Communication (Interdepartmental Major) (COMM / ENGL)

Program Option: B.A.

Excellence in communication is a key to personal and professional success. St. Kate's communication major provides you with theoretical understanding and practical skill in written and oral communication. This is an interdisciplinary major offered by the English and communication studies departments. 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 will offer you the opportunity to develop your powers of clear explanation and persuasion, which are the keys to success for professional communicators.

As a communication major, you will choose either an oral or a written concentration. In each area, internships are available and encouraged. Students intern 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. Recent internship sites include 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.

Students in this major demonstrate extraordinary leadership skills, activism and student involvement. For example, three out of four recent presidents of the Senate (St. Kate's student government organization) have been communication or communication studies majors.

The communication major with an oral concentration is ideal for students considering careers in human resources, human relations, organizational consulting, public relations, promotion and advertising, management, sales and a wide range of other positions within organizations. Students who choose this concentration work closely with faculty to design their concentration. Speech communication courses blend the traditions of rhetoric with contemporary communication theory to provide you with critical-thinking, speaking and listening skills necessary to become a successful and responsible leader.

Many students who plan to pursue careers in public relations, writing, publishing, education, management, banking, medicine or law or found their own businesses choose the communication major with a written communication concentration. Students who choose the written concentration work with an advisor from the English Department in designing their program and take writing and literature courses offered by the English Department. These courses provide students with opportunities to integrate the critical-thinking, reading and writing skills required for ethical leadership. Internships are available in a variety of settings, ranging from small agencies to major corporations to cultural/civic organizations.

Students in the written concentration are encouraged to work on Ariston , the literary and visual magazine published annually since 1906 by students of St. Catherine University. The word ariston is Greek and means "the best of the best." This book represents an annual celebration of quality work by students. Writers and artists submitting works for publication must have taken at least one class at St. Catherine during the representative year. Students comprise the editorial staff of Ariston, as coordinators, editors and interns in both the art and literary areas and work under the guidance of faculty advisors.

In order to assist you in choosing a career path that most suits your interests, the Communication Club - a student club - has begun a speaker series that allows students to ask graduates about how majoring in communication had an impact on their professional careers.

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

Major Requirements:

Core requirements for both concentrations:
ENGL 2000 Writing for Life: Developing Skill and Confidence or ENGL 3060 Intermediate Writing: Strengthening Critical and Persuasive Voice
COMM 1030 Speaking to Lead and Influence
COMM 3090 Communicating in Organizations
PHIL 3300 Ethics in Communication
One literature course

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION CONCENTRATION

Portfolio: As a communication major concentrating in written communication, you begin developing a portfolio as soon as you declare your major and are assigned an advisor. The portfolio allows you to assess your own intellectual growth and offers a means for assessing your ability to read and write critically, analytically, creatively and professionally. In your last term, before you file your intent to graduate, you will review your portfolio with your advisor. The portfolio will contain these items:

• one paper from each of the following courses: ENGL 2200 Literary Theory and Practice, one paper from each of two substantially different writing classes, and one paper from a course in language (ENGL , 2450, Language in Society or ENGL 3100 Language as Power)
• a summary reflective essay
• a list of courses completed in the major
• a resume, written with the assistance of the Career Development Office
• a portfolio checklist

Written communication courses:
ENGL 2200 Literary Theory and Practice
Three writing courses (two at the 3000 level or above)
One language studies course
One additional course in oral communication (COMM)

Recommended supporting course:
Internship

ORAL COMMUNICATION CONCENTRATION
Minimum of one course from each of the following three categories:

Communicating Personally
COMM 2020 Communication Dynamics in Interpersonal Relationships
COMM 3100 Communication Across Cultures, Identities and Differences

Communicating in Organizations and Groups
COMM 2090 Communication and Conflict in Groups and Teams
COMM 3110 Communication Training and Development
COMM 3600 Leadership and the Art of Persuasion

Communicating to Influence
COMM 2050 Media, Culture and Society
COMM 3030 Rhetoric, Civic Participation and Social Justice
COMM 3070 Gender and Rhetoric
Two other courses from the Department of Communication Studies
One additional course from English

One additional course from:
INDI 2090 Promotional Communication
COMM 4604 Internship
COMM 4954 Independent Study

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