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PROGRAM TYPE
On Campus

DEGREES
BA

Contact

Travis Maruska

Humanities Chair, Associate Professor, Humanities, English, Communications
Humanities
(508) 849-3338
tmaruska@annamaria.edu
Bio

Academic Agreements
Accelerated Degree Program
Gen Ed Curriculum
Honors Program
Study Abroad
5th Year Masters

Communications | BA

Program Overview

The discipline of communications is an examination of the various processes of human communications and their application to human behavior. The major in Communications Studies requires all students to take a comprehensive introductory course that is designed to give students a general survey of the discipline of communications by integrating social and cultural diversity.

In addition, three other courses are mandatory, along with a senior seminar and an internship. A minimum of 39 credits is required for the major, 15 of which must be at the 300 level or above. The courses provide students with an overview of the theoretical and practical applications of the various fields of Communications Studies, which encompass four types of communication: written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual.

In this age of global citizenship, the major is designed to cultivate students’ communication skills in the arenas of their personal, professional, and civic life, preparing them for careers such as Media, Law, Journalism, Business, Marketing, Advertising, Social and Human Services, Education, and Government and Politics.

Public Relations Track

  • Perfect for communicators, writers, and public speakers.
  • Help guide companies through culturally sensitive decisions.
  • Turn your social media and communication skills into a career.
  • A great alternative to a traditional marketing degree.

Large and small businesses, government agencies, community nonprofits, academic institutions, and just about any successful organization must create and maintain a positive image with the general public. A public relations representative is at the heart of this. Whether speaking with reporters, overseeing a brand or logo design, or drawing followers on social media, a public relations representative is a great communicator on paper and in person.

The Public Relations Track in the Communications Major requires all students to take the following four elective courses in addition to their core courses: Strategic Public Communications, Public Communications Tactics, Crisis Communications, and Public Speaking.

In this age of global citizenship, the major is designed to cultivate students’ communication skills in the arenas of their personal, professional, and civic life, preparing them for careers such as Media, Law, Journalism, Business, Marketing, Advertising, Social and Human Services, Education, and Government and Politics.

Sports Communication Track

The sports industry is an immersive and popular entity in modern society, and it requires great communicators, including sports broadcasters, reporters, marketers, coaches, agents, public relations representatives, and event planners. Whether working with athletes, business representatives, coaches, sponsors, or the general public, a great sports communicator will have the ability to take complex information and present it in a way that is understandable and informative.

The Sports Communication Track in the Communications Major requires all students to take the following four elective courses in addition to their core courses: Sports Communication, Sports Marketing, Sports Facilities Administration, and Coaching Strategies.

Media Track

The ability to manipulate images and sound in a digital format enhances an individual’s appeal to businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and private institutions. Virtually every professional or nonprofessional group has a presence in the media world, and graduates from Anna Maria College who understand the art of videography, editing, digital design, and audio recording will have an edge when forging a career in the field of Communications.

The Media Track in the Communications Major requires all students to take the following five elective courses in addition to their core courses: ART 239 Videography, COM 225 Podcasting, DES 103 Digital Design, DES 300 Motion Graphics, MCO 302 Persuasion in the Media

Job growth - PR & Fundraising Managers

Job growth - PR, Advertising & Marketing

$118,000+
Public Relations
Managers

Curriculum Highlights

COM 100 – Introduction to Communications

Required

Introduction to Communication is designed to give students a general survey of the discipline of communication by integrating social and cultural diversity and by emphasizing public speaking, mass and social media as well as health communication.

3 credits

MCO 203 – Intro to Media Studies

Required

In addition to an historical review of print media (newspapers, magazines, and books), this course examines how film, television, and radio has evolved throughout the 20th Century and recently lost ground to the rise of the Internet, podcasts, streaming, social media, and other new developments.

3 credits

MCO 206 – Intro to Digital Media

Required

After a brief discussion of past forms of media, this course will focus on the development of the Internet and its impact on American society as well as the world. Electronic mail, social media, the spread of false news, viral videos, streaming services, and the Internet’s impact on print media and television are just some of the topics that will be covered.

3 credits

COM 325 – Intercultural Communications

Required

Students learn about the challenges of communication between members of two or more different cultures. Such awareness may lead to an appreciation of cultural differences and to strategies that can enhance personal and organizational functioning and communicating in a multicultural environment.

3 credits

COM 499 – Internship

Required

An opportunity for the specially qualified communications major to practice communication and public relations skills in the world of work. Prerequisite: Permission of Associate Dean of Humanities required. Practicum fee.

3 credits

COM 490 – Senior Capstone Seminar

Required

Integrates communications studies with the General Education. Students design and complete a seminar project that integrates their years of study of communications and/or public relations. Prerequisite: instructor permission.

3 credits

BUS 215 – Public Speaking

Required

Know your audience! Students will learn and practice the essential skills for delivering dynamic presentations. This course utilizes videotaping as one strategy for students to track their improvements.

3 credits

SCP I – Strategic Public Relations

Required

Modern companies are increasingly focused on their public image and brand. This has created a significant demand for employees with an understanding of how to message complex issues to a wide audience.

3 credits

SCP II Public Relations Tactics

Required

This course provides students with a range of Strategic Communications and Public Relations tactics that they can deploy to create effective, targeted messaging. The primary focus will be on translating principles and theory to applicable actions.

3 credits

SCP III – Crisis Communications

Required

Crisis communications is an increasingly vital process in the corporate world. As companies are ever more frequently taken to task for their errors on social media, the ability of a corporation to successfully respond to a crisis can mean the difference between weathering a storm relatively intact or facing near-certain collapse.

3 credits

Download Full Curriculum Map

Course Of Study

Career Opportunity

The global PR market revenue is expected to reach $129 billion by 2025. A degree in public relations is useful for any career that focuses on being persuasive and disseminating a message. You will learn to help individuals, businesses, and organizations craft and maintain their public image through various skills such as writing, media, audience analysis, and crisis management.
 

 

Careers
Public Relations Specialist
○ Job outlook – 2021-2031 (BLS) +8% (almost 2x Nat Avg)
 

 

Marketing Manager
○ Job outlook – 2021-2031 (BLS) +10% (2x Nat Avg)
 

 

Starting Out (All Stats 2022)

Public Relations Coordinator
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $46K (Glassdoor)
○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $56K
 

 

Copywriter
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $53K (Glassdoor)
○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $70K
 

 

Publicist
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $50K (Glassdoor)
○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $75K
 

 

Media Relations Specialist
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $52K (Glassdoor)
○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $68K
○ May require 1-2 years experience
 

 

Public Relations Specialist
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $49K (Glassdoor)
○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $63K
○ Median Salary: $67K (BLS)
 

 

With Experience
Public Relations Manager
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $61K (Glassdoor)
○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $82K
○ Median Salary: $129K (BLS)
 

 

Media Relations Manager
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $72K (Glassdoor)

○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $99K
 

 

Marketing Manager
○ Average Salary (No Exp): $65K (Glassdoor)
○ Average Salary (7-9 years): $92K
 

 

Additional Pathways
  • Digital Marketing Analyst
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Media Analyst
  • Corporate Communications

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Identify and describe the major communication theories and practices across the field of human communication and apply them to a variety of settings including small businesses, major corporations, and non-profits.
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the history of human communication and how it has evolved through various media.
  • Apply ethical standards and judgment to the field of human communication, including the ability to manage conflict, listen attentively and objectively, and facilitate large and small groups.
  • Apply research methods and locate and utilize primary academic sources relative to human communication.
  • Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written.

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