Bachelor of Arts Communication

Courses

The online communications degree includes 123 credits, 31 to 55 of which make up the Liberal Arts Core. The major’s communication core requirements consist of 33 to 42 credits, in which you may choose between two tracks: strategic communication or public relations and advertising. Within the major’s requirements, six credits of communication electives, nine credits of English credits and six credits of related electives are required. To fulfill the remaining credits necessary for degree completion, you must choose general elective courses.

Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)

All Alvernia University students are required to complete between 31-55 credits toward the Liberal Arts Core. Transfer work may be applicable for this area. As part of the application process, students receive specific information regarding remaining credits. Students entering the program with 70 or more transfer credits or an associate degree must complete 31-55 Liberal Arts Core credit hours.

General Elective Requirements (as needed)

A total of 123 credits, including three credits in a human diversity course, are required to earn a bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required.

Major Requirements (33-42 credits)

Communication Core Requirements (33-42 credits)

Course	Description	Credits
COM 122	Mass Media: Theory and Application Introduction to interrelationships between contemporary American life and communication media. Includes a survey of basic theories, models, and practices of mass communication.	3
COM 131	Writing for the Media Introduction to writing styles and format requirements necessary to write for various American media. Emphasis on process of gathering and writing news for print and broadcast media. This course meets the Writing Enhanced requirement.	3
COM 223	Speech for Virtual Communities The course develops communication skills to empower students in feeling comfortable and competent speaking for virtual communities. This includes exercises in the organization, creation, and delivery of narrated slide decks, podcasts, vlogs, and webinars using web-based software programs and social media platforms.	3
COM 260	Digital Storytelling This course provides students the opportunity to develop basic techniques in digital storytelling. Students are introduced to best practices in using text, audio and video to create professional multimedia packages. The course provides opportunities for students to develop production skills using commonly available multimedia production programs. By the end of the course, students will have produced a diverse portfolio of work customized to serve their specific career goals.	3
COM 420	Law and Ethics of Mass Communication Study of legal and ethical framework within which mass communication media operate. Examines legal philosophy bearing on the mass media, the development of freedom of expression, and privileges and restraints affecting the media. Topics include the study of libel, invasion of privacy, copyright, contempt and government regulation.	3

Select one of the following:

Course	Description	Credits
COM 480	Research Seminar Qualified students may choose a creative writing project, a mass media or audiovisual production project, or an intensive study of a phase of communication that culminates in a significant research paper. For senior English or communication majors.	3
COM 481	Internship By special arrangement, a student may be granted up to 12 credits for an extended assignment involving in-depth work in some phase of communication. Such assignments might include an apprenticeship in a TV or radio station, a position as reporter at a local newspaper, internship in the communication division of a corporation or non-profit agency, etc. Prerequisite: 2.5 GPA or permission of department chair.

Strategic Communication Track (18 credits)

Select four of the following:

Course	Description	Credits
COM 213	Interpersonal Communication An introductory survey of basic theories, models, and practices of interpersonal communication. Students learn interpersonal communication principles, sharpen awareness of own and others’ personal communication habits, and ultimately improve interpersonal communication skills.	3
COM 220	Event Planning This course introduces students to special event planning processes and techniques. Emphasis is on creating, organizing, identifying sponsors, marketing and implementing community and business events.	3
COM 240	Public Relations A study of principles and applications of public relations in contemporary society. The course will include an overview of the relationship between the public relations practitioner and both internal and external publics. Topics include media relations, publications, crisis management, and the development of public relations plans/campaigns.	3
COM 332	Multimedia Design and Editing Designed to introduce students to the processes involved in planning, designing, creating and copy-editing multimedia projects. Topics include design and layout principles for a variety of print and electronic publications, image and text manipulations, and editing for consistency and clarity.	3
COM 342	Social Media Marketing Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest — in order to stay competitive in today's world, companies and organizations need to implement social media into their integrated communications plan. This course will primarily focus on social media, but will also explore other facets of digital marketing. Topics to be covered include social media platforms, content development, multichannel integration, organic and paid search, mobile opportunities, web analytics and measurement, legal and security issues, crises, best practices and trending issues. If offered as a service-learning class, students will receive hands-on practical experience by developing a social media marketing campaign for a local non-profit organization.	3
COM 344	Writing for the Workplace Advanced writing course oriented toward communication beyond the academic world. Assignments include correspondence, memos, resumes, proposals, oral presentations, and one or more major reports. Introduces students to current communication software, to familiarize with requirements of writing in their specific disciplines, and to help develop a clear, concise writing style.	3
COM 362	New Media This course provides understanding and application of current interactive multimedia, exploring the use and integration of visual, textual, and aural components of digital environments. The challenges of writing for nonlinear and interactive texts are explored through online exercises, electronic presentations and publications, and web design.	3
COM 422	Social Impact of Mass Media Investigates the principal research findings concerning the role of mass media in shaping the attitudes, values, and behaviors of our culture. Includes survey of advanced theories, models and practices of mass communication.	3

Select two of the following:

Course	Description	Credits
BUS 206	Management Principles Provides an analysis of the traditional functions of management (i.e., planning, organizing, leading and controlling) with past, present and future application. Topics examined include quality issues, team-based approaches to work, organizational design and re-engineering efforts, motivational techniques, globalization, technology, diversity and ethics.	3
BUS 309	Advertising and Promotion In-depth study of factors that go into promotion and advertising campaigns. Students critically examine elements involved in planning, research, budgeting, public relations, media selection, creative concepts, message appeal, cost effectiveness, and legal constraints. Emphasis is placed on important role of promotion and advertising within the marketing context. Prerequisite: BUS 207 or permission of instructor.	3
BUS 342	Business Law Deals with the meaning and functions of business law as applied to negotiable contracts, sales, agency employment, real property, insurance, labor, anti-trust law, consumer protection, and other legal issues such as international, environmental, privacy, tort and criminal law.	3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology Introduction to major concepts and findings in psychology with emphasis on basic processes underlying human behavior. Prerequisite for all other psychology courses except PSY 306.	3
PSY 306	Group Dynamics Examination of forces involved in small group interaction. Small group work sessions developed.	3
PSY 350	Industrial & Organizational Psychology Explores application of psychological principles and results of empirical research to the behavior of individuals in the workplace. Topics include organizational issues (e.g., work motivation, job attitudes, leadership, and organizational stress) and industrial issues (e.g., including employee attraction, selection, placement, performance appraisal and feedback, and ergonomics). Intrinsic connection between science and practice is emphasized throughout the course. Prerequisite: PSY 101, junior status or permission of instructor.	3
PSY 405	Social Psychology This course aims to discover the different ways in which people interact with other individuals, groups, and the larger society. This course will include the research and theories regarding self and person perceptions, attitudes, social influence, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal relationships, aggression, and altruism, in addition to applications of social psychology to health, law, businesses, and the environment. Prerequisite: PSY 101, senior status or permission of instructor.	3

Public Relations and Advertising Track (18 credits)

Select four of the following:

Course	Description	Credits
COM 213	Interpersonal Communication An introductory survey of basic theories, models, and practices of interpersonal communication. Students learn interpersonal communication principles, sharpen awareness of own and others’ personal communication habits, and ultimately improve interpersonal communication skills.	3
COM 220	Event Planning This course introduces students to special event planning processes and techniques. Emphasis is on creating, organizing, identifying sponsors, marketing and implementing community and business events.	3
COM 240	Public Relations A study of principles and applications of public relations in contemporary society. The course will include an overview of the relationship between the public relations practitioner and both internal and external publics. Topics include media relations, publications, crisis management, and the development of public relations plans/campaigns.	3
COM 257	Communications in the Cloud The course explores the concept of "the cloud," the use of computing resources that are delivered as a service over a network (especially the Internet). In particular, this course addresses how the cloud is the backbone of social media and how the cloud facilitates business communication and collaboration. Technologies studied range from smartphones to tablets to virtualization to cloud services such as storage and telepresence. Social and ethical impact of cloud technology trends are discussed and debated.	3
COM 332	Multimedia Design and Editing Designed to introduce students to the processes involved in planning, designing, creating and copy-editing multimedia projects. Topics include design and layout principles for a variety of print and electronic publications, image and text manipulations, and editing for consistency and clarity.	3
COM 340	Advertising Workshop Students plan and produce advertising programs for the college and/or nonprofit organizations; workshop-styled atmosphere.	3
COM 342	Social Media Marketing Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest — in order to stay competitive in today's world, companies and organizations need to implement social media into their integrated communications plan. This course will primarily focus on social media, but will also explore other facets of digital marketing. Topics to be covered include social media platforms, content development, multichannel integration, organic and paid search, mobile opportunities, web analytics and measurement, legal and security issues, crises, best practices and trending issues. If offered as a service-learning class, students will receive hands-on practical experience by developing a social media marketing campaign for a local non-profit organization.	3
COM 362	New Media This course provides understanding and application of current interactive multimedia, exploring the use and integration of visual, textual, and aural components of digital environments. The challenges of writing for nonlinear and interactive texts are explored through online exercises, electronic presentations and publications, and web design.	3
COM 422	Social Impact of Mass Media Investigates the principal research findings concerning the role of mass media in shaping the attitudes, values, and behaviors of our culture. Includes survey of advanced theories, models and practices of mass communication.	3

Select two of the following:

Course	Description	Credits
BUS 207	Marketing Principles An introduction to the basic functions of marketing and the marketing concept. Included topics of study are market analysis, consumer behavior, marketing research, the development of the marketing mix, and international and social marketing.	3
BUS 208	Sales and Sales Management An introduction to the sales process including prospecting, lead generation and qualification, sales presentation and closing skills. Sales management focuses on planning, organizing, staffing and supervision of the sales effort.	3
BUS 309	Advertising and Promotion In-depth study of factors that go into promotion and advertising campaigns. Students critically examine elements involved in planning, research, budgeting, public relations, media selection, creative concepts, message appeal, cost effectiveness, and legal constraints. Emphasis is placed on important role of promotion and advertising within the marketing context. Prerequisite: BUS 207 or permission of instructor.	3
BUS 324	Consumer Behavior An examination of the decision-making processes of consumers and the social forces that influence consumer decisions with an emphasis on the implications of relevant theories and research findings upon the practice of marketing.	3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology Introduction to major concepts and findings in psychology with emphasis on basic processes underlying human behavior. Prerequisite for all other psychology courses except PSY 306.	3
PSY 405	Social Psychology This course aims to discover the different ways in which people interact with other individuals, groups, and the larger society. This course will include the research and theories regarding self and person perceptions, attitudes, social influence, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal relationships, aggression, and altruism, in addition to applications of social psychology to health, law, businesses, and the environment. Prerequisite: PSY 101, senior status or permission of instructor.	3
ART 103	Color and Design Study of the elements and principles of design and experimentation in the physical, psychological and theoretical use of color as applied to two-dimensional design. Students will learn to conceptualize, visualize and organize original designs.	3
ART 209	Basic Photography	3
ART 281	Graphic Design and Illustration Introduces students to the techniques, software, and materials used in graphic design. Emphasis is on basic design principles, layout, type, and integrity of image. These elements are used to produce final computer generated graphic solutions such as logos, flyers, ads and newsletters.	3
ART 309	Intermediate Photography	3

Communication Electives (6 credits)

English Electives (9 credits)

Related Electives (6 credits)

Career Outcomes

After earning your Bachelor of Arts in Communication online, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Copywriter
• Marketing manager
• Public relations specialist