Strategic and Professional Communication- B.S. Degree

Department of Communication 
Office: 311 McEwen Hall

(716) 673-4729

Roslin Smith, Chairperson

Email: Communication.Department@fredonia.edu

Website: https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-liberal-arts-sciences/communication

 

The degree provides a variety of highly employable skills as students learn how to become effective and savvy producers of strategic communication in a variety of civic, interpersonal, and professional contexts. The major emphasizes communication ethics, cultural awareness, decision-making, informative and persuasive message construction, professional speaking, research and evaluation, stakeholder management, brand awareness, and skills necessary to succeed in an organizational environment.  The Strategic and Professional Communication major synthesizes theoretical and applied learning by offering influential and conceptual grounding for lifelong learning and career flexibility. Students can choose one of two tracks: In Public Relations you will concentrate on effectively mediating the goals and obligations of an organization and the needs and concerns of the public as well as campaign design and management, both of which prepare you to serve as a communication advocate in a variety of professional and civic settings. In Professional Communication, you will learn skills emphasizing both mediated and non-mediated relational development, effective participation in and leadership of teams, and communication analysis and performance across public, social, and professional settings.

Major Requirements

The department requires all students to declare and complete a minor or a semester studying abroad. The minor must be officially recognized by the offering department and be chosen in consultation with a Communication advisor. Students electing the study abroad option are required to complete a complimentary course at Fredonia chosen in consultation with their advisor. 

Students who have dual majors with both majors inside the Communication department are still required to have a minor outside the department or meet the criteria for the study abroad option. A second major outside the Communication department will also satisfy this requirement.

At least 12 credit hours and all capstone courses must be taken at Fredonia.

A grade of C or better is required for a course to satisfy a major requirement.

Communication Core:

COMM 101Fundamentals of Communication

3

COMM 105Public Speaking

3

COMM 199Communication Orientation

1

Total Credit Hours:7

Major Core Courses:

COMM 102Mass Media and Society

3

or

COMM 155Rhetoric of Vision and Sound

3

or

COMM 312Multimedia Integration

3

 

COMM 244Introduction to Social Media

3

COMM 323Research Methods

3

COMM 336Introduction to Business Communication

3

COMM 480Communication Internship

1-15

Total Credit Hours:13
* COMM 480-Communication Internship should be completed for at least 1 credit.

Track Requirements

A track in Public Relations or Professional Communication is required, select one.

Professional Communication Track

COMM 221Interpersonal Communication

3

COMM 302Rhetoric and Criticism

3

COMM 365Communication and Leadership

3

COMM 430Communication Theory

3

COMM 465Intercultural Communication

3

Professional Communication Electives
9 Credits chosen from the following:
COMM 222Principles of Public Relations

3

COMM 301Group Communication

3

COMM 303Health Communication

3

COMM 313Political Communication

3

COMM 321Environmental Communication

3

COMM 342Presidential Campaign Communication

3

COMM 362Nonverbal Communication

3

COMM 373Gender and Communication

3

COMM 379Persuasion

3

COMM 460Organizational Communication

3

Total Credit Hours:24

Public Relations Track

COMM 222Principles of Public Relations

3

COMM 322Public Relations Writing

3

COMM 344Public Relations Case Analysis

3

COMM 420Communication Law and Ethics

3

COMM 422Public Relations Campaigns

3

Public Relations Electives
9 Credits (max 3 credits at 100/200 level) chosen from the following:
COMM 130Foundations in Journalism

3

COMM 221Interpersonal Communication

3

COMM 255Studio Production

3

COMM 302Rhetoric and Criticism

3

COMM 313Political Communication

3

COMM 342Presidential Campaign Communication

3

COMM 365Communication and Leadership

3

COMM 379Persuasion

3

COMM 424International Public Relations

3

COMM 430Communication Theory

3

COMM 460Organizational Communication

3

COMM 465Intercultural Communication

3

Total Credit Hours:24
 

Total Credit Hours: 44