Communication Studies Major
The BA in Communication Studies is designed for students interested in a broad range of fields and career paths. The major helps students develop advanced skills in communication with an emphasis on digital media, including multimedia production and journalism, cinema studies and film production, video editing and production, web content strategy and design, and writing for social media platforms.
Communication students acquire a grounding in the study of digital communications while exploring current ideas and tools that are shaping society. A hallmark of the Communication Studies curriculum is the emphasis on both theory and practice. Students have access to cutting-edge resources as they make and reflect upon media and in the process acquire important skills in teamwork, innovation, design, and entrepreneurship. The major prepares students for careers in digital media including web content strategy and design, social media/community management, and multimedia journalism.
Students can choose from a general Communication degree or elect to concentrate in one of two areas: Film and Television or Journalism. See "Requirements" above for a full list of course options.
General Communications Concentration
The general Communication prepares students for a broad range of career opportunities in the media industry, including public relations and strategic communication. Students get a solid foundation critical media analysis and multimedia production through the department core and then are free to choose from a large list of courses ranging from podcasting to non-profit communications to health communication.
Film/TV Concentration
The Film/TV concentration within the Department of Communication, Film and Journalism offers students a comprehensive foundation in visual storytelling, film and television studies and history, and production practice. Grounded in the broader study of communication, the program emphasizes how film and television function as powerful media for both reflecting and shaping culture, while placing a strong emphasis on hands-on production experience. Students learn screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and sound design using industry-standard tools, while collaborating on projects that mirror professional workflows.
Journalism Concentration
The journalism concentration within the Department of Communication and Media Studies offers students a comprehensive foundation in journalistic storytelling across multiple media formats, including text, graphics, audio, photo, and video. Students identify and explore critically, the historical role of journalism as a public service essential to democracy and the common good. Grounded in the study of mass media and society, the program is guided by professional standards and ethics, and journalism best practices that include rigorous research, writing, and fact- checking in the production of accurate, fair, and compelling stories.
The Department of Communication, Film and Journalism is committed to excellence in teaching and learning. Faculty are dedicated to the art of thinking across media, platforms, and theories to create an innovative and socially responsible curriculum that goes beyond the classroom. Communication Studies students gain hands-on experience by working closely with faculty on a variety of experiential learning opportunities.
Beautiful Social is one of signature programs. A donor funded learning laboratory that partners students with local non-profits for real-world experience in media analysis and production.
Goal 1: Students will demonstrate a critical awareness of important aspects of media-based communication.
Outcome 1.1: Students will critically analyze media-based works for how they create meaning.
Outcome 1.2: Students will critically analyze the relationship between media and society.
Goal 2: Students will apply disciplinary approaches to specific communicative situations.
Outcome 2.1: Students will create media projects using disciplinary approaches.
Outcome 2.2: Students will create work that expresses their creativity and voice.
Goal 3: Students will articulate an understanding of communication-related social issues, ethics, and inclusivity.
Outcome 3.1: Students will analyze the relation between media and social responsibility within assignments.
Outcome 3.2: Students will apply elements of social responsibility, ethics, and inclusivity in projects.
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | ||
| HIS 101 | Globalization in World History | 3 |
| or HIS 102 | Movements in World History | |
| or HIS 103 | Empires in World History | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Recommended CCC Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCC: Mission Overlay (any approved course with this attribute) | ||
A second semester of a Non-Native Language | ||
Major Requirements
All Communication majors will be assigned a departmental advisor with whom they will consult during the course of their studies and who will help them select a series of course appropriate for both their interests and future careers.
All students complete the six 3-credit Core courses and two 1-credit Career and Capstone prep courses. General concentration students select their remaining seven courses from the list of Option Courses below. Students in the Journalism or Film/TV Concentration follow a list of courses specific to those areas (see "Concentration Options" above).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 20 | |
| COM 200 | Multimedia Storytelling I (will count for CCC: Fine & Performing Arts, Design & Creativity) | 3 |
| COM 201 | Media and Society | 3 |
| COM 202 | Visual Design I | 3 |
| COM 203 | Audio/Video I | 3 |
| COM 290 | Professional Prep Seminar | 1 |
| COM 305 | Race, Gender and Media | 3 |
| COM 481 | Capstone/Portfolio Prep | 1 |
| COM 480 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Select seven of the following Options courses: | 21 | |
| Sports, Media and Culture | ||
| Screenwriting | ||
| Short Film Production | ||
| Documentary Image & Ethics | ||
| History of Television | ||
| History of Narrative Film | ||
| Black American Cinema | ||
| History of Video Games | ||
| Video Game Narrative | ||
| Video Game Writing | ||
| Protest Music | ||
| Strategic Communication | ||
| Episodic Series Production | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Photojournalism | ||
| Sports Journalism | ||
| Retro: Before Digital Media | ||
| Environmental Advocacy | ||
| Communication and the Law | ||
| Intro to Web Design | ||
| Media Advocacy | ||
| Communications Special Topics | ||
| Technology and Pop Culture | ||
| Black Popular Culture | ||
| Black Adaptation | ||
| Global Digital Media | ||
| Advanced Web Design | ||
| Sports Media Production | ||
| Media and Community Engagement | ||
| Non-Profit Communications | ||
| Justice By Design | ||
| Mindful Communication | ||
| Privacy/Surv in the Dig Era | ||
| Podcast and Radio Production | ||
| Visual Design II | ||
| Black Women Content Creators | ||
| Health Communication Advocacy | ||
| Bear Witness:Images/Soc Change | ||
| Special Topics/ Com&Digi Media 1 | ||
| Crime, Justice, & Media | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Indep Research Project I | ||
| Indep Research Project II | ||
| CAS Internship I | ||
| CAS Internship II | ||
- 1
COM 473 may be repeated provided the topics are different.
Free Electives
To be awarded a bachelor's degree at Saint Joseph's University, students must complete at least 120 total credits. As such, elective credits may be required in addition to Cornerstone Core Curriculum (CCC) and major requirements. Any credits necessary to reach at least 120 total credits outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives. Under the CCC, there are no fixed number of electives required. A student's total number of electives will vary based on major requirements, transfer credits, as well as math and language placement.
Internship
Students who have completed both 200 and 201 and have at least junior standing are eligible to take the Internship course as one of their option courses. In order to take the Communications Internship students must be a Communications major and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Independent Study
Communication Studies students with junior or senior standing and an overall GPA of 3.0 may apply for credit in an independent study program. These courses usually cover a topic not typically offered as part of the standard selection of courses, but which will enhance the student's educational objectives. At the end of the semester preceding the semester in which an independent study is sought the interested students should submit a written proposal describing, with particulars, the planned study project. The minimum requirement for such a proposal is that it include a substantial critical and/or creative project, and the name of the appropriate faculty member.
Film/TV Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COM 180 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
| COM 230 | Screenwriting | 3 |
| or COM 231 | Series Screenwriting | |
| COM 232 | Short Film Production | 3 |
| COM 235 | History of Television | 3 |
| or COM 236 | History of Narrative Film | |
| COM 332 | Episodic Series Production | 3 |
| COM 333 | Directing for Film/TV | 3 |
| Choose one COM elective at 200 level or above from outside Film Concentration | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Journalism Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 261 | News Reporting | 3 |
| COM 361 | Multimedia Journalism | 3 |
| One COM elective from the following list: | 3 | |
| Photojournalism | ||
| Sports Journalism | ||
| Sports Media Production | ||
| Podcast and Radio Production | ||
| Media, Politics & the Election | ||
| Communication and the Law | ||
| Two ENG electives from the following list: | 6 | |
| Fact-checking and Fake News | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
| Stunt Journalism | ||
| Magazine Writing | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| Travel Writing | ||
| Literary Journalism | ||
| Special Topics in Journalism | ||
| The Art of Editing | ||
| Choose one COM elective at 300 level or above from outside Journalism concentration | 3 | |
| One Journalism Experiential Learning Course | 3 | |
| Media/Culture in South Africa | ||
| CAS Internship I | ||
| CAS Internship II | ||
| CAS Internship Experience (Select six of the following:) | ||
| Total Hours | 21 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| World History | 3 | |
| Non-Native Language | 3 | |
| COM 200 | Multimedia Storytelling I | 3 |
| CCC: Philosophy Level 1 | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| COM 201 | Media and Society | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| 2nd Non-Native Language (Meets Mission-Specific overlay) | 3-4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| CCC: Philosophy Level 2 | 3 | |
| COM 202 or COM 203 |
Visual Design I or Audio/Video I |
3 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| COM 203 or COM 202 |
Audio/Video I or Visual Design I |
3 |
| COM 290 | Professional Prep Seminar | 1 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| COM Option or Concentration course | 3 | |
| COM 305 | Race, Gender and Media | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| COM Option or Concentration course | 6 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Natural Science | 3-4 | |
| COM Options or Concentration courses | 6 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| COM 481 | Capstone/Portfolio Prep | 1 |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 480 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| COM Option or Concentration courses | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 123-125 | |