Paula K. Dixon, M.A. Communication

Communication Department  ::  Emmanuel College  :: www.ec.edu/communication

Communication Department

Purpose, Goals, Objectives, Admission Requirements, Graduation Requirements

Purpose

“Impacting the World. For Christ. Through Media.”

With this motto, the Communication Studies degree strives to prepare students for careers as Christian communicators who integrate faith, learning and living with a broad understanding of contemporary communication issues and skills adaptable to a variety of contexts.

The communication studies major at Emmanuel College teaches students about information processes and communication technologies and how they impact local and global communities. Courses in this major incorporate community, information and technology to address communication issues. During the last semester, majors will each create a senior project in CM471 demonstrating their knowledge of the core courses within the communication studies major.

Goals

Flexibility is a major strength of the communication studies major, and students are required to complete 24 hours of core communication courses, then they select one of two 21-hour concentrations: corporation communication or multimedia communication. These concentrations are designed to lead toward acceptance into graduate school for communication or secure entry-level positions in a variety of career fields, including Media Production, Public Relations, Video Editing, Advertising, Layout and Design, Marketing, Fundraising, Human Resource Development, Communication Training and Consulting, etc.

Objectives

Graduates of EC’s Communication Studies program will have the following knowledge and skills:

1. how to relate to and facilitate interpersonal and group interactions successfully;
2. organize and lead small teams of people toward a common goal;
3. the theories and principles of the communication field;
4. differentiate between qualitative, quantitative and critical theory;
5. the history of the communication discipline and its impact on society and the profession;
6. integrate a basic history of mass media technologies with today’s communication challenges;
7. the methods of anticipating, adapting to, and participating in changes, including emerging technological changes, important to both society and professional careers;
8. manage conflicts and changes in the work place;
9. how to effectively gather information, research, and analyze issues using a variety of methods;
10. analyze situations to arrive at ethical solutions in handling publicity;
11. the legal and ethical systems in communication;
12. apply the First Amendment right to freedom of the press and the important responsibilities accompanying that freedom;
13. how to acquire, develop, and convey information, thoughts and feelings through listening, reading, writing, speaking and multimedia productions; and
14. demonstrate sensitivity in effectively and respectfully communicating with all members of society regardless of gender, origin, or special needs.

Admissions Requirements

To be officially considered as a communication studies major, students must hold sophomore status or higher, be in good stand­ing, and hold a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher. Majors whose cumulative GPA drops below 2.50 may not take upper division communication courses.

For students who drop below a 2.50 while an established major, acceptance back into the major is based on the decision of communication faculty. Under no circumstances will students be admitted or readmitted into the program without the minimum 2.50 GPA. Students with GPAs less than 2.50 will not be eligible to receive a degree in communication studies from Emmanuel College .

Graduation Requirements

Students who successfully meet the four requirements below will be recommended to the Registrar for graduation with a degree in commu­nication studies from Emmanuel College :