Communication, B.A.

Communication students examine how and why people create messages, and what effects those messages have. Then they put that knowledge to use as message creators.

Students focus their learning interests in one of three concentrations: Communication Advocacy, Digital Media, and Integrated Marketing Communication. Each area provides theory and praxis that will enable students to succeed in our ever-changing communication environment.

The Russert Department participates in the College of Arts and Sciences Professional Development Program. Students complete the majority of requirements in COM 205 Professional Communication.

Program Learning Goals in Communication

Graduates of the Russert Department will have the knowledge and ability to:

1. Create, present, and advocate ethical messages in a variety of communication forms for diverse audiences.

2. Evaluate message effectiveness and ethics.

3. Analyze how audiences receive, interpret, and react to messages.

4. Apply communication theories and perspectives to specific contexts.

5. Implement a research methodology appropriate to their area of study.

Communication majors develop critical thinking and excellence in writing, and speaking.  Students complete foundational courses and then pursue an area of interest with the assistance of a department advisor.

Major Requirements

42 credit hours (24 must be earned at John Carroll University)

I. COM Core classes completed by all communication students. 21 hours:

Subtotal: 21

Students majoring in Communication are encouraged to complete ED 101 Making Sense of Data, ER 115 Quantitative Analysis in Science, Business, and Humanities, or PO 105 Political Analysis to fulfill the Quantitative Analysis requirement for the Integrative Core. 

II. Breadth of Interest Courses

Students complete two courses selected from the list below. These courses provide breadth of knowledge in the Communication major.

III. COM Concentrations: 15 hours

Communication Advocacy Concentration

The ability to advocate effectively and ethically is critical to society. Whether ensuring that the most vulnerable have their voices heard, challenging erroneous claims, safeguarding rights, accessing information, expressing opinions, or advancing policies, successful advocacy is essential to social justice, law, public policy, sales, and virtually any area where the ability to persuade is critical to success.

Students completing the Communication Advocacy concentration will also have the knowledge and ability to:

• Advocate effectively in a variety of contexts;

• Identify and apply communication theories to explain how public messages or performances achieve their results;

• Write effective interpretations and critiques of messages

Students complete all of the following courses:

Students choose one 300-level elective:

Students choose one 400-level elective:

Digital Media Concentration

Today’s communication professionals create content in a variety of media, from print to photography to audio and video. This concentration focuses on storytelling in digital forms. Courses in the concentration develop knowledge and skill in writing, researching and producing digital stories in multiple formats, and analyzing the impacts, effects and roles of digital media in our society.

Students completing the Digital Media concentration will have the knowledge and ability to:

•    Apply ethics, critical thinking, social justice, and communication theories to storytelling in digital media, including journalism, video and audio.

Students complete all of the following courses:

Students choose one 300-level elective:

Students choose one 400-level elective:

Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) Concentration

IMC pushes students beyond the traditional boundaries of public relations, advertising, social media, and sales promotion, to think strategically, ethically, and creatively across channels and disciplines. Students examine and execute ways to understand audiences, craft messages, and coordinate communications to create strategic campaigns with clarity, consistency, and maximum communication impact.

Students completing the Integrated Marketing Communication concentration will have the knowledge and ability to:

• Integrate multiple theories and channels ethically to create campaigns

• Use consumer research to apply IMC strategies to develop strong campaigns

• Identify and analyze problems and provide solutions

Students must complete all of the following courses:

Students choose one 300-level elective

Students choose one 400-level elective

Total Credit Hours: 42