Excellence in education and an unwavering commitment to student success.
Areas of Study
Communications
Bachelor of Arts
Communication Major
Every facet of life demands clear, effective communication. Organizations need people who can collaborate, manage conflict, exchange information and make persuasive cases for ideas. And in our personal relationships, understanding how we communicate—and how communication breaks down—makes all the difference.
As a Communication major, you’ll learn the theory and practice of communication, developing skills you can apply immediately and throughout a career in any field you choose.
Our students are provided with opportunities and instruction that leads to developing critical thinking skills while building real-world oral and written skills within their own unique area of study, along with real-life working experiences in an educational setting.
With constantly evolving technology, today’s media and communication disciplines are innovative and interdisciplinary. In order to equip our students to meet the future demands of a changing society our experienced and knowledgeable faculty focuses on the practical application, historical study and critical analysis in a variety of disciplines. Faculty prepares our students of today to be the elite communicators and leaders of tomorrow.
Communication (Bachelor of Arts)
The communication discipline provides a strong curriculum that teaches students writing skills, speaking skills, media literacy, critical thinking skills, and sensitivity to cultural diversity. Skills in this discipline, such as the ability to create a written and/or verbal message, listen to others, interact with co-workers, demonstrate leadership, and being observant of our multicultural world are sought-after skills by employers in a variety of fields. The communication discipline also prioritizes the role of media, media production, and media literacy skills to better understand how individuals can voice their perspectives to make a difference in the world.
A degree in communication opens the door to possible careers in media production or broadcasting, advertising, public relations, journalism, health communication, law, and many more fields. Students often pursue graduate school to further understand the communication discipline, craft original research, and influence public discourse. There are also opportunities for experience in service to one’s community, research in media and cultural studies fields, and internships in professional fields such as broadcasting, advertising, public relations, and law. The communication discipline prepares you for success in graduate studies or a professional career in many professional and humanities-based fields.
Drawing on rich humanistic and Catholic traditions, the communication program at WU educates students for life, leadership, and service through a variety of avenues including human interaction, cultural diversity, theoretical foundations in rhetoric and cultural studies, and media production. Communication students at WU learn through hands-on experiences that expand upon what they discuss in the classroom. Some possible opportunities include media-based projects, internships, and service-learning activities. The required internship/community service portfolio sets our department apart from other departments because students leave with a tangible representation of what they have accomplished while earning their degree.
Learning Outcomes:
The communication major at WU stresses both analysis and production of different forms of communications. Upon completion of the program, the student will demonstrate the following outcomes:
- Create messages appropriate to audience, context, and communication goals.
- Analyze messages using critical thinking, media literacy, and active listening skills.
- Apply the research methods associated with the study of human communication.
- Compose written texts, electronic media-based communications and oral presentations that demonstrate communication ethics, cultural differences, and mindful message creation.
- Influence public discourse.
Requirements
Core Curriculum
31-33
The Wheeling University core curriculum provides all students, regardless of their major, with the skills that will allow them to pursue their own integral development and to contribute to the common good. All Wheeling University students must complete this Core Curriculum in addition to the requirements of their major. View Core Curriculum »
Major
Major | 42 cr
COMM 120
Principles of Communication
3 cr
This course provides an overview of the field of communication and how scholars analyze concepts and principles of human communication. Students understand how verbal and nonverbal messages communicate meaning in relationships, small group settings, and other cultures. Students examine their perceptions of themselves and others, effective listening techniques, and the role of media in their lives. Finally, public speaking ideas, such as audience analysis, informative and persuasive speaking, and delivery are also addressed.
Course Offered: Fall of every odd year
COMM 121
Persuasion
3 cr
Students in this course survey mass communication strategies and modern communication, and theories of communication failure. This class builds practical persuasive skills by teaching students to analyze and understand persuasive discourse, broadly considered. Students examine propaganda, twentieth-century marketing strategies, and demagoguery.
Course Offered: Fall of every even year
COMM 151
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
3 cr
This course introduces students to the theoretical perspectives and relational dynamics of interpersonal communication. Students emphasize building, maintaining, and sustaining familial, business and professional, friendly, and romantic relationships through verbal and nonverbal communication. They will also analyze the presence of conflict and discuss conflict management techniques. Finally, consideration of how social media has altered how we communicate with others will also be addressed.
Course Offered: Spring of every odd year
COMM 161
Fundamentals of Journalism
3 cr
Students study the principles and practices of journalism in a democratic society through the use of various platforms. This course examines and practices the skills of gathering information and writing ethical news and feature stories with precision, balance, and insight. This course emphasizes reporting techniques including investigative reporting, observing, interviewing, and broadcasting, as well as producing journalism stories for print and online, journalism blogs, and television broadcasts. Students produce several stories for their portfolios.
Course Offered: Fall of every odd year
COMM 204
Argumentation & Debate
3 cr
In this speech-based class, students learn and evaluate the types of arguments and how to build them using credible evidence. Using claims, propositions, credible evidence and reasoning, students examine how to improve their arguments. Recognizing opposing viewpoints and considering how to create refutations are also examined. In this primarily performance-based course, students professionally debate each other using a variety of topics and contexts.
Prerequisite: COMM 115 Course Offered: Fall of every even year
COMM 303
Race, Gender, and Class in Media
3 cr
This media studies course examines representations of race, gender, and class in the media. Students study how race, gender, and class are portrayed in media texts such as film, television, advertisements, and music videos. This course examines how the dominant ideologies associated with these media messages influence our cultural beliefs, perceptions of others, and broader hegemonic themes in society. Students consider to what extent media portrayals participate in the larger discussion of these themes in a democratic society.
Pre-requisites: COMM 120; COMM 131 Course Offered: Spring of every even year
COMM 311W
Public Relations Writing
3 cr
Students in this course study and produce the kinds of planning and writing required for effective public relations, including story pitches, news releases, brochures, public service announcements, presentations, speeches, Web sites, and media kits. This course emphasizes not only the various tools available to the public relations practitioner but also the rhetorical process of deciding and justifying which tools are most effective for moving target audiences from initial ignorance to the appropriate intended action.
Pre-requisites: COMM 120; COMM 121 Course Offered: Spring of every odd year
COMM 330
Communication Research Methods
3 cr
This course introduces students to the methods and analysis techniques utilized by Communication researchers. Students examine social scientific, interpretive/humanistic, and critical perspectives through quantitative and qualitative research methods. Finally, students critique previous Communication research as well as develop their own research proposal.
Pre-requisites: COMM 120; COMM 131 Course Offered: Fall of every even year
COMM 351
Integrated Marketing Communication
3 cr
This advanced course seeks to develop critical thinking skills through the examination of audience-centered case studies of how professionals in public relations and integrated communications develop objectives that translate into communication campaigns. The course emphasizes illustrations of theoretical applications in real-life situations. The development of analytical skills, ethical guidelines, and issues of diversity in communications practice are emphasized.
COMM 472
Communications Internship I
1 cr
COMM 473
Communications Internship II
2 cr
COMM 474
Communications Internship III
3 cr
COMM 481
Senior Seminar
3 cr
This course is a guided experience creating a senior capstone project that is the culmination of the student’s studies in the Communication major. A project will be related to the student’s post-graduation roles and will be presented at Research Day in the spring. Students also finalize a professional portfolio of work that they can show to potential employers or use for graduate school applications.
Pre requisites: COMM 120 Course Offered: Every Spring
Select 2 of the following:
cr
COMM 221
Topics in Communication I
3 cr
This course focuses on selected topics or subject areas within the Communication field. Topics may derive from Communication subjects such as, but not limited to, media studies, critical/cultural studies, media production, rhetoric, and persuasive messages.
Course Offered: Fall of every odd year
COMM 232
Visual Design
3 cr
In this process-based, workshop-style course, students will learn the basics of creating visual design in the areas of page layout, typography, and digital image editing. Students will learn how to use graphic elements such as geometric primitives, line, shape, texture, value, color, positive and negative space, foreshortening, and perspective.
Course Offered: Spring of every even year
COMM 259
Advertising
3 cr
Students study and practice advertising as a critical element of an organization’s total marketing plan. This course emphasizes the analysis and critique of previous advertisements and their effectiveness in message creation, audience analysis, persuasion, and ethical considerations. Students produce ads for print, broadcast and other media by creating effective and ethical examples of advertisements.
Course Offered: Fall of every odd year
BUSN 380
Digital Marketing Storytelling
3 cr
Students will learn advanced thinking and strategies for concepting, developing, and promoting digital content used in product marketing anchored in the strength of clear and impactful brand storytelling. This course will prepare students to create visual content (static and motion) that reaches targeted audiences with maximum flexibility across various digital channels.
Select one course in ENGL creative writing
3 cr
Electives
Total Credits
*ENGL 110 Process of Composition and COMM 115 Principles of Professional Speaking are considered Core Foundations.
Students who do not reach the 120 cr. minimum using all required course credits must take electives to reach the 120 cr. minimum.
** As an alternative to COMM 472 and 473, students may take COMM 474 Communications Internship III (3 cr)
Communications 4-Year Plan of Study
This plan is an overview of the recommended course sequence to earn this degree in 4 years. To graduate all students must fulfill the core, major, and elective requirements.
Year 1
Fall
COMM 120 Principles of Communication
3cr
COMM 115 Principles of Professional Speaking*
3cr
ENGL 110 Process of Communication
3cr
Core
3cr
Core
3cr
WJUS 101 Core
1cr
Total Credits
16cr
Spring
COMM 121 Persuasion
3cr
COMM 151 Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
3cr
Core
3cr
Core
3cr
Elective
3cr
Total Credits
15cr
Year 2
Fall
COMM 161W Fundamentals of Journalism
3cr
COMM 311W Public Relations Writing
3cr
Core
3cr
Elective
3cr
Elective
3cr
Total Credits
15cr
Spring
COMM 204 Argumentation and Debate
3cr
ARTS 142** or COMM Elective #1
3cr
Core
3cr
Elective
3cr
Elective
3cr
Total Credits
15cr
Year 3
Fall
COMM 303 Race, Gender, & Class in Media**
3cr
COMM 351 Integrated Marketing
3cr
Core
3cr
Elective
3cr
Elective
3cr
COMM 473 Communications Internship I
1cr
Total Credits
16cr
Spring
COMM 330 Communication Research Methods
3cr
ENGL Creative Writing Elective
3cr
COMM Elective #2
3cr
Core
3cr
Elective
3cr
Total Credits
15cr
Year 4
Fall
BUSN 380 Digital Marketing Storytelling
3cr
COMM 473 Communications Internship II
2cr
Core
3cr
Elective
3cr
Elective
3cr
Total Credits
14cr
Spring
COMM 481 Senior Seminar
3cr
Elective
3cr
Elective
3cr
Elective
3cr
Elective
3cr
Total Credits
15cr
Total Shown: 121 Credit Hours Note: *ENGL 110 Process of Composition and COMM 115 Principles of Professional Speaking are considered Core Foundations.
Communication Minor (18 Credits)
COMM 120
Principles of Communication
3 cr
This course provides an overview of the field of communication and how scholars analyze concepts and principles of human communication. Students understand how verbal and nonverbal messages communicate meaning in relationships, small group settings, and other cultures. Students examine their perceptions of themselves and others, effective listening techniques, and the role of media in their lives. Finally, public speaking ideas, such as audience analysis, informative and persuasive speaking, and delivery are also addressed.
Course Offered: Fall of every odd year
COMM 151
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
3 cr
This course introduces students to the theoretical perspectives and relational dynamics of interpersonal communication. Students emphasize building, maintaining, and sustaining familial, business and professional, friendly, and romantic relationships through verbal and nonverbal communication. They will also analyze the presence of conflict and discuss conflict management techniques. Finally, consideration of how social media has altered how we communicate with others will also be addressed.
Course Offered: Spring of every odd year
Select One:
cr
COMM 121
Persuasion
3 cr
Students in this course survey mass communication strategies and modern communication, and theories of communication failure. This class builds practical persuasive skills by teaching students to analyze and understand persuasive discourse, broadly considered. Students examine propaganda, twentieth-century marketing strategies, and demagoguery.
Course Offered: Fall of every even year
COMM 303
Race, Gender, and Class in Media
3 cr
This media studies course examines representations of race, gender, and class in the media. Students study how race, gender, and class are portrayed in media texts such as film, television, advertisements, and music videos. This course examines how the dominant ideologies associated with these media messages influence our cultural beliefs, perceptions of others, and broader hegemonic themes in society. Students consider to what extent media portrayals participate in the larger discussion of these themes in a democratic society.
Pre-requisites: COMM 120; COMM 131 Course Offered: Spring of every even year
One additional COMM class (any level)
3 cr
Two additional COMM classes (200-level or above)
6 cr
Also, on Campus Director page, please change William Maxwell from Adjunct to Communication Program Lead and add my campus phone number 304-243-2353.
There are many other things to update on that page, but one other one in my specific area is adding Shelby Garrett as an adjunct.