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
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 will 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. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Required
Four (4) courses required for a total of twelve (12) credits.
Senior Requirements
Two (2) courses required for a total of six (6) credits.
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 |
VIS 224 | Digital Publishing | 3 |
GMD 308 | Web and Social Media Design | 3 |
Electives in the Major
Choose at least seven (7) courses for a total of twenty-one (21) credits.
Sample Degree Plan - Communication
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students should consult with an advisor in making course selections.
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 |
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.