Media/Journalism/Public Relations Department

The Department of Communication/Journalism offers an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in communication/journalism. The goal of the department is to help students investigate communications and the many related careers available to the individual who has both a liberal arts and science background and a solid grounding in communications studies. The program provides students with skill and theory courses in three professional emphasis areas-public relations, print media, and electronic media. Throughout an undergraduate’s tenure, instruction in practical skills is meshed with concern for the student’s continuing intellectual, conceptual, and professional development. Upon graduation, students are well qualified to obtain an entry-level position in mass communications or use their education as a base for advanced study in communications, law, or business.

Communication/Journalism Features

The department offers classes with an average size of about 22 students. Students receive ample opportunity to learn and practice with digital technology used in the communications industry to develop competency in desktop publishing, web design, audio, video, and photography.

Campus organizations give students practical experience in the communications media:

The Slate, campus weekly newspaper
WSYC-FM, 24-hour campus radio station
SUTV, campus television news station
Cumberland, student yearbook
Impel Group, public relations firm
National Broadcasting Society chapter
Public Relations Student Society of America chapter
Society of Professional Journalists chapter

Opportunities for professional internships with local, regional, national, and international media and businesses are always available to qualified juniors and seniors. Although not departmentally required, students are urged to use the two available internship experiences during the academic year and/or summer as a necessary springboard to professional employment. The department maintains a computerized internship database to accommodate student searches for available opportunities.

Communication/Journalism Career Opportunities

A career in communication/journalism offers the dynamic challenges of working in today’s media: the excitement of breaking news and events, the opportunity to meet and work with distinguished leaders and performers, and the satisfaction of being creative in your day-to-day work. Key employers are mass media: newspapers, radio, television, magazines, publishers, and online communicators. There are also public relations opportunities in industry and the professions, in government at all levels, and among non-profit institutions. Practitioners often move from the creative side of the business to media or organizational administration and management.

Admission Requirements

SU students wishing to transfer into the Department of Communication/Journalism need a 2.3 cumulative QPA. Students will be admitted based on the above criteria and space availability in the professional emphasis the student selects.

Programs

Major

Minor

Communication/Journalism Minor

Courses

Communication/Journalism