English Major with a Communications Concentration

Communications Concentration:

In addition to the core English Major requirements, students with a concentration in communications must complete:

Required courses:

A formal collection of the student?s completed communications-oriented work, to be submitted to the department as part of the student?s formal request to take ENG 400 (Internship). Offered every semester. Graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
An introduction to career-oriented uses of language and to the skills used universally by reporters, editors, advertising copywriters, public relations personnel and technical writers. Usually offered every semester.
† indicates a required course

Five additional communications courses, at least two of which must be at the 300 level

One of

The development of skills in speech and movement through the use of theater games and improvisations. Usually offered fall semester.
An exploration of the relationship between the actor and the text through script analysis and the performance of scenes and monologues. Usually offered spring semester.

The development of writing, speaking and listening skills for business management.
The development of the basic skills of journalistic writing such as interviewing, covering meetings, gathering and reporting news and writing features according to standard formats and styles. The course also covers legal and ethical aspects of journalism.
A workshop in writing poetry. Usually offered alternate fall semesters.
A workshop in writing short fiction. Usually offered alternate alternate fall semesters.
The development of writing, speaking and illustrating skills to convey specialized, often technical information to a non-technical audience.
Enhancement of basic journalistic skills by reading and writing longer investigative and feature articles. Usually offered alternate spring semesters. 3 credits.
Theory and technique of writing news and features for broadcast media. Editing and rewriting press association dispatches, gathering local news, recording interviews, and preparing newscasts and feature programs. Usually offered alternate fall semesters.
Principles and techniques of copywriting; selection and presentation of sales points; creative strategy in production of layouts. Usually offered alternate spring semesters.
Purposes and methods of modern public relations as practiced by business and industry, organizations and institutions, trades and professions. Public opinion evaluation. Planning of public relations programs. Usually offered alternate fall semesters.
Editing theory and exercises in copyreading, rewriting and headlining. Usually offered alternate spring semesters.
Exploration of the ways that digital technology transforms journalistic standards, practices, and values. Theoretical and practical introduction to professional blogs and the use of emerging technologies to create narratives appropriate for multimedia platforms. Covers social, cultural, economic, and political implications of online technologies and applications.
Investigation of the impact of the mass media on the political process and vice versa. Exploration of the history of the interaction between politics and media, and how emerging technologies are changing the face of political communication in the United States.
Study of important topics from the viewpoint of literature, communications, or a combination of the two. Past topics have included Sports Literature, Writing the Environment, Native American Literature, Film Criticism, Small Town Life, and Creative Nonfiction. May be repeated for credit when involving a topic not previously studied. Usually offered every semester.

At least three credits of ENG 400

Total: 21 credits