Communication

• FACULTY
• LEARNING OUTCOMES
• MAJOR IN COMMUNICATION
• INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJOR IN COMMUNICATION
• MINOR IN COMMUNICATION
• COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

FACULTY

Chair: Elliot King, Professor

Assistant Chair: Neil Alperstein, Professor

Professors: Neil Alperstein; Andrew Ciofalo (emeritus); Russell J. Cook; Elliot King

Assistant Professors: Gregory Hoplamazian; Jonathan J. Lillie; Sara Magee; Tania Rosas-Moreno; Karsonya Wise Whitehead

Instructor: Karen Smedley

Affiliate Faculty: Kevin Atticks; Gerard Blair; Mark Bowden; Patricia Bozic; Veronica Gunnerson; Elizabeth Oakes; John Stack; Gregg A. Wilhelm

Radio Station Manager: John Devecka

TV Studio Manager: Herbert J. Dunmore

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The mission of the communication program is to educate ethical leaders well versed in the communication arts. The program provides both breadth of understanding of communication in contemporary society and depth of study of the media professions. The communication major, minor, and interdisciplinary major help students to develop critical thinking and analytical skills, ask intelligent and relevant questions, and develop an appreciation of message design. Loyola communication graduates have a strong placement record in entry-level jobs in business, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and media, as well as in graduate school and law school.

Communication majors choose from specializations in advertising/public relations, digital media, or journalism, while also taking courses in publishing, popular culture, media and society, free speech, public speaking, or research. Small classes enable students to interact closely with the faculty. Most classes are taught in cutting-edge media technology labs.

The classroom experience is enhanced by internships in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York City, as well as campus cocurricular activities, including the Greyhound student newspaper, WLOY radio station, GreyComm Television Studios, the Loyolapound.com online magazine, Apprentice House student-run book publishing company, Advertising Club, Public Relations Student Society of America, and Speech and Debate Team.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon graduating with a degree in communication from Loyola University Maryland, students will:

• understand the principles of communication law and regulation and apply them within the communication progressions in which they work;
• understand the historical antecedents of our contemporary communication system and practice, the institutions in which it is embodied, and the roles played by professionals in strategizing, shaping, and executing communication messages;
• have an awareness of diversity, both domestic and global, as it relates to communication practices;
• understand theories that are relevant to communication concepts and be able to apply these theories to the analysis of texts and images;
• work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness, and diversity;
• think critically, creatively, and independently;
• conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communication professions, audiences, and purposes they serve;
• critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style, and grammatical correctness;
• apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

MAJOR IN COMMUNICATION

Introductory Courses: All majors take a minimum of four 200-level courses, including the required introductory course for their area of specialization, as follows:

• CM203 Introduction to Communication
• CM204 Introduction to Multimedia or
• CM205 Introduction to Journalism or
• CM226 Introduction to Advertising or
• CM227 Introduction to Public Relations
• Two additional CM200-level courses

Intermediate Courses: Majors must take a combination of eight 300- and 400-level courses, which include at least three courses in one specialization. Majors may choose a second specialization.

Advertising/Public Relations Specialization

• CM314 Communication Research
• CM350 Advertising Copy Writing
• CM352 Graphics II
• CM354 Writing for Public Relations
• CM355 Advertising Management
• CM356 Case Studies in Public Relations
• CM384 Book Marketing and Promotion

Digital Media Specialization

• CM311 Story Development and Scripting
• CM312 Web I
• CM322 Graphics I
• CM324 Video I
• CM351 Introduction to Radio
• CM352 Graphics II
• CM353 Video II
• CM365 Advanced Radio Production
• CM371 Web II
• CM372 Studio Television Production
• CM375 Video Animation
• CM388 Book Design and Production

Journalism Specialization

• CM301 News Reporting and Writing
• CM316 Travel Reporting
• CM340 Advanced Reporting
• CM360 Literary Journalism
• CM361 Copy Editing
• CM363 The Magazine Article
• CM366 Reporting on Urban Affairs
• CM367 Sports Writing
• CM382 Book Publishing
• CM383 Broadcast Journalism
• CM386 Special Topics in Journalism

General

• CM302 Free Speech, Free Expression
• CM305 Media and the Political Process
• CM306 Popular Culture in America
• CM330 Stereotypes in U.S. Film and Television
• CM342 Media, Culture, and Society
• CM347 The Documentary Tradition
• CM380 Advanced Study in Communication
• CM385 Special Topics in Communication
• CM390 Public Speaking II
• CM394 Research Experience
• CM421 Communication Internship (150 Hours)
• CM423 Communication Internship (50 Hours)

Senior Capstone Course

Students must take one senior capstone course in their specialization:

• CM400 Senior Capstone in Magazine Publishing
• CM401 Senior Capstone in Digital Media
• CM403 Senior Capstone in Advertising
• CM404 Senior Capstone in Public Relations

Bachelor of Arts

Requirements for the major and an example of a typical program are listed below:

Freshman Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Sophomore Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Junior Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

Senior Year

Fall Term

Spring Term

1. Communication majors must choose one specialization composed of one 200-level course, three 300-level courses, and a senior capstone course in advertising/public relations, digital media, or journalism.
2. Communication majors may choose a second specialization composed of one 200-level course, three 300-level courses, and a senior capstone course.
3. Advertising/public relations students are urged to consider minoring in marketing or business. Digital media students are urged to consider minoring in fine arts. All students are urged to consider minoring in writing.
4. Students are urged to consider American Society (SC103) as their social science core course and Media Ethics (PL316) as their ethics core course.
5. Photojournalism students should choose either a communication major and a visual arts minor with a photography concentration, or a visual arts major with a photography concentration and a communication minor.
6. One three-credit internship may be counted toward the graduation requirement. A one-credit internship does not count toward the graduation requirement.
7. Students must complete the diversity requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Requirement under Curriculum and Policies).

INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJOR IN COMMUNICATION

The interdisciplinary major consists of eight courses (listed below), as well as the requirements of a second major field.

• CM203.
• CM204 or CM205 or CM226 or CM227 (depending on the student's area of specialization).
• One additional CM200-level course.
• Four CM300- and 400-level courses.
• One CM400-level senior capstone course. The prerequisites for senior capstone courses are the appropriate 200-level introductory course and one 300-level course in the specialization of the senior capstone course.

MINOR IN COMMUNICATION

The minor consists of seven courses:

• CM203.
• CM204 or CM205 or CM226 or CM227 (depending on the student's area of specialization).
• Four CM300- and 400-level courses.
• One CM400-level senior capstone course. The prerequisites for senior capstone courses are the appropriate 200-level introductory course and one 300-level course in the specialization of the senior capstone course.