Communication & Media Studies

Major, Minor
COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES

 

The educational mission of the Communication and Media Studies major and minor is to empower students with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop meaningful relationships on an interpersonal, professional, and public level. The Communication and Media Studies program enables students to learn appropriate and effective communication strateiges that appreciate diverse perspectives and cultures and provides ample opportunities to practice communicating and to produce media for various contexts in an evolving world. Students will have the chance to take a wide variety of courses that examine media’s intersectional relationship to race, class, gender, sexuality, and identity, and to think critically about the relationship between power and communication. Throughout their program of study, students will also learn about theory, technology, and history and their applicability to media in its many forms, including visual, audio, multimodal, digital, written, and oral.

 

In addition to a foundation in critical and cultural studies, Communication and Media Studies majors and minors can engage in their choice of campus media opportunities. These credits can be earned through practicum courses with the Pegasus, the college’s digital magazine (COM 205), ECTV, the college’s television studio (COM 206), WXEC-FM - EC 103.1 FM, the college’s radio station (COM 207), and/or an independent internship with a local or national business or organization (COM 295/495). As part of these practicums, students will work with faculty to compile career-ready portfolios of their produced work.

Additional information on the Communication and Media Studies program can be found below, including an overview of current course offerings, requirements for both the major and minor, possible internships, and program goals.

 

CURRENT COURSE OFFERINGS

 

The Communication and Media Studies faculty are offering the following courses for the 2023/2024 Academic Year:

Fall 2023
COM 104: Modern Communication (Geraths; MWF 8-8:50 am; 3 credits; Communication [CO] capability course)
COM 106: Writing for Media (Duncan; MWF 1-1:50 pm; 3 credits; Communication [CO] capability course)
COM 205: Pegasus Media Practicum (Duncan; MWF 9-9:50 am; 1 credit)
COM 206: Television Practicum (Malone; M 3-3:50 pm; 1 credit)
COM 207: Radio Practicum (Malone; M 3-3:50 pm; 1 credit)
COM 211: Sports, Media, and Culture (Geraths; TR 1:15-2:30 pm; 3 credits)
COM 212: Film & Rural America (Duncan; MWF 11-11:50 am; 3 credits; Justice and Civic Responsibility [JCR] capability course)
COM 217: Video Games and Contemporary Problems (Geraths; TR 2:45-4 pm; 3 credits; Analytic Inquiry and Problem Solving [AIPS] capability course)
COM 220: Media Management and Sales (Malone; TR 9:30-10:45 am; 3 credits)
COM 306W: Communication and Media Methods (Duncan; MWF 10-10:50 am; 3 credits)

 

Spring 2024
COM 108: Media and Culture (Geraths; MWF 10-10:50 am; 3 credits; Intercultural Understanding [IU] capability course)
COM 205: Pegasus Media Practicum (Duncan; MWF 9-9:50 am; 1 credit)
COM 206: Television Practicum (Malone; M 3-3:50 pm; 1 credit)
COM 207: Radio Practicum (Malone; M 3-3:50 pm; 1 credit)
COM 216: Cinema Studies (Duncan; MWF 11-11:50 am; 3 credits; Aesthetic Sensibility [AS] capability course)
COM 219: Media, Gender, and Sexuality (Geraths; TR 11-12:15 pm; 3 credits; Analytic Inquiry and Problem Solving [AIPS] course)
COM 221: Media History (Duncan; MWF 1-1:50 pm; 3 credits)
COM 304W: Communication and Media Theory (Geraths; TR 9:30-10:45 am; 3 credits)
COM 401W: Seminar in Communication and Media Studies (Duncan; 12-12:50 pm; 3 credits)

 

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

 

The Communication and Media Studies major can be earned by completing the following 39 credits:

 

Introductory Core (9 credits)
Requires each of the courses below:

 

COM 104: Modern Communication (3 credits; Communication [CO] capability course)
COM 106: Writing for Media (3 credits; Communication [CO] capability course)
COM 108: Media and Culture (3 credits; Intercultural Understanding [IU] capability course)

 

Topics Core (9 credits)
Requires three of the courses below. Courses cannot be repeated: 

 

COM 211: Sports, Media, and Culture (3 credits)
COM 212: Film & Rural America (3 credits; Justice and Civic Responsibility [JCR] capability course)
COM 213: Social Media and Internet Culture (3 credits)
COM 214: Communication Law (3 credits)
COM 215: Relational Communication (3 credits)
COM 216: Cinema Studies (3 credits; Aesthetic Sensibility [AS] capability course)
COM 217: Video Games and Contemporary Problems (3 credits; Analytic Inquiry and Problem Solving [AIPS] capability course)
COM 218: Organizational Communication (3 credits)
COM 219: Media, Gender, and Sexuality (3 credits; Analytic Inquiry and Problem Solving [AIPS] capability course)
COM 220: Media Management and Sales (3 credits)
COM 221: Media History (3 credits)

 

Experiential Core (9 credits)
Requires nine credits earned via the courses below. Courses can be repeated:

 

COM 205: Pegasus Media Practicum (1 credit)
COM 206: Television Practicum (1 credit)
COM 207: Radio Practicum (1 credit)
COM 295/495: Communication and Media Studies Internship (1-9 credits)

 

Advanced Core (9 credits)
Requires each of the courses below:

 

COM 304W: Communication and Media Theory (3 credits)
COM 306W: Communication and Media Methods (3 credits)
COM 308W: Communication and Media Ethics (3 credits)

 

Capstone (3 credits)
Requires the course below:

 

COM 401W: Seminar in Communication and Media Studies (3 credits)

 

MINOR REQUIREMENTS

 

The Communication and Media Studies minor can be earned by completing the following 21 credits:

 

Introductory Core (6 credits)
Requires two of the courses below:

 

COM 104: Modern Communication (3 credits; Communication [CO] capability course)
COM 106: Writing for Media (3 credits; Communication [CO] capability course)
COM 108: Media and Culture (3 credits; Intercultural Understanding [IU] capability course)

 

Topics and Experiential Core (9 credits)
Requires nine credits from the courses below. COM 205, COM 206, COM 207, and COM 295/495 can be repeated; COM 211, COM 212, COM 213, COM 214, COM 215, COM 216, COM 217, COM 218, COM 219, COM 220, and COM 221 cannot be repeated:

 

COM 205: Pegasus Media Practicum (1 credit)
COM 206: Television Practicum (1 credit)
COM 207: Radio Practicum (1 credit)
COM 211: Sports, Media, and Culture (3 credits)
COM 212: Film & Rural America (3 credits; Justice and Civic Responsibility [JCR] capability course)
COM 213: Social Media and Internet Culture (3 credits)
COM 214: Communication Law (3 credits)
COM 215: Relational Communication (3 credits)
COM 216: Cinema Studies (3 credits; Aesthetic Sensibility [AS] capability course)
COM 217: Video Games and Contemporary Problems (3 credits; Analytic Inquiry and Problem Solving [AIPS] capability course)
COM 218: Organizational Communication (3 credits)
COM 219: Media, Gender, and Sexuality (3 credits; Analytic Inquiry and Problem Solving [AIPS] capability course)
COM 220: Media Management and Sales (3 credits)
COM 221: Media History (3 credits)
COM 295/495: Communication and Media Studies Internship (1-9 credits)

 

Advanced Core (6 credits)
Requires two of the courses below:

 

COM 304W: Communication and Media Theory (3 credits)
COM 306W: Communication and Media Methods (3 credits)
COM 308W: Communication and Media Ethics (3 credits)

Through This Program Students Will Be Able To:

  • Understand how communication plays a central role in their personal, professional, and social lives.
  • Effectively communicate in both oral and written contexts.
  • Understand how communication can aid in the creation of a more civil and humane world.
  • Discuss and assess significant issues in the discipline of communication.
  • Evaluate and apply communication research and theories to their personal, professional, and social lives.
  • Develop awareness beyond ethnocentrism through the study of communication from diverse cultures.
Internship Opportunities
ALSAC/St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Bix Basement Systems
Media Relations Coordinator
Melick Library
State Farm
Woodford County Heartline/Hearthouse
Youth For Christ
WGLT Public Radio
Rivian
Nike
Caterpillar
Epic Games
Pantagraph Media
Hulu
Communication and Media Studies Majors and Minors Are Qualified for a Wide Range of Positions
Advertising Executive
Broadcast Engineer
Digital Content Producer
Event Planner
Fashion Designer
Health Communications Officer
Missionary/Religious Work
Multimedia Journalist
Public Relations Specialist
Radio/Podcast host
Small Business Owner
Social Media Director
Sports Media Professional
Speechwriter
Technical Writer
Video/Audio/Multimedia Producer
Communication and Media Studies Majors and Minors may have these qualities or skills:
Activitists
Binge Watchers
Digital Influencers
Entrepreneurs
Gamers
Global Citizens
News Junkies
Sports Fans
Podcasters
Pop Culture Fans
Storytellers

Staff Contacts

Dr. Phillip Duncan

Assistant Professor - Communication

pduncan@eureka.edu (309) 467-6337

Burrus Dickinson 301

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Dr. Cory Geraths

Assistant Professor - Communication

cgeraths@eureka.ed (309) 467-6879

Burrus Dickinson 301, Office #1

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Dr. John Malone

Associate Professor - Communication and General Manager of Radio/TV Stations

jmalone@eureka.edu (309) 467-6580

Pritchard B301

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99%

Eureka College graduates are employed or in graduate programs within six months of graduation.

8%

The job outlook for public relations specialists with Communication and Media Studies degrees is growing 8% faster than other jobs.

$63K

The average salary (nationally) of a public relations specialist is $62,800.