonfiction: Writing for Publication

Students are strongly encouraged to take courses and/or select an additional major or minor in related fields such as history, political science, English, writing, or Spanish. Students should make these selections after consultation with their major advisor. The following courses are particularly recommended for journalism students:

HIS 121/122 Survey of United States History 3 credits
PSC 210 American Public Policy 3 credits
PSC 250 American Political Thought 3 credits

For students interested in Public Relations:

Students are strongly recommended also to take courses in related fields, including marketing, international business, and economics. Students should make this selection after consultation with their major advisor.

For students interested in digital design or media production:

ART 101 Beginning Drawing 3 credits
ART 105/106 Art History 3-6 credits
ART 110 Principles of Visual Organization 3 credits
ART 113 and 213 Drawing, Illustration, and Graphics I & II 3-6 credits
ART 134 Photoshop Computer Software Workshop 1 credit
ART 132, 232 InDesign Computer Software Workshop 1 credit each
ART 238 Elements of Design 3 credits

College-wide Requirements

Students fulfill the Oral Presentation requirement with the satisfactory completion (C-or better) of COM 100.
Students fulfill the Information Literacy requirement with the satisfactory completion (C- or better) of COM 200.
Students fulfill the Technology requirement with the satisfactory completion (C- or better) of COM 350 or COM 352

Communication – Minor

For information, contact Department Chair and Professor James Brancato at , or 610-606-4666, ext. 3389

Program Description

A minor in Communication focuses on the activity, implementation, processing or study of human communication. Students who minor in Communication typically pursue careers in many fields, including marketing, advertising, journalism, public relations, development, video and film production, and broadcasting. Students frequently combine a Communication minor with a variety of disciplines that stress interpersonal and self-presentation skills, including Business, English, Art, performing Arts and many others.

Requirements for the Communication Minor*

(18 credits minimum)

Required Course:
COM 100 Introduction to Communication 3 credits

Students will select at least five additional COM courses.

Only 3 credits of an internship may count toward the minor. This internship should be COM 370, and the faculty advisor for this internship should be a Communication faculty member.

*No more than two courses that count toward a student’s major may be used to satisfy the requirements for the Communication minor. Students are required to meet with a Communication faculty member in order to structure the course of study for the minor to the student’s interests and best advantage. A grade of C- or better is needed for courses that fulfill minor requirement.

Film Studies Minor

For information, contact Department Chair and Professor James Brancato, at , or 610-606-4666, ext. 3389

Program Description

Cedar Crest offers a minor in film studies, which is the interdisciplinary study of film as an art and medium of communication. The minor is a collaboration between faculty and programs who have courses at Cedar Crest College that focus on one or more of the following aspects of film: film history; film genre study; film and persuasion; film analysis and critique; film as cultural and socio-historical artifact. Film Studies is rooted in a commitment to the liberal arts, and especially to the development of critical thinking skills. Courses in film studies illuminate both the medium of film and also the specific topic under exploration and can promote understanding of both historical and contemporary social and political issues. It can also promote technological and cultural literacy, as students learn the techniques of film and video as communicative and persuasive media that help to shape cultural values.

Requirements for the Film Studies Minor*

(18 credits minimum)

Required Course:
COM 140 Introduction to Film 3 credits

Five Other Courses, Chosen Among the Following Existing Courses:
COM 120 Introduction to New Media 3 credits
COM 121 Introduction to Animation 3 credits
COM 224 Intro to Video Production 3 credits
COM 240 History of Cinema 3 credits
COM 244 Topics in Film 3 credits (Can be taken twice; can be taken three times only after permission is given after a consultation with an advisor to the minor.)
COM 260 Motion Graphics 3 credits
COM 270 Race and Gender in the Media 3 credits
COM 272 Children and the Media 3 credits
COM 324 Video Production II 3 credits
ENG 180 Women Go to the Movies, or How to Read a Film 3 credits
HIS 220 Film and History  3 credits

*No more than two courses that count toward a student’s major may be used to satisfy the requirements for the Film Studies minor. Communication credits in the Film Studies minor can count toward a Communication minor, with the following restrictions: approval of advisor; no more than 6 credits total can count toward both minors.  A grade of C- or better is needed for courses that fulfill minor requirements.