Communication

Office: 326 McEwen Hall

(716) 673-3410

Kathleen McDonough, Chairperson

Email: communication.department@fredonia.edu

Website: http://www.fredonia.edu/department/communication/

Communication relates to how individuals, groups, organizations, societies, and cultures may establish humane and productive relationships in expressing needs, mediating problems, and pursuing goals. It is one of the oldest areas of academic study and, because of the transformation of personal and social life by the growth of media technologies, a central discipline. Students approach processes, practices and distortions involved in human communication from a critical perspective, and integrate application and theory throughout the curriculum.

The Department of Communication offers majors in Audio Production, Communication Studies, Journalism, Media Management, Public Relations, and Video Production. The department also offers a minor in Communication.

Graduates of the program have successful careers in corporate and public settings and working in media at all levels. Communication students have also continued their education in graduate programs and law schools around the country. Students are encouraged to supplement their academic work with participation in applied activities, including the Sheldon Multimedia Computer Lab, the campus radio stations (WCVF FM and WDVL Cable/FM), the campus television station (WNYF-TV), the campus newspaper (The Leader), the Applied Communication Association (ACA) which provides communication services to the community, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and off-campus internships.

The department offers several awards and scholarships including the Louis C. and S. David Adler Scholarship, the Anne Bernstein Memorial Award, the Edward S. Edelman Scholarship, the Arthur R. Maytum Scholarship, the Dan Berggren Excellence in Audio/Radio Scholarship and the Arlie Muller Parks Scholarship.

Internal Transfers: Students seeking to transfer into the Department of Communication from another department must have a 2.5 or above cumulative grade point average (GPA) to be eligible. If the student’s GPA is 3.0 or greater, he/she will be automatically admitted. If the GPA is below 3.0 (but 2.5 or higher), the student must successfully complete a minimum of six credits of Fredonia Communication course work in their desired major. Grades in each COMM course must be C or above and the cumulative GPA in COMM courses must be above 2.5. Unless taken at another university, COMM 101- Fundamentals of Communication must be one of the above courses completed. An internal application form (available from the department office) must be completed and returned to the office in order for the application request to be processed.

Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree in Communication

Major Requirements: Students in the department may obtain a bachelor's degree in one of the following majors:

• Audio/Radio Production – Bachelor of Science - B.S.
• Communication Studies – Bachelor of Science - B.S.
• Journalism – Bachelor of Arts - B.A.
• Media Management – Bachelor of Science - B.S.
• Public Relations – Bachelor of Science - B.S.
• Video Production – Bachelor of Science - B.S.

A major program in the Department of Communication requires 40 to 45 credit hours of study including 7 credit hours of core courses required by every student in the department and 33 to 38 credit hours of courses in the individual major. Students must complete at least 66 credit hours of course work from disciplines other than communication. This may include non-communication courses taken from other universities.

Department of Communication Minimum Standards Policy

Students in any of the communication majors must earn at least a C grade in all courses in the major. This includes all courses taken as part of the major including those in the department core (101, 105, 199, 499).

A student who receives a grade below C in a course may repeat that course only once. If a student does not achieve a C or better the second time, he/she will be required to change to a major outside of the Department of Communication.

If a course in the major is a prerequisite for another course in the major, the student will not be allowed to enroll in the second course if the grade in the prerequisite was less than a C. In addition, students must have, in order to graduate, a least a 2.5 average in the departmental core and in the rest of the courses in their chosen major. This does not include courses taken in the Department of Communication that do not apply to the student’s major.

Any student whose cumulative average in the major falls below 2.3 for three consecutive semesters in the department will be required to change to a major outside of the Department of Communication.

Double Major: Any student wishing to take a double major with both majors inside the communication department must take at least 15 additional credit hours in the second major (i.e., credit hours not used in the first major). Students should be aware that they may have to take more than 120 credit hours in order to accumulate the required 66 credit hours outside the department to graduate. Students who have dual majors with both majors inside the Department of Communication are still required to have a minor outside the department or to meet the criteria for the study abroad option.

Minor: The department requires all students to declare and complete a minor outside the communication department or a 15 credit hour semester study abroad. The minor must be officially recognized by the offering department (including Interdisciplinary Studies minors) and be chosen in consultation with a Department of Communication advisor. A second major outside the communication department will also satisfy the minor requirement. Students electing the study abroad option are required to complete a complementary 3 credit hour course at Fredonia and should consult the department's policies on appropriate overseas course work. International students who have spent at least one semester studying in a university outside of or other than their home country shall be given credit for the study abroad and would only need to supplement this with the related Fredonia course work described earlier as it applies to study abroad.

Cross-using Courses for Minors: Certain minors include some communication courses that may fulfill course requirements for that minor. Students may use (double-dip) only one COMM course (maximum 4 credit hours) required for the Communication major to fulfill course requirements for the minor.

Substitutions in requirements for majors may be made only by approval of faculty members designated for the specific majors.

Course offerings and requirements for the majors may be changed. Students are urged to see the department for the latest requirements.

Communication Core: 7 credit hours (included in all programs)

A. Communication: Audio Production Bachelor of Science degree: 41 credit hours (including core requirements)

Development of conceptual, aesthetic, and technical skills in audio production for radio and other media. Focus is on listening and the creative use of sound to engage an audience through the selection and use of voice, music, and ambiance. Applications to commercial and public service announcements, news, documentary, drama, music programming, audio art, and audio for television, theater and film.

Audio Production Major courses: (34 credit hours - at least 12 credit hours at Fredonia)

Group A - Major Core - 25 credit hours

and one of the following:

and one of the following 4 credit courses as Capstone course:

Group B - Major Electives - 9 credit hours –choose three of the following:

B. Communication: Communication Studies Bachelor of Science degree: 40 credit hours (including core requirements)

Emphasizes the study of human interaction in both mediated and non-mediated communication. Courses will cover theories and skills regarding relational development, group decision-making, public speaking, communication ethics, research and evaluation, and organizational communication. The goal of the major is to develop the student’s ability to understand and apply theories and skills in communication performance, message construction, and communication analysis and evaluation across social and professional settings.

Communication Studies Major courses: (33 credit hours - at least 12 at Fredonia)

Group A - Major Core – 18 credit hours:

Group B - Major Electives - 15 credit hours - choose five from the following:

C. Communication: Journalism Bachelor of Arts degree: 41 credit hours (including core requirements)

Emphasizes the theory and practice of all forms of journalism including print, electronic, and Internet. An interdisciplinary approach will prepare critical thinkers and reflective practitioners. Research, writing, production, and analysis are all stressed. The program balances the teaching and learning of the practical skills needed in the profession with intellectual, historical, theoretical, and analytic foundations necessary for good journalists.

Journalism Major courses: (34 credit hours - at least 17 at Fredonia)

Group A - Major Core - 19 credit hours

Group B - 6 credit hours – one of the following two-course sequences:

Group C - 9 credit hours – one course from each of the following three categories:

C1 Communication Experiential Training – minimum 3 credit hours

Short-term study abroad

C2 Theory Courses

C3 Skills Courses

Outside Courses – 18 credit hours – at least 3 credit hours in each of the following categories. Up to 12 credit hours may be used to satisfy College Core Curriculum requirements.

Global Studies

Science and the Environment

Economics/Statistics

POLI,PSY,ECON,SOC,STAT 200 Statistics

Culture

Government and Legislature

Arts, Education, and Philosophies

D. Communication: Media Management Bachelor of Science degree: 40 credit hours (including core requirements)

For students interested in non-production areas of electronic media. Includes sales, management, regulation, promotion, and research in broadcast and other electronic media such as cable television, telephone, and satellites.

Media Management Major courses: (33 credit hours - at least 12 at Fredonia)

Group A - Major Core - 21 credit hours - choose seven from among the following:

Group B - Major Electives - 12 credit hours - choose four from among the following, at least two at 300-400 level:

E. Communication: Public Relations Bachelor of Science degree - 40 credit hours (including core requirements):

Focuses on the theoretical constructs and professional skills necessary to effectively mediate the goals and obligations of an organization and the needs and concerns of the public. The emphasis on ethics, campaign design and management and the production of messages for targeted audiences prepares students to serve as communication advocates in a variety of professional and civic settings.

Public Relations Major courses: (33 credit hours - at least 12 at Fredonia)

Group A - Major Core - 21 credit hours

Group B - Major Electives - 12 credit hours – 6 credit hours at 300 or above level from the following:

F. Communication: Video Production Bachelor of Science degree - 45 credit hours (including core requirements)

Focuses on the theoretical, technical, and practical issues of television and digital film production. Hands-on project-based major with emphasis on pre-production, production, postproduction and distribution. Students gain experience in multi-camera studio production, electronic news gathering, field production, documentary, and narrative. Topics covered include: concept development, visualization, writing, aesthetics, ethics, shooting and editing techniques, and sound design.

Video Production Major courses: (38 credit hours - at least 18 credits and capstone classes must be taken at Fredonia):

Group A - Major Core - 21 credit hours

Group B - 14 credit hours

One of the following four course sequences must be taken at Fredonia. The documentary and drama classes must be taken in consecutive semesters.

Group C - Electives (3 credit hours)