Communication and Media

Workshops in journalism, fiction, poetry, and/or autobiography will hone your critical and creative writing skills. At the same time, production courses will give you the chance to learn how to create your own podcasts or radio or TV shows. Participating in an internship (or two) will provide you with experience in the field and the opportunity to work alongside professionals. Taking courses in communication theory will give you the key terms, concepts, and skills those professionals use. All of these learning experiences will be capped in your final year as you collaborate with your classmates to produce a project to present before a live audience—and put on your resume.

Assumption also offers a program in Organizational Communication through the Grenon School of Business.
 
When you graduate, you’ll find that the digital revolution continues to create new opportunities for people who can communicate effectively. Communications majors once felt limited to creative writing, journalism, publishing, and public relations, which continue to provide jobs today. But now, virtually all non-profits, political groups, big businesses and small businesses, sports teams, social justice activists, government agencies, and others need to put across their messages using more than one form of media. This means that most organizations will need communications and media professionals to help them tell their stories. And while no one knows how emerging technologies will transform life in future years, you can feel confident that learning how to master the arts of critical thinking, writing, production, and the use of emerging technologies as an Assumption Communication and Media major will prepare you to be an effective and successful communicator no matter how the world changes.

As a major in Communication and Media, you will learn to read television, radio, and film productions (as well as websites) as constructed texts while developing your voice as a writer and your skills in radio and television production.  Majors in Communication and Media can specialize in journalism and professional writing, creative writing, media production, or create their specialization. Several specialty courses also count towards the minor in graphic design.  In 2019, 100% of our Communication and Media graduates were employed or enrolled in additional education within six months of graduation.

Learning Goals of Major in Communication and Media

1. To pose questions and employ methods specific to the field of communication studies and to explore the implications of these ways of knowing; 
2. To read film, audio, and printed texts critically and empathetically, recognizing the significance, quality, and consequences of images and language; 
3. To write and speak effectively, exhibiting an awareness of audience; 
4. To ask ethical questions about others’ and one’s communication practices and the tensions and consequences that result from various rhetorical decisions;  to consider how communication strategies impact students’ values and ways of being in the world; 
5. To gain a more informed and global understanding of cultural and historical differences; 
6. To take intellectual risks, synthesize the questions and approaches of the discipline they have learned, and take responsibility for their learning. To become lifelong active and engaged learners.