Communication (B.A.)

Marymount University’s B.A. in communication prepares students for 21st century communication careers. The communication degree program capitalizes on our location next to the nation’s capital by connecting students with exciting opportunities to gain real-world experience. Students acquire the skills to create journalistic, persuasive, and strategic communication materials and campaigns for face-to-face, digital, print, and broadcast media. All communication majors complete an internship during their time at Marymount. Course assignments include the creation of materials for professional portfolios that are an asset to students seeking jobs and internships. In addition to practical skills, courses give students a foundation in communication theory, research, and ethics so that they may become responsible and effective communication professionals. Communication courses prepare students for many different types of communication fields as well as graduate and law school. Courses in the major hone students’ critical, analytic, writing, and presentation skills.

Upon successful completion of the communication major, students will be able to

demonstrate the effective use of research skills and the ability to gather data from diverse sources;
apply communication concepts and theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communication professions, audiences, and purposes they serve;
demonstrate oral communication skills and an ability to accomplish communicative goals with a target audience; and
apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communication professions in which they work.

Students in the Communication B.A. program also have the option to declare a specialization in Sports Communication. Please see requirements for Sports Communication specialization.

A minor in Communication is also available. Please see the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences minors section for details.

Minimum Grade Requirements: There is a minimum grade requirement of C- in COMM 100, COMM 101, COMM 206, and COMM 209 for all communication majors.

Transfer Courses: Transfer courses for the communication major should have direct equivalences to Marymount's communication courses. If they do not, a maximum of two courses will be counted toward satisfying the electives in the major requirement.

Degree Requirements - Communication

This degree requires a total of 120 credits.

Liberal Arts Core Requirements

See the Liberal Arts Core for details. Communication Majors can satisfy the Liberal Arts Core Social Science requirements (SS and DSCI) by choosing from COMM 201 Research Methods in Communication, COMM 220 Intercultural Communication, COMM 360 Communication and Gender, or COMM 402 Organizational Communication, and other SS courses in the Liberal Arts Core.

Major Requirements

Students will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Note: If students opt to take more than two courses in the digital media category, the additional courses may substitute for electives in the major or sports communication specialization. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements.

Major Core

Four (4) courses required for a total of twelve (12) credits.

COMM 100	Introduction to Media Communication	3
COMM 101	Public Speaking	3
COMM 206	Introduction to Public Relations	3
COMM 209	Contemporary Journalism	3

Senior Requirements

Two (2) courses required for a total of six (6) credits.

COMM 400	Internship	3
COMM 425	Senior Seminar in Communication	3

Digital Media

Choose at least two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credits.

COMM 204	Video Production: Multimedia Communication	3
COMM 307	Broadcast Writing and Delivery	3
COMM 315	Writing for Digital Media *	3
GMD 308	Web and Social Media Design	3
VIS 224	Digital Publishing	3

Electives in the Major

Choose at least seven (7) courses for a total of twenty-one (21) credits or declare a specialization in Sports Communication and fulfill those requirements for a total of twenty-one (21) credits.

COMM 201	Research Methods in Communication *	3
COMM 220	Intercultural Communication * *	3
COMM 302	Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques	3
COMM 304	Media Criticism *	3
COMM 310	Career and Professional Communication	3
COMM 330	Communication in Sport	3
COMM 360	Communication and Gender *	3
COMM 399	Topics in Communication	3
COMM 401	Public Relations Case Studies	3
COMM 402	Organizational Communication *	3
COMM 403	Principles of Communication Law	3
COMM 421	Project	1
COMM 433	Research	1
GMD 205	Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication	3

Sports Communication Specialization

Four (4) courses required for a total of twelve (12) credits.

COMM 330	Communication in Sport	3
MGT 205	Sport Management
MKT 301	Principles of Marketing	3
MKT 305	Sport Marketing	3

Sports Communication Electives

Choose at least three (3) courses for a total of nine (9) credits.

COMM 201	Research Methods in Communication *	3
COMM 220	Intercultural Communication * *	3
COMM 302	Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques	3
COMM 304	Media Criticism *	3
COMM 310	Career and Professional Communication	3
COMM 360	Communication and Gender *	3
COMM 399	Topics in Communication	3
COMM 401	Public Relations Case Studies	3
COMM 402	Organizational Communication *	3
COMM 403	Principles of Communication Law	3
COMM 421	Project	1
COMM 433	Research	1
ECO 305	Business and Economics of Sports *	3
GMD 205	Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication	3
LA 315	Sport Law	3
PSY 361	Sport Psychology	3

Sample Degree Plan - Communication

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students should consult with an advisor in making course selections. Students selecting the sports communication specialization should substitute courses for the specialization where the sample plan has communication elective courses.

Year One — Fall

COMM 100	Introduction to Media Communication	3
COMM 101	Public Speaking	3
EN 101	Composition I *	3
MA	Mathematics (MT) core course *	3-4
	One (1) elective	3

EN 101: WR core course

Year One - Spring

COMM 206	Introduction to Public Relations	3
EN 102	Composition II *	3
TRS 100	Theological Inquiry *	3
	Social Science (SS) core course *	3
	Natural Science (NS) core course with lab *	4

EN 102: WR core course

TRS 100: TRS core course

Year Two - Fall

COMM 209	Contemporary Journalism	3
	One (1) communication digital media course
EN	Literature (LT) core course *	3
HI	History (HI) core course *	3
	Social Science (SS) core course *	3

Communication digital media course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Two - Spring

	One (1) communication digital media course
	Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course *
	Depth in Humanities core course	3
	Philosophy (PH) core course *
	One (1) elective	3

Communication digital media course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Three - Fall

	Two (2) communication elective courses
	Depth in Faith and Reason core course *	3
	Depth in Sciences (DSCI) core course *	3
	One (1) elective	3

Communication elective courses: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Three — Spring

	Three (3) communication elective courses
	Two (2) electives	6

Communication elective courses: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Four - Fall

COMM 400	Internship	3
	Two (2) communication elective courses
	Two (2) electives	6

Communication elective courses: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Four - Spring

COMM 425	Senior Seminar in Communication	3
	Four (4) electives

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.