Program Director: Laird Christensen, Ph.D.
Division of Humanities, Education, & Arts
Programs offered:
BA in Communication Studies
Minor in Communication Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
Green Mountain College offers a Communication Studies degree and a Communication Studies minor.
Learning Outcomes for Communications Majors
The successful student will:
Gather content and deliver refined messages in any form and for all media
write for and publish a variety of media
gain project management experience
analyze current and emerging communication practices
Because the practice of communications requires a range of subject-area expertise, each student is encouraged to develop a unique focus within and outside of the general communications curriculum. Such a focus will integrate a student's interests with their coursework in the Environmental Liberal Arts and other academic disciplines. To support this engagement, a combination of coursework and publishing opportunities emphasize fields in which Green Mountain College offers expertise, including environmental communication, environmental writing, and media advocacy.
Communications students complete their coursework with a professional portfolio that synthesizes coursework with the experience gained through an off-campus internship or a media practicum at campus publications and community communications projects.
Communications graduates may continue their studies with a range of graduate degrees. Career choices include editorial positions for media publications, positions as information specialists for government, business and non-profit organizations, and work in strategic communications and media advocacy.
Goals for Communications Majors Students completing a Communications major with a concentration in Media Practices or Media Advocacy will gain a coherent set of knowledge, skills and abilities that include:
An understanding of principles, laws, history, values, ethics, and civic role of communications.
Critical analysis, synthesis, and communication of information for civic and rhetorical purpose.
An ability to integrate and publish text, images, audio, and video for a variety of audiences and purposes.
These programmatic learning goals correlate with specific values and competencies identified by accrediting councils in the field. Students are introduced to these learning goals in a variety of courses that integrate history, theory and practice. A level of mastery is developed as students publish a digital portfolio that documents professional practices and engagement with college and community publishing projects. Within this portfolio students are expected to refine and demonstrate mastery of a personal communications focus while achieving the comprehensive goals of the Communications program.
Requirements for BA in Communication Studies
| Core Courses | credits |
| COM 1011: Introduction to Media and the Information Society | 3 |
| COM 1127: Speech Communications | 3 |
| COM 2010: Group Communication and Leadership | 3 |
| COM 2013: Writing for Media | 3 |
| COM/BUS 2025: Professional Communications | 3 |
| COM 3007: Persuasion and Ethics in Media | 3 |
| COM 4010: Media Practicum | 1 |
| COM 4013: Senior Project: Integrated Media Campaign | 4 |
| COM 4015: Internship | 3 |
| Total Core: 26 credits |
| Choose two of the following courses: | 6 |
| BUS 1125: Marketing | |
| COM/ART 2055: Graphic Communication | |
| COM 2011: Online and Digital Design | |
| COM 3013: Communication Workshop | |
| COM 3020: Media Advocacy and Campaign | |
| COM 3021: Video and Media Production |
| Choose at least three courses from the following electives, or from the list above. | 9 |
| ART 2054: Advanced Graphic Design | |
| ART 3051: Illustration | |
| ART 3057: Topics in Design | |
| ART 3061: Topics in Photography | |
| ART 3062: Digital Photography | |
| COM 3025: Environmental Communication | |
| COM/EDU 3012: Environmental Interpretation and Communication | |
| ENG 3011: Environmental Writing Workshop | |
| ENG 3017: Writing Workshop | |
| ENV 2011: Public Policy & the Environment | |
| HIS 2015: Mass Culture in America |
Communications Minor
Available to all bachelor degree candidates
Communications Core:
| COM 1011: Introduction to Media and the Information Society | 3 |
| COM 2010: Group Communication and Leadership | 3 |
| COM/BUS 2025: Professional Communications | 3 |
| Choose three of the following: | 9 |
| BUS 1125: Marketing | |
| COM 1127: Speech Communication | |
| COM 2011: Online and Digital Design | |
| COM 2013: Writing for Media | |
| COM/ART 2055: Graphic Communication | |
| COM 3007: Persuasion and Ethics in Media | |
| COM/EDU 3012: Environmental Interpretation and Communication | |
| COM 3013: Communications Workshop | |
| COM 3021: Video and Media Production | |
| COM 3020: Media Advocacy and Campaigns |