Electronic Media Studies (COMM)

Program Options: B.A., B.S.

St. Kate's electronic media studies major, offered jointly with the University of St. Thomas, provides you with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in electronic communications. Your instructors will share their genuine dedication to the responsible use of language in all its forms and work with you to master your craft. The curriculum offers you the opportunity to develop your powers of clear explanation and persuasion, which are the keys to success for professional communicators.

In addition to communication studies courses, you will study audio production, electronic media and society, videography and the documentary in American television. You also will be required to take the leadership communications course, a unique St. Kate's offering that provides opportunities for extensive self-assessment and delves into issues such as ethics, leadership style and personal strengths, all with a focus on women's leadership and following.

Your job opportunities in this field include programming/production, news, advertising sales, promotion and administration. Potential employers include radio and television networks, commercial and public broadcast stations, private television production, business and government.

You will be encouraged to pursue one of the many internships available to electronic media studies majors, including opportunities in the communications offices of major corporations and at small businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, advertising and public relations agencies and radio and television stations and networks. Former students have had internships at Best Buy, BI Performance Services, Dynamark Corporation, Ecolab, Green Tree Financial, Medtronic, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, KMSP-TV, KDWB radio station and the St. Paul Heritage and Festival Foundation.

You will also find several opportunities to get involved with other communications students on campus. Students who display a commitment to the field and an excellent academic record are inducted yearly into Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association's student honor society.

See also: Communication, Communication Studies, Education - Communication Arts and Literature with Grades 5-12 Teaching Licensure (for those interested in teaching communication arts and literature in secondary schools)

Major Requirements:

To earn a major in electronic media studies, you must successfully complete 40-48 credits in communication studies distributed in the following way.

Required courses in speech communication at St. Catherine University:
COMM 1030 Speaking to Lead and Influence
COMM 2050 Media, Culture and Society
COMM 3030 Rhetoric, Civic Participation and Social Justice
COMM 3070 Gender and Rhetoric
COMM 4600 Leadership and the Art of Persuasion
COMM 4604 Internship

Required course at the University of St. Thomas:
COJO 260 Electronic Media Production

You must select at least two of the following courses at the University of St. Thomas:
COJO 230 Foundations in Media and Society
COJO 262 Radio Production
COJO 264 Media Communication Skills 
COJO 332 Documentary in American Culture
COJO 360 Videography: Television Production in the Field
COJO 460 Advanced Video Production 

Elective courses:
You must select one and up to three additional elective classes from the Communication Studies Department at St. Catherine's or from the supporting classes listed from the University of St. Thomas above.

Electronic media studies majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing COMM 3070. You complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000 or 2000, CORE 3990, and any other writing-intensive course in this or another department).