Communication, Bachelor of Science
A Degree for the 21st Century
The Bachelor of Science degree in Communication provides students a choice of two concentrations: Integrated Marketing Communication and Media Communication. This multidisciplinary program draws upon courses from multiple colleges, providing students the expertise needed to develop highly desirable skills from the College of Technology in visual communication, digital publishing, and multimedia design, with classes from the College of Business in marketing and public relations and the College of Art and Sciences in technical and news writing, communication theory, and media studies.
Program Philosophy and Objectives
This career-oriented program is practical in its approach rather than theoretical. It caters to the 21st-century Communications professional. It serves the new or veteran Communication practitioner and satisfies the Wilmington University mission by offering real-life skills that stimulate competitiveness in the variety of communication skills. The Communication courses are taught by highly qualified faculty who are practitioners in the field. By utilizing the rich experience of actual communication practitioners, students are prepared to begin or continue their careers.
Students entering the degree program with a work background in a communication field may be considered for competency-based credit. Students new to the communication world have the advantage of earning college credit while working through our Cooperative Education program.
For jobs in Advertising, Broadcasting, Print, Digital Media, Public Relations, Public Service, and more.
Students can specialize in either:
Integrated Marketing Concentration
Integrating Marketing Communication (IMC) is the crafting of recognizable and memorable marketing, advertising, and public relations messages using multiple media formats. The goal is to create a “brand” that is seamless to the customer. Whether the customer is being exposed to the message through print, broadcast, or digital formats, the professional strives to create a brand that is unforgettable. The Integrated Marketing objective is to have all of the various modes connect, both visually and logically, in a way that serves both the customer and the business. Students in the IMC concentration study and produce marketing, advertising, and public relations plans, presentations, and reports to help them compete in the 21st century marketplace.
Media Communication Concentration
Media Communication (MC) is a large and dynamic work arena where messages are created by professionals on behalf of an organization to efficiently and ethically deliver information to a target audience. Professionals in this field have strong strategic thinking and persuasive skills and are successful in disseminating information to an audience using a combination of information delivery formats, including print, broadcast, and digital. Media communication provides a two-way interactive relationship between the consumer and the information provider. Professionals also know how to monitor an audience’s response in order to maintain a positive connection with that audience. Students in the Media Communication concentration sharpen their skills through practical experience inside and outside the classroom in preparation for an exciting and competitive 21st century job market.
Program Competencies
In addition to the University’s undergraduate graduation competencies, students will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities related to:
Information Literacy
Conduct valid and reliable research using library resources, including subscription services and other sources generally accepted as legitimate and logical.
Information Technology
Analyze requirements for Information Technology systems using the best practices and current methodologies.
Interpret and summarize the technical knowledge in Information Technology necessary to prepare for an entry-level position in the field.
Analyze the aesthetics of design and its importance in the world of communication and technology.
Ethics
Describe the parameters of ethical behavior in communication professions and apply to a hypothetical situation.
Integrated Marketing Communication (Competencies for IMC track only)
Create persuasive position papers, press releases, speeches, journalistic articles, and technical documents for various distribution modes.
Describe the marketing process and the role of advertising and promotion in an IMC program.
Assess how various environmental and ethical challenges affect the marketing of products and services.
Evaluate the important role that marketing, advertising, and public relations play in relation to meeting the strategic objectives of the organization.
Construct persuasive oral communication to communicate effectively with various constituencies.
Compose a professional portfolio using standard industry terms, language, and style.
Media Communication (Competencies for MC track only)
Interpret design aesthetics in a media environment and explain its importance in the world of communications and technology.
Demonstrate knowledge in technologies of the web, video, and imagery necessary to prepare for an entry level position in the field of communication.
Apply current industry standards and style in collaborating, collection management, and generation of materials and supporting documents.
Compose a professional portfolio using standard industry terms, language, and style.
Curriculum
General Education Requirements (39 credits)
Natural Science Elective: (excluding SCI 308)
Communication Core (30 credits)
Select one of the following two concentrations:
Integrated Marketing Concentration (24-36 credits)
COM 400 (3-15 credits): COM 402, COM 403, COM 404, COM 405 are each assigned a 3-credit value. Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 credit hours for the co-op. (Example: Students register for COM 400 and COM 402 to equal 6 credits.) Additional courses in the series could potentially total 15 credit hours.
Electives (15-27 credits)
Additional course work as needed to meet 120 credits for graduation.
Media Communication Concentration (24-36 credits)
BMK 220
| Principles of Advertising | |
| COM 245 | Writing for the Media | 3 |
| COM 344 | Writing and Reporting for the News Media | 3 |
| COM 400 | Co-Op Experience | 3 |
| DSN 320 | Web Page Design | 3 |
| DSN 401 | Publication Design | 3 |
| GMD 105 | Video and Audio for Game Design | 3 |
| VMG 307 | Streaming Media | 3 |
COM 400 (3-15 credits): COM 402, COM 403, COM 404, COM 405 are each assigned a 3-credit value. Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 credit hours for the co-op. (Example: Students register for COM 400 and COM 402 to equal 6 credits.) Additional courses in the series could potentially total 15 credit hours.
Electives (15-27 credits)
Additional course work as needed to meet 120 credits for graduation.
Suggested Course Sequence for Integrated Marketing Concentration
Freshman
Semester 1
Semester 2
| DSN 121 | Digital Publishing | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| POL 300 | American Politics | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
SCI
| Natural Science Elective | |
Sophomore
Semester 1
Semester 2
Junior
Semester 1
Semester 2
Senior
Semester 1
| BMK 400 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| BMK 410 | Integrated Marketing Communications | 3 |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
Semester 2
COM 400: Students with professional or work-related experience may be considered for an alternative to meet the 6-credit minimum Co-op requirement.
Suggested Course Sequence for Media Communications Concentration
Freshman
Semester 1
Semester 2
| DSN 121 | Digital Publishing | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| POL 300 | American Politics | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
SCI
| Natural Science Elective | |
Sophomore
Semester 1
Semester 2
Junior
Semester 1
| COM 310 | Legal Aspects of Communication | 3 |
| COM 314 | Technical Communications and Project Management | 3 |
| COM 332 | Managing Crisis Communications | 3 |
| COM 431 | Media and Society | 3 |
| DSN 320 | Web Page Design | 3 |
Semester 2
| COM 344 | Writing and Reporting for the News Media | 3 |
| DSN 401 | Publication Design | 3 |
| GMD 105 | Video and Audio for Game Design | 3 |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
Senior
Semester 1
| BMK 355 | Internet Marketing | 3 |
| VMG 307 | Streaming Media | 3 |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
Semester 2
COM 400: Students with professional or work-related experience may be considered for an alternative to meet the 6-credit minimum Co-op requirement.
Additional course work as needed to meet 120 credits for graduation