Communication Studies Major Mission Statement
The Communication Studies major at DeSales University is a preprofessional major with heavy practitioner components. Courses in the major are designed to introduce students to both the concepts and the skills necessary for careers in mass media, publicity, advertising, event planning, journalism, and editing, among others. Our mission is to graduate students who will be productive communicators, in concert with the DeSales University mission and with the principles of Christian Humanism as put forth by St. Francis DeSales.
Communication Studies Major Student Learning Outcomes
Communication Studies Major Student Learning Outcomes Students who graduate from DeSales University with a major in communication will be able to demonstrate:
- the ability to read analytically, think critically, and write and speak effectively in the areas of communication theory, research methodology, and technical, journalistic, and/or creative writing;
- written and verbal skills in information and technological literacy;
- written and verbal skills in business, organizational, and interpersonal communication;
- knowledge of the theories and competence in the practices of their respective track (professional/creative writing and editing; advertising, marketing, and public relations; sports communication; business ; or health communication).
Communication Studies majors take a variety of communication-based courses in professional writing, speaking, persuasion, journalism, publishing, media, culture, and advertising. Communication majors specialize toward a professional career by selecting both electives and pre-professional courses that will direct them toward one of four career areas: 1) professional/creative writing and editing, 2) advertising, marketing and/or public relations, 3)sports communication, 4) business communication, or 5) health communication*. Communication Studies majors usually complete one or more internships in their junior and senior years, develop extensive portfolios of work they have done, and establish professional networking contacts. They obtain jobs in such areas as writing and editing, publishing, event coordination, proposal and grant writing, public relations, journalism, corporate, collegiate or medical publication, media, advertising, and marketing.
This major requires students to complete six core courses, seven upper-level courses, and three pre-professional electives drawn from other departments.
*Students in the health communication track are required to complete seven core courses, five upper-level courses, and four pre-professional electives.
