Program Overview:
The Communications curriculum encourages students to explore a breadth of learning experiences that emphasize both professional and personal development. Communications students are expected to fully engage in the theories and practices that prepare them for the Communications field and must earn a C or better in all courses in the major. If a student earns a D or F, the course must be repeated.
The curriculum requires students to build a broad knowledge base while they also explore their individual interests and skills in five concentrations: Journalism, Public Relations & Advertising, Media Arts & Production, Broadcast News, and Critical Media Studies.
Program Contacts:
Dr. Cailin Brown
Chair, Communications Department
Email: brownc@strose.edu
Program Webpage: Communications, BA
Program Requirements:
Major in Communications (49-52 credits)
Please check Course Descriptions for all prerequisites needed and when courses are offered. Note that not all courses are offered each semester.
I. Communications Core (25 credits)
Students complete these courses as follows:
II. Choose one concentration:
A. Journalism Concentration (minimum 24 credits)
Students complete courses as follows:
Entry level – 7 credits
Mid level – Minimum of 9 credits selected from (CHECK PREREQUISITES):
*For COM 380 Check Applicable Concentrations and Prerequisites
Upper level – Minimum of 8 credits selected from (CHECK PREREQUISITES):
B. Public Relations & Advertising Concentration (minimum 25-26 credits)
Students complete courses as follows:
Entry level – 6 credits
| COM 227 | Fundmtls of Strategic PR | 3 |
| | and | |
| COM 205 | Fundamentals of Advertising | 3 |
| | or | |
| BUS 253 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
Mid level – Minimum of 11-12 credits selected from (CHECK PREREQUISITES):
| COM 373 | PR Advert Copywriting & Dsgn | 4 |
| | or | |
| COM 374 | Strat PR & Advert Campaigns | 4 |
Then, without repeating the course above, choose at least an additional seven (7) credits from below:
*For COM 380 Check Applicable Concentrations and Prerequisites
Upper level – 8 credits selected from (CHECK PREREQUISITES):
C. Media Arts & Production Concentration (minimum 27 credits)
Students complete courses as follows:
Entry level – 6 credits
200 level – 2 courses at 200-level selected from (6 credits):
*Focus of COM 222 course changes; May be repeated with different focus.
300 level - (CHECK PREREQUISITES):
For COM 380 Check Applicable Concentrations and Prerequisites
Upper level – 8 credits minimum selected from (CHECK PREREQUISITES):
D. Broadcast News Concentration (26 credits)
Students complete courses as follows:
Entry level – 7 credits
Mid level - 11 credits
Upper level - 8 credits
E. Critical Media Studies Concentration (25-26 credits)
Students complete courses as follows:
Required Courses - 14 credits
Choose one mid-level course from the following - 3-4 credits
Choose one mid-level course from the following - 4 credits
Choose one upper-level course from the following - 4 credits
III. OPTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COURSES
Students who qualify may choose additional COM courses from those listed below.
*COM 380 Check Applicable Concentrations; Credits Vary
*COM 494 Must meet GPA requirements and have completed 90 credits; need Faculty approval PRIOR TO registration
*COM 499 Permission and Approval of Faculty Supervisor PRIOR TO registration for that semester are needed; Paperwork available on the Registrar’s Office Webpage
Internship/Field Experiences/Service:
Students have the opportunity for hands-on experience in producing TV and radio programs, newspapers, magazines, web and multimedia productions, as well as academic papers and projects across these concentrations.
Students complete internships in Journalism, TV & Radio Production, Public Relations, Advertising, Government Communications and other related fields. Students must meet GPA requirements and have completed 90 credits to apply.
Optional Course:
Culminating Academic Experiences:
Through the Capstone courses in each concentration students conceptualize and craft scripts, TV programs, public service campaigns and a variety of media projects.
Required Capstone Courses (Based on Concentrations):
Suggested 4 Year Course Plan:
This suggested plan is designed to give students an idea of how to balance their coursework over 8 semesters and to graduate within 4 years. Most students will need to take a minimum of 30 credits each year in order to meet the graduation requirement of a minimum of 122 overall credits. It should be used along with your Degree Works worksheet and in consultation with your faculty advisor. It is meant as a guide, not a definitive list of courses that must be taken as written. Your faculty advisor will help you make any necessary adjustments during advisement.
Broadcast News
Year 1
Fall (16 credits)
COM 105 (L05)—3
ENG 105 (L01)—4
PHI/REL 102 L06)—3
BUS, ECO, or POL. SC (L10)—3
COM 240, 241, or 242 (Diversity)—3
Spring (14 credits)
COM 221—Journalism I—4
COM 201—Media Literacy—3
Literature (L04)—4
COM 208—Media Ethics—3
Year 2
Fall (15 credits)
COM 225—Interviewing—3
Language (L02)—3
Math (L07)—3
ANT, CJS, PSY, SOC or SW (L11)—3
Information Technology (L08)—3
Spring (15 credits)
COM 217—Multimedia Production—4
COM 331—Journalism II—4
COM 298—COM Theory—3
COM 380—Topics—4
Year 3
Fall (16 credits)
COM 340—Law—3
COM 313—Broadcast News—3
COM 398—Research (WI)—3
History (L03)—3
Laboratory Science (L09)—4
Spring (16 credits)
COM 470—Newsroom—4
COM 319—TV Production—4
General Elective—4
Further Disciplinary Study—3
Physical Education (L12)—1
Year 4
Fall (15 credits)
COM 420—TV Journalism—4
Physical Education (L12)--1
General Electives—10
Spring (15 credits)
General Elective--3
COM 494--Internship--12
Critical Media Studies
Year 1
Fall (16 credits)
COM 105 (L05)—3
ENG 105 (L01)—4
PHI/REL 102 (L06)—3
BUS, ECO, or POL. SC (L10)—3
COM 240, 241, or 242 (Diversity)—3
Spring (14 credits)
COM 221—Journalism I—4
COM 201—Media Literacy—3
Literature (L04)—4
COM 208—Media Ethics—3
Year 2
Fall (16 credits)
COM 217—Multimedia Production—4
COM 207 or 220—3
Math (L07)—3
ANT, CJS, PSY, SOC or SW (L11)—3
Information Technology (L08)—3
Spring (15 credits)
COM 227—Fundamentals of Strategic PR—3
COM 315—Media Criticism —4
Laboratory Science (L09)—4
General Elective—4
Year 3
Fall (15-16 credits)
COM 340—Law—3
COM 298—COM Theory—3
COM 313, 318, or 319—3/4
Language (L02)—3
History (L03)—3
Spring (16-17 credits)
COM electives--6
COM 398—Research (WI)—3
COM 331 or 372 or 373—4
Further Disciplinary Study—3/4
Physical Education (L12)—1
Year 4
Fall (15 credits)
COM 417, 420, 480, 482, or 483—4
Physical Education (L12)—1
General Electives—10
Spring (15 credits)
General Elective--3
COM 494--Internship--12
Media Arts & Production
Year 1
Fall (16 credits)
COM 105 (L05)—3
ENG 105 (L01)—4
PHI/REL 102 (L06)—3
COM 240, 241, or 242—(Diversity)—3
History (L03)—3
Spring (14 credits)
COM 207—Film Arts—3
COM 201—Media Literacy—3
COM 208—Media Ethics—3
ANT, CJS, PSY, SOC or SWK (L11)—3
Physical Education (L12)—2
Year 2
Fall (16 credits)
COM 222—Film Genres—3
Language (L02)—3
Math (L07)—3
COM 298—COM Theory-3
COM 217—Multimedia Production—4
Spring (16 credits)
COM 220—Film History—3
COM 398—Research (WI)—3
COM 318—Digital Audio Production—4
BUS, ECO, POL. SCI (L10)—3
Information Technology (L08)—3
Year 3
Fall (17 credits)
COM 213—Documentary—3
COM 319—TV Production—4
COM 340—Law—3
Literature (L04)—4
Further Disciplinary Elective—3
Spring (15 credits)
COM 315 or COM 380 or Elective--3
COM 417—Advanced Media Production—4
Laboratory Science (L09)--4
COM 221—Journalism I—4
Year 4
Fall (16 credits)
COM 420—TV Journalism--4
General Electives—12
Spring (12 credits)
COM 494--Internship--12
Journalism
Year 1
Fall (16 credits)
COM 105 (L05)—3
ENG 105 (L01)—4
PHI/REL 102 (L06)—3
BUS, ECO, or POL. SCI (L10)—3
COM 240, 241, or 242 (Diversity)—3
Spring (14 credits)
COM 221—Journalism I—4
COM 201—Media Literacy—3
Literature (L04)—4
COM 208—Media Ethics—3
Year 2
Fall (15 credits)
COM 225—Interviewing—3
Language (L02)—3
Math (L07)—3
ANT, CJS, PSY, SOC or SW (L11)—3
Information Technology (L08)—3
Spring (15 credits)
COM 217—Multimedia Production—4
COM 331—Journalism II—4
COM 298—COM Theory—3
COM 380—Topics—4
Year 3
Fall (16 credits)
COM 340—Law—3
COM 313—Broadcast News—3
COM 398—Research (WI)—3
History (L03)—3
Laboratory Science (L09)—4
Spring (16 credits)
COM 470—Newsroom—4
COM 319—TV Production—4
General Elective—4
Further Disciplinary Study—3
Physical Education (L12)--1
Year 4
Fal (15 credits)
COM 420—TV Journalism—4
Physical Education (L12)--1
General Electives—10
Spring (15 credits)
Elective—3
COM 494--Internship—12
Public Relations & Advertising
Year 1
Fall (16 credits)
COM 105 (L05)—3
ENG 105 (L01)—4
PHI/REL 102 (L06)—3
BUS 253 (L10)—3
COM 240, 241, or 242 (Diversity)—3
Spring (17 credits)
COM 227—Fundamentals of Strategic PR—3
COM 201—Media Literacy—3
COM 208—Media Ethics--3
ENG (L04)—4
ANT, CJS, PSY, SOC or SW (L11)—3
Physical Education (L12)—1
Year 2
Fall (16 credits)
COM 314—Creative Copywriting in Advertising—3
Language L02)—3
Math (L07)—3
COM 298—COM Theory—3
Information Technology (L08)—3
Physical Education (L12)—1
Spring (17 credits)
COM 217—Multimedia Production—4
COM 398—Research(WI)—3
History (LO3)—3
COM 373 or 374—3
General Elective—3
Year 3
Fall (16 credits)
COM 340—Law—3
COM 318 or 319—4
COM 372 or 374—3
Further Disciplinary Study—3
General Elective—3
Spring (16 credits)
COM 471—Account Management in the Agency—4
COM 373 or 374—4
L09—Science—4
General Elective—4
Year 4
Fall (16 credits)
COM 430—Strategic Crisis Communications—4
General Electives—12
Spring (12 credits)
COM 494--Internship—12
Professional Accreditation:
The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000) The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://www.msche.org
Career Opportunities and Graduate Study:
The College of Saint Rose Communications graduates have found employment in regional media outlets and have contributed to the networks of Communications professionals across the nation and around the world. Communications majors deciding to continue their education through graduate study have had particular success in the fields of Journalism, Broadcasting, Education and Law.
Admissions and Financial Aid Information:
The Undergraduate Admissions Office begins review of First-Year applications each fall in late September for the following Fall. Students are encouraged to submit a complete application as early as October. The Admissions Team will return a decision on complete applications within just three weeks. The College awards academic scholarships at the same time.
What Makes an Application Complete
- Online or Paper application (fee waived for all applicants!)
- Official High School Transcripts
- Official Transcripts for any College Level Courses
- SAT or ACT scores (See Test Optional FAQ's)
- Letter of Recommendation from a Counselor or Teacher
- Essay or Graded Paper
- Applicants may also apply via the Common Application Online.
- Art applicants are required to complete a portfolio review.
- Music applicants are required to complete an audition.
Admissions contact information (telephone number, admissions web pages)
Scholarships and Financial Aid
See Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid section for more information.
The Bottom Line
The total cost of The College of Saint Rose (including tuition, fees, room and board) is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast, and we award more than $34 million in Saint Rose scholarships, grants and financial aid.
Take a look at our bottom line, and view a cost comparison with a four-year public institution.
More about Financial Aid
Financial Aid is defined as any grant, scholarship, loan, or employment opportunity given with the express purpose of assisting you with education-related expenses to make your education affordable. Financial Aid is awarded on the basis of student need and the availability of funds.
The Admission and Financial Aid teams have designed a Guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid to help prospective students and families get to the bottom line and find that The College of Saint Rose is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast--while maintaining powerful academic opportunities.
Find Out More: