School of Communication and Journalism
MacLean Hall 260, (218) 477-2983
Chair: Aaron Quanbeck
Faculty: Jason Anderson, Kay Beckermann, Rebecca Gardner, Denise Gorsline, Theresa Hest, Anthony Ocana, Chris Walker

The School of Communication and Journalism offers majors in Integrated Advertising & Public Relations, Broadcast Journalism, Communication Studies, English & Mass Communications, Multimedia Journalism, Photojournalism, and Digital Media Management. Minors are offered in Broadcast Journalism, Communication Studies, Integrated Advertising & Public Relations, Mass Communications, Media Analysis, Photojournalism, and Sports Communications.

Leaders in the world today have clear visions for the future, and they know how to transform those visions into reality. Communication is at the heart of that transformation. Effective leaders interpret and evaluate messages, and then create clear and intentional messages to initiate and facilitate change. A leader’s communication contributes to collaborative relationships and the achievement of common goals.

Each of the majors offered in the School of Communication and Journalism balances the breadth of the liberal arts and sciences curriculum with the depth of a program specific curriculum to provide a student with a well-rounded education. Graduates complete a total of 120 credits with a minimum of 40 credits in coursework at the 300 to 400 levels. Distribution of the total credits needed to complete the baccalaureate degree include 42 credits in the liberal arts and sciences curriculum; 39 to 69 credits in a selected major; and the remaining credits earned through internship credits, restricted and/or unrestricted elective credits.

Each of the professional majors include coursework designed to enhance a student's verbal and visual storytelling skills, as well as the technical skills needed to effectively share a message(s) using multimedia platforms. Additionally, each of the professional majors includes theory-based coursework that addresses contemporary issues involving rhetorical theories of communication, principles of effective communication, communication ethics, and communication law. The goal of each major is to prepare the graduate for a professional communication career.

Additionally, the major in Communication Studies is a professional major whose goal is to provide career preparation designed to be applicable in numerous industries as well as providing the research background needed for advanced degree work. Within the Communication Studies major, students may choose one of the following emphases: 1) Event Planning and Promotion or 2) Communication Training and Development.

Similarly, with its liberal arts base, the dual major in English and Mass Communication provides career preparation applicable in numerous industries, and the publishing industry in particular, as well as providing the research background needed for advanced degree work.

Mission Statement

The primary mission of the School of Communication and Journalism is to empower students to become effective communicators in the modern era. Through experiential learning activities, we prepare storytellers who can create, refine, evaluate, and distribute messages that have an impact on the world around them.

Vision Statement

The School of Communication and Journalism aspires to be a leader in preparing communicators to influence their communities and the world. We strive to become the top choice for students wanting to apply classroom knowledge and emerging technologies to current professional practices. Toward this end, we will further develop our network of professional communicators, regionally and nationally, in order to best prepare students to contribute immediately when they graduate.

Overarching Learning Outcomes

Overarching learning outcomes for the programs involved in the School of Communication and Journalism are, by the very nature of the discipline, rhetorical in their roots. While each program major identifies learning outcomes based upon its own professional standards, practices, and evolving trends in the industries and careers served by the program major, all still find their roots in classical rhetorical communication theory. Each of the School's program majors is inclusive of the following learning outcomes:

• To develop an ability to critically analyze a communication situation to discover its salient issues for purposes of developing an appropriate response.
• To develop an ability to identify and evidence responsive talking points that provide a critical response for the public(s) involved in the communication situation.
• To develop an ability to effectively partition the response as a means of maximizing the impact of the messaging on those involved in the communication situation.
• To develop an ability to strategically select the media platform(s) to be employed as the communication vehicle(s) to engage the public(s) involved in the communication situation.
• To develop an ability to effectively employ the use of visual and verbal symbols, motion and sound as a means of adding an appropriate level of clarity and emphasis to one's messaging.
• To develop the skill set(s) needed to effectively deliver one's message to those involved in the communication situation.
• To develop an understanding and commitment to upholding the ethical standards of communication that is a part of the situation being addressed.
• To demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively as a member of a group or team.
• To demonstrate the ability to create publication documents/productions that meet industry-based standards.