Academic Catalog
The Communication Studies major and minor introduce students to the full range of the discipline, including interpersonal, intercultural, small group, public, and mass communication. The curriculum emphasizes media studies, including media history, theory, criticism, law, ethics, and digital production. Students who major or minor in Communication Studies are prepared not only to evolve as informed and engaged citizens in our increasingly mass-mediated society, but also to succeed in exciting professional fields such as advertising, public relations, journalism, marketing, film, television, radio, and online media production.
Communication Studies majors and minors contribute significantly to Manhattanville College's student-run campus media, and they compete effectively for off-campus internships and professional positions after graduation. Current and recent Communication Studies students have either interned with or been hired by: ABC News, CNN America, Rolling Stone Magazine, MTV Networks, Nickelodeon Studios, The Colbert Report, Sirius XM Radio, The Creative Group, The Creators Project, and VH1.
For more information about the Department of Communication Studies, please contact: Dr. Brian J. Snee, Associate Professor & Chair.
Faculty and Professional Interests
Brian Snee (Chair) – Communication and media history, theory, law and analysis, rhetoric, and documentary film
Christine Dehne – Video art, video production, computer animation, gender and performance, feminism
Anthony Rudel – Public relations, business communication, journalism, and media ethics
Other Affiliated Full-time Faculty
Jeff Bens – Screenwriting and narrative writing
James Frank – Digital photography, computer graphics, interactive design
Gillian Greenhill Hannum – History of photography
Van Hartmann – Film studies, film and literature
Geoffrey Kidde – Music technology and audio recording
David Lugowski – Film history, theory and analysis
Adjunct Faculty
Jeanne Christie – Public speaking, small group and visual communication
Christopher D’Amico – Mass communication, gender, sexuality, and family communication
Tony Ely – (Studio Manager) TV, video and digital media production
John Proctor – Media convergence and "new" journalism, blogging and media writing, communication theory
Randye Spina –Public speaking, advertising, small group and interpersonal communication
Franklyn Strachan – Digital media production, narrative video, guerilla filmmaking
A major in Communication Studies consists of thirteen courses. At least nine of the twelve courses in the core and the concentrations must be liberal arts in nature. Students must pass COMM 1001 (or transfer in a comparable course) with a grade of C+ or better before declaring the major. Other course grades must be C or better to qualify for major credit. No single class can fill more than one slot in meeting major requirements. Independent studies cannot replace core classes or the senior evaluation; see department about the possibility of one elective being replaced by an independent study. Internships are highly recommended for students but are not "liberal arts" and do not count for major credit.
The major includes a core of eight courses:
Besides the core, five additional courses will comprise two concentrations. Students take three elective courses in one area and two in another. Two concentrations MUST be chosen from the three below. The five courses must come from at least two departments and must include at least two 3000-level or 4000-level courses. At least three of the five electives must be liberal arts. Classes counting as electives within concentrations cannot be double-counted in the core.
The three concentrations are:
Interpersonal and Public Communication
Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication |
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Public Relations and American Culture |
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Advertising and American Popular Culture |
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Communicating in the Business World ** |
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Argumentation, Persuasion and Debate |
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Small Group Communication |
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COMM 3038 |
Narrative Approaches to Culture |
Ethnography, Identity, Culture |
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Media Ethics |
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Gender and Communication |
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Media Industries and Information Technology: From Gutenberg to the Internet |
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Performance Seminar: Collaborative Process |
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Voice and Speech** |
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Contact Improvisation** |
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ENW 4012 |
Journalism 2 |
Consumer Behavior** |
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MGT 2015 |
Organizational Behavior** |
Note: No more than one DTH or MGT course can be taken in this concentration. Some courses have pre-requisites required by their home departments.
Video, Audio and Broadcasting Studies
Multimedia** |
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Artists Video** |
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ART 4063 |
2D Animation** |
ART 4090 |
Art and Design for the Web** |
Acting for the Camera |
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DTH 4015 |
Acting for the Camera II |
MUAT 3011 |
Audio Recording Technique II** |
SOC 3050 |
Mass Media and Society |
Media and Social Change |
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SOC 3088 |
Images of Women in Popular Culture |
History of TV and Radio |
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Feminist Media Studies |
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Convergent Media/Divergent Voices |
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Media Ethics |
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Minorities and the Media |
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Media Industries and Info Technology: From Gutenberg to the Internet |
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ENG 3173 |
Queer Film and Media Studies |
Topics in Advanced TV/Video** |
Note: No more than one DTH or two ART courses can be taken in this concentration. COMM 4025 can be taken twice within this concentration. Some courses have prerequisites required by their home departments.
Film and Photography Studies
ARH 3072 |
Women Photographers |
Photographic Essay** |
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ART 4010/4048 |
Intermediate/Advanced Photography/Color Photography** |
ART 4049 |
Intermed/Adv Photography: View Camera** |
Digital Photography** |
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Feminist Media Studies |
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Media Ethics |
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Acting for the Camera |
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DTH 4015 |
Acting for the Camera II |
ENW 4004 |
Screenwriting Workshop II |
ENG 2083 |
Intro to Film Criticism |
ENG 2080 |
American Film |
ENG 2088 |
History of Cinema I |
ENG 2089 |
History of Cinema II |
ENG 3075 |
Film Theory |
ENG 2079 |
Women‘s Film |
ENG 3173 |
Queer Film and Media Studies |
ENG 4010 |
Major Film Directors |
ENG 4020 |
Topics in Film Genre |
ENG 4030 |
Topics in National and Regional Cinemas |
Note: no more than one DTH, two ENG, or two ART courses can be taken in this concentration. Check with ARH, ART, DTH, ENG/ENW about pre-requisites they require for specific courses they offer; these must still be met.
The senior seminar/senior evaluation requirement can be met in one of three ways:
Students should take at least one other class besides COMM 1001 (such as Oral Presentation, Introduction to Film Criticism, Journalism, Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication, or Introduction to Digital Media/TV Production) during their first two years at the College.
Prerequisites for Art classes should also be taken during one‘s first two years.
It is highly recommended that Theories of Communication be taken in the fall of one's junior year and not delayed until senior year. A first seminar course should be taken during junior year as well.
For students wishing to major in Communication Studies, no more than 6 courses can be transferred to Manhattanville and applied toward the major from other academic institutions. For students wishing to minor in Communication Studies no more than 3 courses can be transferred to Manhattanville and applied toward the minor.
Distinction will be conferred on graduating seniors who have a 3.6 G.P.A. in coursework for the major. Honors will be conferred on graduating seniors who have a 3.7 G.P.A. in coursework for the major. The department also awards the Mark C. Meachem Prize at graduation to one or more seniors who have combined academic achievement with outstanding collegiality and service.
A minor in communication studies consists of six courses. No course can be used for both one’s major and one’s minor. Internships and independent studies cannot be used for minor credit.
Note: 200-level COMM courses cannot be used to complete the minor.
Internships: Manhattanville’s location enables students to take advantage of the considerable resources of Westchester county and New York City to obtain internships with non- and for-profit companies, newspapers, radio stations, advertising and public relations firms, television and other media production companies, and more. Students with sufficient communication studies backgrounds have interned with TV and radio programs, leading PR and publishing firms, and independent filmmakers. Communication Studies internships can be done during summers or the regular school year and are taken for non-liberal arts credit. They cannot replace courses for the major or minor.
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