Communication Degrees Online

The Communication Arts Department offers a major in communication arts with emphases in Media Studies or Writing, and a third track in Film Studies completed off-campus. The communication arts major engages culture-shaping media from the perspectives of a Christian worldview. Our major develops theoretical foundations for understanding and evaluating communication as well as skills for communicating artfully. We focus on the relationship between culture and communication; process, creator-audience connection, motivation, content-form connection, and power are all central concerns. While emphasizing both critique & creativity, the faculty works to:
Equip students intellectually and creatively to resist uncritical conformity to popular communication trends
Nurture students to be agents of transformation through skillful, intentional participation with popular media.

COURSE OF STUDY
Theory and practice make up the foundations courses for the communication arts major. You’ll have the opportunity to join conversations about the nature of communication throughout history. By studying theory, ethics, and critical approaches, we explore how communication and art are essential to what it means to be wholly human, in God’s image. Courses in the practice part of the program provide a controlled environment where you can experiment with the “how” of this discipline, in speech, writing, and visual communication. In its application section, the curriculum emphasizes two broad communication forms:

Media Studies
Focuses on image-oriented media, particularly film, video, broadcast, the internet and other mass media.

Writing
Concentrates in writing including journalism and advertising/PR, or in creative writing areas such as scriptwriting and creative non-fiction. Requires a 4-credit internship to be completed sometime in the junior or senior year.

In our major plan, you can become skilled in creative processes that use art and technology to communicate ideas—so you can transform messages into visual communication that transcends words. Through this training and education, you can learn to use color, type, symbols, computer images, and photography to produce messages to clearly inform and persuade viewers; aesthetic judgment with project management skills to develop overall communication strategies for clients; collaborate with marketing researchers, public relations specialists, and advertisers to develop design alternatives; and with illustrators, computer artists, photographers, and printers to complete compelling designs to effectively communicate client messages.

To earn this degree, complete at least 120 units of coursework, which we describe in the sections that follow:
at least 35 units of liberal studies requirements Be aware that you may not use courses with a VC prefix to satisfy these liberal studies requirements.
at least 66 units of major requirements
elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

Be aware that some courses required for your degree may have prerequisites that you must also take. Check the courses in the appropriate subject. (You may be able to count these prerequisites toward your liberal studies or general elective credit.)

That you must complete NAU’s diversity requirements by taking two 3-unit courses, one in ethnic diversity and one in global awareness. These courses may be used to meet other requirements within your academic plan if you choose them carefully. Click here for a list of the available diversity courses.

Also be aware that NAU requires that at least 30 units of the courses you take for your degree must be upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above).

Finally, please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement; however, you must still meet the total of at least 120 units to graduate. Contact your advisor for details.

The Diploma in Visual Communication prepares students to be packaging and branding designers with a strong focus on high-quality communication aesthetics, business communication and novel user-experience design strategies.

Students will get first-hand experience on a broad spectrum of design expertise, from product packaging and info-graphics, to product and corporate identity and branding, interface design and interaction design. With this diploma, Visual Communication graduates will help companies meet the unmet needs of global consumers for better packaging and branding of diverse goods and services for the growing packaging design industry.

The Art Department’s mission is to provide educational opportunities that will enable our students to become competent in the theory and practice of visual art. The Department will emphasize technical proficiency, conceptual understanding, increased awareness of the student’s artistic talents, and the role of the arts in society.

Degrees Offered Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Art
The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree in art is designed for the student interested in becoming a professional artist or entering graduate school in studio art. Students majoring in art will take courses in painting, drawing, photography, design, and art history.

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication
The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Visual Communication is built on the concept of design as a means of creative communication. The degree is designed to prepare the student to enter the field of graphic design or related fields. The three areas of study within the program are graphic design, illustration, and photography. Students pursuing a degree in Visual Communication will take courses in all three areas. In addition to the visual skills obtained, students will study advanced language skills. All courses emphasize innovation as opposed to imitation. Visual skills coupled with language skill give students the technical mastery and conceptual competence that will enable them to solve creatively tomorrow’s design problems.

Credits
Academic Foundations Requirements
(See page 70) Students should consult with their advisors to determine if specific courses are necessary in order to satisfy the Academic Foundations requirements within this major. 37

Mass Communication Core Requirements
COMT 201 Technology for Communication 3
COMT 222 Media Writing 3
COMT 230 Advanced Public Speaking
OR
COMT 450 Performance Skills for Professionals 3
COMT 320 Introduction to Mass Communication 3
COMT 321 Theories of Media and Society 3
COMT 325 Introduction to Visual Communication 3
COMT 330 Persuasion 3
COMT 425 Media Criticism 3
COMT 440 Popular Culture and Cultural Studies 3
COMT 461 Multicultural Mass Communication 3
COMT 465 Communication Theory 3
COMT 470 Capstone Project 3
Total 36

Mass Communication Supplemental Courses
Following advisor’s consultation, select 5 courses (15 credits) from the following:
COMT 210 Group Dynamics 3
COMT 322 Principles of Public Relations 3
COMT 326 New Technology and Communication 3
COMT 328 Essentials of Video Production 3
COMT 340 Performance for the Camera 3
COMT 350 Performance Theory and Criticism 3
COMT 420 Media Advertising 3
COMT 421 Communicating Through the Internet 3
COMT 422 Issues in Public Relations 3
COMT 428 Advanced Video Production 3
COMT 429 The Law of Public Communication 3
COMT 431 Political Communication 3
COMT 481 Media for Social Change 3
COMT 488 Topics in Communication 3
COMT 490/492/493 Seminar, Workshop, or Internship 3
Total 15
Total minimum credits required for major 51
Language Requirement 14-15
Electives 18-19
Total minimum credits required for degree 120

Many of the images and visual forms we see around us – on web pages, in print and TV ads, on packaging, posters, signs, stationery and books – are created by graphic designers.

Visual communication, or graphic design, is all about communicating a message by visual means. Everywhere you look, chances are a graphic designer has been involved in creating a visual message: from posters, album covers, magazine ads and newspapers, to packaging, menus and business logos – they are all created by graphic designers.

Graphic designers combine art and technology to communicate ideas. They work with a variety of tools, including images and typography, to create a unique, effective way of getting a message to the audience.

Graphic designers can expect to find a variety of employment opportunities, as most organisations require the services of a graphic designer at some point. Many graduates work for themselves or with other designers in a studio environment, while others may for commercial, government and educational organisations as part of a larger communications team.

Admission Requirements
Must have completed an approved A.A.S. degree as stipulated in the articulation agreement
GPA of 2.5 or higher in A.A.S.
Completion of an approved B.A.S. Degree Plan

Requirements
The degree requirements have four components:
General education and liberal studies courses
Foundation courses
Business core courses
Required courses

General Education and Liberal Studies
Students in degree programs at Metropolitan State University must complete while at the university, or transfer to the university, a number of courses to meet general education and liberal studies requirements. View General Education and Liberal Studies (GELS) for Metropolitan State University.

Mercyhurst’s communication program prepares students for entry into the communication industry with the choice of three exciting tracks of study. The strategic communication concentration prepares students for a career in public relations, advertising, marketing, event planning, reputation management and other specialized areas in the growing world of communication. Graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of different fields, including corporate, nonprofit, and governmental communication. The new media concentration is designed to mix journalism, production, and all of the emerging media outlets to prepare students to work in today’s converged media environment. Visual communication students focus on creativity as well as learning the technical and communication skills needed for the design field within professional communication. Working with both print and multimedia outlets, students will be prepared to work in fields relevant to advertising, public relations, marketing, software industry and media.

Catalog #
Class name

10206180
Advanced Media

10206105
Communication Design

10809197
Contemporary American Society

10206108
Digital Drawing & Design Fund

10206142
Digital Video Prod/Editing

10206125
Instruction Media Systems

10206133
Interface Design

10201181
Intro Computer Graphics

10203130
Intro Digital Photography

10206110
Introduction to 3D

10804123
Math w Business Apps

10206135
Multi-Media Presentations

10801196
Oral/Interpersonal Comm

10206140
Portfolio Preparation

10206107
Presentation Design

10206120
Production Plan/Control

10809199
Psychology Of Human Relations

10206131
Sound Production Techniques

10801197
Technical Reporting

10206130
Video Production

10206104
Visual Communication Internshp

10201177
WebPage Design

10801195
Written Communication