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.
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.
Communication Studies 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.
Communication Studies graduates may continue their studies with a range of graduate degrees. Career choices include editorial positions for media publications, content creation for a variety of outlets, positions as information specialists for government, business and non-profit organizations, and work in strategic communications and media advocacy.
Goals for Communication Studies Majors
Students completing a Communication Studies major will gain a coherent set of knowledge, skills and abilities that include:
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 Communication Studies 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 |
Communication Studies Minor
Available to all bachelor degree candidates
Communication Studies 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 |