Program Overview

Communication & Media Arts

The ability to get your message across is key to any successful venture, in work and in life. In this communication arts degree program, you’ll strengthen your skills in all forms of communication, including writing, reading, speaking, listening, video, graphics, and more.

Types

• Associate
• Bachelor
• Minor

Location

• On-Campus
• Online

Credits

• 42*

Cost

• $9,875
• $220/credit hour

Overview

Effective communication is at the core of all human interaction. Every industry values effective communication and critical thinking skills. Get a step ahead with a degree that helps you become the best communicator in the room.

With a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Media Arts, you’ll have a chance to earn college credit while learning career-building skills through practical experience in areas like forensics, broadcasting, and internships. At Cumberlands, classes are small enough for you to really get to know your classmates and professors, and we offer plenty of on-campus opportunities to stretch your wings in our digital media studio, campus newspaper, podcasting course, and nationally recognized speech and debate team. If you have a love for clear, responsible, and beneficial communication and a desire to explore careers ranging from education to business to social media, you should begin with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts.

By the Numbers

• $62,340: Average Salary
• 6%: Industry Growth
• 70+: Newspaper Awards
• 22: Debate Champions

Programs & Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts

Build a strong foundation in various forms of communication while you try your hand at specific aspects like mass communication or rhetoric. With your bachelor’s degree in communication arts, you can choose between four different concentration areas to go in-depth with key subject matter and specific career opportunities: advertising and public relations, journalism, integrated communication, or theatre arts.

Course Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts

• Core Courses (24 hours)
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to New Media
  • COMM 230 - Introduction to Public Speaking
  • COMM 233 - Introduction to Graphic Design
  • COMM 235 - Introduction to Video Production
  • COMM 332 - Small Group Communication
  • COMM 334 - Social Media
  • COMM 339 - Communication Law & Ethics
  • COMM 430 - Communication Capstone

Concentration (15 hours) from one of the following Communication Arts Emphasis Areas:

• Advertising and Public Relations
• Journalism
• Media Production
• Professional Communication
• Sports Communication

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts

• Core Courses (24 hours)
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to New Media
  • COMM 230 - Introduction to Public Speaking
  • COMM 233 - Introduction to Graphic Design
  • COMM 235 - Introduction to Video Production
  • COMM 332 - Small Group Communication
  • COMM 334 - Social Media
  • COMM 339 - Communication Law & Ethics
  • COMM 430 - Communication Capstone

Concentration (15 hours) from one of the following Communication Arts Emphasis Areas:

• Advertising and Public Relations
• Journalism
• Media Production
• Professional Communication
• Sports Communication

Choose one foreign language sequence:

• FREN 131 Elementary French I
• FREN 132 Elementary French II
• FREN 231 Intermediate French I
• FREN 232 Intermediate French II
• SPAN 131 Elementary Spanish I
• SPAN 132 Elementary Spanish II
• SPAN 231 Intermediate Spanish I
• SPAN 232 Intermediate Spanish II

Bachelor of Arts students must take 12 credits of the Lower Division General Education requirement in the same foreign language.

Emphasis Areas (15 hours)

A concentration requires completing 15 credit hours from one of the following sequences:

• Advertising and Public Relations
  • COMM 141 - Fundamentals of Advertising and PR
  • COMM 242 - Audience Insight
  • COMM 250 - Introduction to Crisis Communication
  • COMM 340 - Sports Branding
  • COMM 343 - Creative Strategy
  • COMM 444 - PR Campaigns
  • INTR 401 - Corporate Internship
• Journalism
  • COMM 150 - Introduction to Journalism
  • COMM 251 - Multimedia Journalism
  • COMM 356 - Writing for the Mass Media

Plus six (6) credit hours from the following:

• COMM 341 - Sports Information
• COMM 457 - Audio Production & Podcasting
• COMM 458 - YouTube
• ENGL 239 - Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENGL 339 - Studies in Creative Writing: Nonfiction
• INTR 401 - Corporate Internship
• Media Production
  • COMM 362 - Screenwriting
  • COMM 363 - Advanced Video Production
  • COMM 457 - Audio Production & Podcasting
  • COMM 458 - YouTube
  • COMM 460 - Advanced Graphic Design
  • INTR 401 - Corporate Internship
• Professional Communication
  • COMM 130 - Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 250 - Introduction to Crisis Communication
  • COMM 320 - Listening and Nonverbal Communication
  • COMM 321 - Argument in Everyday Life
  • COMM 432 - Theories of Persuasion
  • COMM 434 - Communication Theory
• Sports Communication
  • COMM 340 - Sports Branding
  • COMM 341 - Sports Information

Plus nine (9) credit hours from the following:

• BADM 320 - Sport Business and Society
• BADM 434 - Sports Marketing
• ESS 235 - Fitness and Sport Management
• INTR 401 - Corporate Internship
• PSYC 432 - Sport Psychology

Minors

A bachelor's-level communication arts degree isn’t the only option for becoming a better communicator. With a minor in communication arts, you will gain invaluable communication skills that will prove beneficial to any major and your future career. As with a bachelor’s in communication arts, you’ll choose one of four concentration areas to emphasize key subjects in your communications studies.

Course Requirements

• Communication Arts (21 hours)
  • COMM 130 - Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to Mass Media
  • COMM 230 - Introduction to Public Speaking
  • COMM 432 - Theories of Persuasion

*Choose 9 Elective Credit Hours from any COMM/IDC/JOUR courses

• Journalism (21 hours)
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to New Media
  • COMM 150 - Introduction to Journalism
  • COMM 233 - Introduction to Graphic Design
  • COMM 235 - Introduction to Video Production
  • COMM 251 - Multimedia Journalism
  • COMM 339 - Communication Law & Ethics
  • COMM 356 - Writing for the Mass Media
• Media Production (21 hours)
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to New Media
  • COMM 233 - Introduction to Graphic Design
  • COMM 235 - Introduction to Video Production
  • COMM 362 - Screenwriting
  • COMM 363 - Advanced Video Production
  • COMM 457 - Audio Production & Podcasting
  • COMM 460 - Advanced Graphic Design
• Sports Communication (21 hours)
  • BADM 320 - Sport Business and Society
  • BADM 434 - Sports Marketing
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to New Media
  • COMM 334 - Social Media
  • COMM 339 - Communication Law & Ethics
  • COMM 340 - Sports Branding
  • COMM 341 - Sports Information
• Strategic Communication (21 hours)
  • COMM 141 - Fundamentals of Advertising and PR
  • COMM 233 - Graphic Design
  • COMM 235 - Introduction to Video Production
  • COMM 343 - Creative Strategy
  • COMM 334 - Social Media

*Choose 6 Elective Credit Hours from any COMM/IDC/JOUR courses

• Advertising (21 hours)
  • BADM 334 - Principles of Marketing
  • BADM 430 - Advertising
  • BADM 435 - Consumer Behavior
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to New Media
  • COMM 141 - Fundamentals of Advertising and PR
  • COMM 233 - Introduction to Graphic Design
  • COMM 343 - Creative Strategy

Associate Degree in Communication Arts

An Associate of Applied Science in Communications or Media Arts could help you become a better communicator. With an associate degree in communication arts, you will gain invaluable communication skills that will benefit your future career and your life as a whole.

Course Requirements

• Associate in Communication Arts (18 hours)
  • COMM 130 - Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 141 - Fundamentals of Advertising and PR
  • COMM 150 - Introduction to Journalism
  • COMM 230 - Introduction to Public Speaking
  • COMM 233 - Introduction to Graphic Design
  • COMM 250 - Introduction to Crisis Communication
• Associate in Media Arts (18 hours)
  • COMM 131 - Introduction to New Media
  • COMM 150 - Introduction to Journalism
  • COMM 230 - Introduction to Public Speaking
  • COMM 233 - Introduction to Graphic Design
  • COMM 235 - Introduction to Video Production
  • COMM 251 - Multimedia Journalism

Mission & Goals

The mission of the communication arts degree at Cumberlands is to provide the opportunity and training to improve your verbal and written communication skills. Through the program, you will become a more effective and ethically responsible communicator.

• Develop stronger critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Sharpen your writing and verbal communication skills.
• Use a variety of broadcast technology.
• Create content for news outlets, social media, websites, speeches, and more.
• Work well in a team to accomplish common goals.

Career Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Writer/Author: $69,510
• Public Relations Specialist: $62,800
• Professor: $79,640
• Social Media Specialist: $56,770
• Advertising Manager: $133,380
• News Reporter: $48,370

Faculty Experts in Communication and Media Arts

Learn more about your future communications and media arts professors.

• Robert Floyd
  • Assistant Professor
  • Communications and Media Arts
• Jeremiah Massengale
  • Assistant Professor, Director of Journalism, Faculty Advisor for The Patriot (Campus Newspaper)
  • Communications and Media Arts
• Dr. Michael Dickman
  • Professor
  • Communications and Media Arts