Undergraduate Catalog - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Communication Arts Majors | Judson University Christian College

Communication Studies Majors

BA in Communication Studies

Objective:

To enable a student to understand multiple theoretical and intellectual perspectives in communication in their historical and philosophical contexts.

  • To develop further student competency and capability in effective communication and presentation as well as in analysis of contemporary media.
  • To develop further student competency in argument and discourse analysis in context of how those rhetorical constructions seek to influence the attitudes, beliefs, practices and values of the audience.
  • To develop further student ability to engage in systematic inquiry.
  • To develop further student competency in human relational interaction.
  • To develop further student competency in the analysis and practice of ethical communication.

The curricular goals and objectives of this major were developed using as a template goals and objectives formulated as a result of the HopeCollege Conference (July 2000), which convened specifically to articulate an ideal undergraduate communication studies curriculum. The HopeCollegeConference asserts that “an undergraduate degree in communication should educate individuals to be capable of assessing situations and crafting appropriate communicative response to interact effectively with diverse others and to participate as socially responsible members of their increasingly mediated and complex communities." The Judson University program adds to that the lens of biblically-based values and precepts.

Important Notes:

  1. 40% of major requirements must be completed at Judson.
  2. 40% of major requirements must be upper division.

Core Requirements

Required = 36.5 Hours

  • COM220 Intro to Study of Communication
  • COM311 Language and Society
  • COM314 Intercultural Communication
  • COM411 The Nature of Language
  • COM442 Communication Theory/Application
  • COM443 Communication Ethics
  • COM499 Senior Research Project
  • ENG360 Archetypes of Western Literature
  • ENG361 Hero and Anti-Hero
  • OR 1 of the following:
  • ENG362 Man and Woman
  • ENG363 Prophetic Comedy
  • ENG370 Literature and Spirituality
  • ENG371 Man and Nature
  • ENG372 Faith and Doubt
  • ENG373 Light in Darkness
  • MED140 Mass Media in Contemporary America
  • MED142 Studies in Popular Culture
  • MED144 Communications Workshop
  • SPC322 Group Discussion

Communication Arts Conference

Required = 1 credit hour

All Communication Arts majors must register for COM293 every semester that they attend Judson Registration is for zero credit hours except the student's final semester when it must be taken for one credit hour.

You must choose a concentration from below:

Business Communication Concentration

Required= 18 hours

  • BUS255 Marketing Fundamentals
  • BUS301 Leadership and Change
  • BUS326X Human Resource Management
  • BUS347X Business Communication
  • BUS460 Business Marketing
  • BUS361 Professional Selling
  • BUS362 Marketing Research w/Lab
  • BUS410 Marketing Strategy
  • MED345X Advertising
  • BUS443X Public Relations

Speech/Rhetoric Concentration

Required= 18 Hours

Choose at least 9 credit hours from the following:

  • SPC220 Oral Interpretation/Literature
  • SPC320 Argumentation and Debate
  • SPC321 Persuasion
  • SPC323 Advanced Public Speaking
  • THE175 Acting I

Choose from the following to bring total to 18:

  • MED225 Storytelling
  • MED240 Writing for the Media
  • MED345X Advertising
  • MED348 Exploring Creativity
  • MED443X Public Relations
  • PSY322X Social Psychology
  • PSY326X Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • SPC221 Speech Tech for Broadcast Media
  • SPC322 Group Discussion
  • THE275 Acting II

TheatER Concentration

Required= 18 Hours

  • ENG365X Plays that Shaped the Western World
  • ENG465X Shakespeare: Plays and Performances
  • MED225 Storytelling
  • MED344X Film History/Tech: American Cinema
  • MED345X Advertising
  • MED348 Exploring Creativity
  • MED349X Film Hist/Tech: World Cinema
  • MED350 God in the Movies
  • MED442X Screen Writing for TV and Film
  • MED443X Public Relations
  • SPC220 Oral Interpretation/Literature
  • SPC323 Advanced Public Speaking
  • THE155 Production
  • THE175 Acting I
  • THE275 Acting ll
  • THE362 Directing for Stage and Video

BA in English

Objectives:

  • To learn the art of reading, through exploring a wide range of literature, from various genres, historical periods, and regions of the world.
  • To learn the craft of research and writing.
  • To understand the foundations of literary theory and criticism.
  • To discern and reflect on the spiritual dimension of literary works.

NOTE: English majors should consider seriously the Oxford Summer Program and/or the Oxford Honors Program. See Best Semester or consult your advisor.

Students interested in teaching English at the secondary level should contact the Education Department. We co-advise so that our graduates are certified by the State of Illinois and other cooperating states.

Important Notes:

  1. 40% of major requirements must be completed at Judson.
  2. 40% of major requirements must be upper division.

Communications

Required = 12 Hours

  • COM311 Language and Society
  • COM411 The Nature of Language
  • COM499 Senior Research Project
  • ENG310 History and Structure of English

Media

Required = 3 Hours

  • MED140 Mass Media in Contemporary America
  • MED252 Visual Art and New Media

Literature

Required = 12 Hours

  • ENG262 Eminent British Writers OR ENG263 American Literature Since 1865
  • ENG312 Analysis of Literature
  • ENG360 Archetypes of Western Literature
  • ENG393 Literary Studies Seminar

Advanced Speech

Required = 6 Hours

  • SPC220 Oral Interpretation/Literature (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED)
  • AND/OR any 200, 300 or 400 level speech course(s)

Communication Arts Conference

Required = 1 Credit Hour

All Communication Arts majors must register for COM293 every semester that they attend Judson Registration is for zero credit hours except the student's final semester when it must be taken for one credit hour.

You must choose a concentration from below:

Writing Concentration

Required = 18 Hours

Advanced Writing

Required = 12 Hours

Choose 4 of the following:

  • COM347X Business Communication
  • ENG210 Advanced Essay Writing
  • ENG211 Non-Fiction Prose
  • ENG357X Creative Writing
  • ENG442 Screenwriting for TV and Film
  • MED225 Storytelling
  • MED240 Writing for the Media

Literature Electives

Required = 6 Hours

Choose 2 of the following - 1 must be upper-division:

  • COM495 Senior Internship
  • ENG262 Eminent British Writers (if not completed above)
  • ENG263 American Lit Since 1865 (if not completed above)  
  • ENG266 The Inklings
  • ENG268 African-American Literature
  • ENG361 Hero and Anti-Hero
  • ENG362 Man and Woman
  • ENG363 Prophetic Comedy
  • ENG364 Non Western Literature
  • ENG365 Plays that Shaped the Western World
  • ENG366 Poetry
  • ENG367 The Novel
  • ENG370 Literature and Spirituality
  • ENG371 Man and Nature
  • ENG372 Faith and Doubt
  • ENG373 Light in Darkness
  • ENG465X Shakespeare: Plays and Performances
  • ENG490 Readings in English

Literature Concentration

Required = 18  Hours (Advanced Writing Required = 6 hours)

Choose 2 of the following:

  • ENG210 Advanced Essay Writing
  • ENG211 Non-Fiction Prose
  • ENG357X Creative Writing

Literature Electives

Required = 12 Hours

Choose 6 of the following courses – at least one must be upper division. Course may not be duplicated within major.

  • COM495 Senior Internship
  • ENG262 Eminent British Writers (if not completed above)
  • ENG263 American Lit Since 1865 (if not completed above)
  • ENG266 The Inklings
  • ENG268 African-American Literature
  • ENG361 Hero and Anti-Hero
  • ENG362 Man and Woman
  • ENG363 Prophetic Comedy
  • ENG364 Non Western Literature
  • ENG365X Plays that Shaped the Western World
  • ENG366 Poetry
  • ENG367 The Novel
  • ENG370 Literature and Spirituality
  • ENG371 Man and Nature
  • ENG372 Faith and Doubt
  • ENG373 Light in Darkness
  • ENG465X Shakespeare: Plays and Performance
  • ENG490 Readings in English

Media Studies Major Concentration in Media Creation/Production

Objectives:

  • To prepare students to appreciate, evaluate and appropriate the messages of the mass media, and to communicate effectively with mass media professionals.
  • To prepare students for possible careers by exposing them to a broad spectrum of media careers and by allowing them to discover and develop gifts as those gifts pertain to employment opportunities.
  • To enable students to make written and oral presentations clearly and in a style appropriate for the audience and the medium.
  • To assist students in developing an ethical standard for evaluating the messages of mass media, the actions of the media industry, and the personal conduct of mass media professionals in the context of Christian thought and principles.

The Media Studies major is an interdisciplinary response to corporate and not-for profit enterprises, especially as the need for media professionals has increased exponentially as the digital revolution has progressed. This major enables students to enhance conceptual skills through liberal arts studies, and to combine these with certain skill-specific abilities. Media majors may want to investigate the CCCU-sponsored Los Angeles Film Studies program. See Best Semester or consult with your advisor.

Important Notes:

  1. 40% of major requirements must be completed at Judson.
  2. 40% of major requirements must be upper division.

Communications

Required = 18 Hours

  • COM311 Language and Society
  • COM411 The Nature of Language
  • COM442 Communication Theory/Application
  • COM443 Communication Ethics
  • COM495 Senior Internship
  • COM499 Senior Research Project

Advanced Speech

Required = 3 Hours

  • SPC220 Oral Interpretation/Literature
  • SPC221 Speech Tech for Broadcast Media
  • SPC320 Argumentation and Debate
  • SPC321 Persuasion
  • SPC322 Group Discussion
  • SPC323 Advanced Public Speaking

Literature

Required = 6 Hours

  • ENG360 Archetypes of Western Literature
  • ENG465X Shakespeare: Plays and Performance

Mass Media

Required = 3 Hours

  • MED140 Mass Media in Contemporary America

Workshops

Required = 1 Hour

  • MED144 Communication Workshop

Media Studies

Required = 27 Hours

  • MED224 Photography for Digital Media OR MED243 Video Production I
  • MED225 Storytelling
  • MED230 Digital Publishing I
  • MED240 Writing for the Media
  • MED252 Visual Art and New Media
  • MED344X Film Hist/Tech: American Cinema
  • MED349X Film Hist/Tech: World Cinema
  • MED443X Public Relations
  • MED348 Exploring Creativity

Communication Arts Conference

Required = 1 Credit Hour

All Communication Arts majors must register for COM293 every semester that they attend Judson Registration is for zero credit hours except the student's final semester when it must be taken for one credit hour.

Creation/Production Concentration

Required = 9 Hours

Theory Courses

Required = 3 Hours

  • MED142 Studies in Popular Culture
  • MED245 Comic Books and Graphic Novels
  • MED350 God in the Movies

Visual Production

Required = 6 Hours

  • COM486 Independent Study
  • MED224 Photography for Digital Media
  • MED243 Video Production I
  • MED343 Advanced Video Production
  • MED345X Advertising
  • MED356X Intro to Web Development
  • MED442X Screenwriting for TV and Film
  • MED430 Building the Documentary
  • THE175 Acting I
  • THE362 Directing for Stage and Video

Media Studies Major Concentration in Media Management or Writing

Objectives:

  • To prepare students to appreciate, evaluate and appropriate the messages of the mass media, and to communicate effectively with mass media professionals.
  • To prepare students for possible careers by exposing them to a broad spectrum of media careers and by allowing them to discover and develop gifts as those gifts pertain to employment opportunities.
  • To enable students to make written and oral presentations clearly and in a style appropriate for the audience and the medium.
  • To assist students in developing an ethical standard for evaluating the messages of mass media, the actions of the media industry, and the personal conduct of mass media professionals in the context of Christian thought and principles.

The Media Studies major is an interdisciplinary response to corporate and not-for profit enterprises, especially as the need for media professionals has increased exponentially as the digital revolution has progressed. This major enables students to enhance conceptual skills through liberal arts studies, and to combine these with certain skill-specific abilities. Media majors may want to investigate the CCCU-sponsored Los Angeles Film Studies program. See Best Semester or consult with your advisor.

Important Notes:

  1. 40% of major requirements must be completed at Judson.
  2. 40% of major requirements must be upper division.

Communications

Required = 18 Hours

  • COM311 Language and Society
  • COM411 The Nature of Language
  • COM442 Communication Theory/Application
  • COM443 Communication Ethics
  • COM495 Senior Internship
  • COM499 Senior Research Project

Advanced Speech

Required = 6 Hours

  • SPC220 Oral Interpretation/Literature
  • SPC221 Speech Tech for Broadcast Media
  • SPC320 Argumentation and Debate
  • SPC321 Persuasion
  • SPC322 Group Discussion
  • SPC323 Advanced Public Speaking

Literature

Required = 6 Hours

  • ENG360 Archetypes of Western Literature
  • ENG262 Eminent British Writers
  •  Or 
  • ENG261 Children's Literature
  • ENG263 American Literature Since 1865
  • ENG264 Adolescent Literature
  • ENG266 The Inklings
  • ENG312 Analysis of Literature
  • ENG361 Hero and Anti-Hero
  • ENG362 Man and Woman
  • ENG363 Prophetic Comedy
  • ENG364 Non-Western Literature
  • ENG371 Man and Nature
  • ENG372 Faith and Doubt
  • ENG373 Light in Darkness

Mass Media

Required = 3 Hours

  • MED140 Mass Media in Contemporary America

Workshops

Required = 1 Hour

  • MED144 Communication Workshop

Media Studies/Business

Required = 18 Hours

  • MED224 Photography for Digital Media OR MED243 Video Production I
  • MED230 Digital Publishing I
  • MED240 Writing for the Media
  • BUS301 Leadership and Change OR BUS101 Intro to Business
  • MED345X Advertising or
  • MED443X Public Relations
  • MED348 Exploring Creativity

Communication Arts Conference

Required = 1 Credit Hour

All Communication Arts majors must register for COM293 every semester that they attend Judson Registration is for zero credit hours except the student's final semester when it must be taken for one credit hour.

Writing Concentration

Required 15 Hours

Theory Courses

Required = 6 Hours

  • MED142 Studies in Popular Culture
  • MED252 Visual Art and New Media
  • MED344X Film History/Tech: American Cinema
  • MED349X Film History/Tech: World Cinema
  • MED350 God in the Movies

Writing Courses

Required = 9 Hours

  • COM486 Independent Study
  • ENG210 Advanced Essay Writing
  • ENG211 Non-Fiction Prose
  • ENG312 Analysis of Literature
  • MED225 Storytelling
  • MED357X Creative Writing
  • MED442X Screenwriting for TV and Film

Media Studies/Media Management Concentration

Required = 15 Hours

  • BUS101 Introduction to Business
  • BUS242 Basic Microeconomics
  • BUS250 Management Principles
  • BUS253 Business Law I
  • BUS255 Marketing Fundamentals
  • BUS301 Leadership and Change
  • BUS349 Corporate Finance
  • BUS430 International Marketing
  • COM347X Business Communication
  • MIS373X Electronic Commerce
  • MIS411X Project Management
  • MED345X Advertising
  • MED443X Public Relations

Communication Arts Interdisciplinary Studies

Objective:

This major allows the student with particular interests or with a particular career goal in mind to create an interdisciplinary program that enable the student to achieve his or her goals. The program must be designed in consultation with a communication arts advisor.

Important Notes:

  1. 40% of major requirements must be completed at Judson.
  2. 40% of major requirements must be upper division.

Communication Arts

Required = 18 Hours

  • COM311 Language and Society
  • COM411 The Nature of Language
  • COM442 Communication Theory/Application
  • COM499 Senior Research Project

Linguistics and Literature

Required = 6 Hours

NOTE:(At least 5 hours of the optional courses below must be at the 300 or 400 level)

  • ENG360 Archetypes of Western Literature
  • ENG Elective

Media Studies

Required = 3 Hours

  • MED140 Mass Media in Contemporary America

Advanced Speech

Required = 6 Hours

  • SPC200, 300 or 400 Speech Electives

Communication Arts Conference

Required = 1 Credit Hour

All Communication Arts majors must register for COM293 every semester that they attend Judson Registration is for zero credit hours except the student's final semester when it must be taken for one credit hour.

Communication Arts Electives

Required = 21 Hours

  • COM/ENG/MED/SPC Communication Arts Electives