Department of Communication

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Department of Communication

227 Holmes Hall
(585) 395-2511

Chairperson and Associate Professor: Joseph Chesebro; Professor: Floyd D. Anderson; Associate Professors: Virginia Bacheler, Donna Kowal, Katherine Madden, Carvin Eison; Assistant Professors: Matthew Althouse, Monica Brasted, Michael Cavanagh, Hsiang-Ann Liao, Karen Olson, Kevin Sager.

• Requirements
• Broadcasting Track
• Journalism
• Courses

Two major curricula are available to students through the Department of Communication: the communication major and the journalism major.

In addition to the major, the department offers an 18-credit minor in communication studies.

Major in Communication BA or BS
Communication Studies Track

The major in communication studies explores communication in a variety of contexts ranging from interpersonal communication to mass persuasion and the social influence of media. The major enables students to investigate a variety of communication activities with learning experiences in theory, application of theory, and performance. The major’s two available specialties permit students to develop a program of study in those aspects of communication studies that suit their academic interests and career goals.

Majors concentrating in the communication studies track are required to complete one of two 18-credit specialties, a 18-credit common core and either a minor or a second major in a discipline other than communication, broadcasting or journalism.

Requirements
Students must complete 36 credits in the program, with at least 21 credits in courses numbered 300–499. The student majoring in communication studies, in addition to completing the 18-credit communication studies core, must select one of the two 18-credit specialties offered in the major. At least 15 of the 36 credits in communication studies must be taken at SUNY Brockport.

Successful completion of the major requires students to complete, with a grade of “C” or better , CMC 202 Principles of Communication (required of all majors in the Department of Communication, and must be taken at SUNY Brockport).

I. Communication Studies Core (18 credits required; 6 credits must be in upper-division courses)

C. Required Core Breadth Courses:

Students majoring in communication studies must complete three additional commu- nication studies core courses (nine credits) of their own choosing in the communication studies major specialty other than that one elected. For example, students electing the communication and persuasion specialty must select nine credits from courses in the interpersonal and organizational communication specialty. Students electing the inter- personal and organizational communication specialty must complete nine credits from courses in the communication and persuasion specialty.

II. Communication Studies Major Specialties (18 credits required; 15 credits must be in upper-division courses)

A. Communication and Persuasion Specialty

Elective courses selected from the following (9 credits):

B. Interpersonal and Organizational Communication Specialty

III. Required Minor or Second Major in Outside Discipline (other than communication, broadcasting, journalism)

All students pursuing the major in communication studies must also complete a minor (normally 18-21 credits) or a second major (normally 30-36 credits) in a discipline other than communication, broadcasting or journalism.

In lieu of a minor or second major in another discipline, students may elect, with departmental approval, a contractual program consisting of a minimum of 18 credits in courses in an area not identified as a formal minor or major at SUNY Brockport. Study of a foreign language other than French or Spanish (in which minors are offered), bilingual-multicultural studies, or foreign cultural studies is encouraged as such a program.

Minor in Communication Studies (18 credits)
The minor in communication studies consists of CMC 201 Public Speaking, CMC 202 Principles of Communication, and 12 credits in one of the two communication studies specialties (communication and persuasion, or interpersonal and organization communication) distributed as follows: nine credits of required courses and three credits of elective courses selected by advisement.

Broadcasting Track

The broadcasting track of the communication major prepares students for employment in television and radio stations, cable companies, independent production studios, and corporate media centers .

The broadcasting track consists of at least 36 credits of course work, including 15 credits in liberal arts core courses and 21 credits in specialization courses (nine credits in required courses and 12 credits in elective courses). At least 15 credits in communication must be completed at SUNY Brockport.

Successful completion of the broadcasting track requires that students complete, with a grade of “C” or better , the following courses: CMC 202 Principles of Communication (required of all majors in the Department of Communication; must be taken at SUNY Brockport), and CMC 242 Fundamentals of Radio/TV.

III. Required Minor or Second Major in Outside Discipline (other than communication, broadcasting, journalism)

All students pursuing the broadcasting track of the communication major must also complete a minor (normally 18-21 credits) or a second major (normally 30-36 credits) in a discipline other than broadcasting, communication or journalism.

In lieu of a minor or second major in another discipline, students may elect, with departmental approval, a contractual program consisting of a minimum of 18 credits of courses in an area not identified as a formal minor or major at SUNY Brockport. Study of a foreign language other than French or Spanish (in which minors are offered). bilingual-multicultural studies or foreign cultural studies is encouraged as such a program.

Major in Journalism BA or BS in Journalism

Administered by the Department of Communication, the major in journalism prepares students for careers in newspaper, magazine, broadcast and wire service journalism; public and community relations; public information; advertising; corporate communications; and government service.

The major in journalism consists of at least 36 credits of course work in journalism and mass communication courses within the Department of Communication, together with a requirement that students complete a minor or second major (or, with department approval, a contractual program of study not constituting a minor or second major) in a disciplinary area outside the Department of Communication. Completion of all requirements for the major thus requires a minimum of 54 credits of required and elective courses. At least 15 of the 36 credits required in journalism and mass communication courses must be taken at SUNY Brockport.

Successful completion of the major in journalism requires students to complete, with a grade of “C” or better, the following courses, CMC 202 Principles of Communication (required of all majors in the ­Department of Communication and must be taken at SUNY Brockport); CMC 210 Communication Revolutions in Western Civilization, and either CMC 224 Newswriting or CMC 243 Radio and Television Writing (or their approved transfer equivalents).

Journalism and Mass Communication Requirements

III. Required Minor or Second Major in Outside Discipline (other than communication, broadcasting, journalism)
All students pursuing the major in journalism must also complete a minor (normally 18-21 credits) or a second major (normally 30–36 credits) in a discipline other than journalism, broadcasting or communication.

In lieu of a minor or second major in another discipline, students may elect, with department approval, a contractual program consisting of a minimum of 18 credits of courses in an area not identified as a formal minor or major at SUNY Brockport. Study of a foreign language other than Spanish or French (in which minors are offered), bilingual-multicultural studies or foreign cultural studies is encouraged as such a program.

Communication Courses