Communications

Communications

at a glance

Major icon MAJOR Minor icon MINOR

The Communications major at AMU will give you a firm foundation in argument and storytelling (known to the ancients as rhetoric and poetics), while also teaching you how to communicate effectively and ethically in the digital age. From speaking in front of audiences to working with creative media, you will become familiar with a wide range of communication theory and practice. Through mastery of these arts, you will also understand how to better communicate in a broad variety of professional settings.

Careers: Law, Marketing, Sales, Public Relations Manager, Consultant, Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Journalist, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Advertiser, Culture/Media Critic, Podcaster, Blogger, Event Planner, MBA, MFA, Graduate School

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UNITE TIMELESS TALENT WITH THE LATEST TECH

As a Communications major, you’ll learn how to use rhetoric and technology to transform audiences and influence culture across various contexts—whether professional, personal, political, or evangelical.

light bulbFast Fact: Communication is key. Many employers identify having good communication skills as one of the most desirable traits in prospective employees.

EXPLORE the OPPORTUNITY

Communications

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Skills you will gain with

A COMMUNICATIONS DEGREE

  1. Rhetoric – Unlock the power of the spoken and written word to form ideas and transform an audience. Learn to use classic strategies to convince, delight, and move those who hear or read your work.
  2. Media and Technology – Understand the nature of media and work with some of the latest tech to develop your message with truth, goodness, and beauty in mind. Analyze, interpret, and influence popular culture through the lens of the Catholic imagination.
  3. Corporate Communication – Get an edge in your professional life. Learn how to build relationships with customers and coworkers alike. Understand the power of the word to sell, market, and inspire in a way that resonates.
communications camera person skills you will gain

CAREER PATHS

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A look into the

communications department

Are you interested in rhetoric and public speaking? Are you looking for creative outlets through which to communicate artful messages? Would you like to understand media and popular culture? Are you interested in an internship where you can put lessons learned in the classroom into practice? The Communications major is tailored to fit students with these interests, who want to put theory into action for the good of society and the Church.

Plato defined rhetoric as an art of “leading souls by means of speech,” and he included in his discussion of the art the most advanced communication technology of his day (writing!). In the tradition of Plato, and in imitation of the greats, you will benefit from the best of a liberal arts curriculum and learn how to adapt the knowledge you gain to the new media of today’s digital world. Whatever the context, you will discover strategies for ethically communicating truth at a time when people desperately need to hear it.

Justin Bonanno, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Communications, Internship Coordinator and A/V Studio Director

Justin BonannoEducation: B.S., Computer Science and Information Systems, University of Mount Union; B.A., Spanish, University of Mount Union; M.A., Rhetoric and Philosophy of Communications, Duquesne University; Ph.D., Rhetoric, Duquesne University
Office: Henkels 2018
Email: justin.bonanno@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 304-7964

Travis Curtright, Ph.D.

CHAIR OF THE HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT, PROFESSOR OF HUMANITIES & LITERATURE, DIRECTOR OF SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE

Travis CurtrightEducation: B.A., Philosophy, University of Dallas; M.A. Literature, University of Dallas; Ph.D., Literature, University of Dallas
Office: Canizaro Library 219
Email: travis.curtright@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-1612

Gavin Hurley, Ph.D.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMPOSITION, DIRECTOR OF THE WRITING PROGRAM

Gavin HurleyEducation: B.A., Philosophy, Saint Joseph’s University; M.A., Writing Arts, Rowan University; Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, Writing & Rhetoric
Office: Henkels 2052
Email: Gavin.Hurley@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-1662

John Jasso, Ph.D.

Chair of the Communications and Literature Department, Associate Professor of Communications

jassoEducation: B.A., Speech and Philosophy, Kansas State University; M.A., Communications, Kansas State University; M.A., Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D., Rhetoric and Communications, University of Pittsburgh
Office: Henkels 2054
Email: john.jasso@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 304-7936

  • Outcome 1: Students will demonstrate an understanding of historical and contemporary audiences to whom effective statesmen, authors, religious leaders, and other rhetoricians have crafted and conveyed ideas and messages.
  • Outcome 2: Students will understand the Church’s teachings on contemporary media and its ethical applications.
  • Outcome 3: Students will demonstrate proficiency in the arts of rhetoric and public speaking.
  • Outcome 4: Students will demonstrate proficiency with concepts and practices in marketing.
  • Outcome 5: Students will be able to write effectively in appealing to targeted audiences.
  • Outcome 6: Students will be able to use digital, video, social media or related contemporary channels to conveying messages.
  • Outcome 7: Students will acquire work experience in which the skills and knowledge of the major are applied.

Required Courses for the Major

  • COMM 200 Media, Society, and the Church
  • COMM 230 Rhetoric
  • COMM 250 Public Speaking and Public Discourse
  • COMM 350 Audio and Visual Productions
  • COMM 400 Internship/Clinical in Communications I (4 credits total.  May be taken over multiple semesters)

One COMM Elective from the list below

  • COMM 310/POLT 310 Media and Politics
  • COMM 325/LITR 325 Modern Fantasy
  • COMM 330/HUMS 330/THEA 330 Shakespeare in Performance
  • COMM 401 Internship in Communications II
  • COMM 413 Pre-Visualization and Post-Production
  • COMM 415 Advanced Audio and Visual Productions
  • COMM 418 Special Topics

Three Additional Electives from the list below*

  • Any COMM elective
  • BUSN 330 Organizational Behavior/PSYC 330 Organizational Psychology
  • HIST 370 History and Film
  • HUMS 490 Thomas More
  • MKTG 200 Marketing
  • MKTG 335 Consumer Behavior/PSYC 335 Consumer Psychology
  • MKTG 450 Advertising and Digital Marketing
  • PHIL 203 Logic
  • PHIL 315 Philosophy of Art and Beauty
  • POLT 305 Public Policy
  • PSYC 320 Social Psychology
  • THEA 206 Fundamentals of Acting I
  • THEA 207 Fundamentals of Acting II
  • THEO 250 Foundations of Catechesis
  • THEO 350 Catechesis in the Church
  • THEO 370 C. S. Lewis: Theological Apologetics

*COMM majors must complete four Communications Electives in addition to the Required Courses for the Major. At least one of those electives must have a COMM designation. The other three may be COMM Electives or may be selected from the approved list of Additional Elective Courses.

Click the button to view our typical 4-year plan.

The Communications major builds within it an internship or clinical experience so that students can begin building a portfolio and acquire professional experience.  From this hands-on experience, excellent students may be recommended for positions in television, digital productions, radio, journalism, or other media related work.

  • COMM 200 Media, Society and the Church

Two COMM Electives from the list below

  • COMM 230 Rhetoric
  • COMM 250 Public Speaking and Public Discourse
  • COMM 310/POLT 310 Media and Politics
  • COMM 325/LITR 325 Modern Fantasy
  • COMM 330/HUMS 330/THEA 330 Shakespeare in Performance
  • COMM 350 Audio and Visual Productions
  • COMM 400 Internship/Clinical in Communications I
  • COMM 401 Internship in Communications II
  • COMM 413 Pre-Visualization and Post-Production
  • COMM 415 Advanced Audio and Visual Productions

Two Additional Elective Courses from the list below*

  • Any COMM elective
  • BUSN 330 Organizational Behavior/PSYC 330 Organizational Psychology
  • HIST 370 Film and History
  • HUMS 490 Thomas More
  • MKTG 200 Marketing
  • MKTG 300 Integrated Marketing Communications
  • MKTG 335 Consumer Behavior/PSYC 335 Consumer Psychology
  • MKTG 450 Advertising and Digital Marketing
  • PHIL 203 Logic
  • PHIL 315 Philosophy of Art and Beauty
  • POLT 305 Public Policy
  • PSYC 320 Social Psychology
  • THEA 206 Fundamentals of Acting I
  • THEA 207 Fundamentals of Acting II
  • THEO 250 Foundations of Catechesis
  • THEO 350 Catechesis in the Church
  • THEO 370 C. S. Lewis: Theological Apologetics

*COMM minors must complete four Communications Electives in addition to COMM 200.  At least two of those electives must have a COMM designation.  The other two may be COMM Electives or may be selected from the approved list of Additional Elective Courses.

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