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Communication and Media

Curriculum Major, Minor, or Interdisciplinary

Communication and Media Major

Contemporary society is characterized by the exponential growth of media. The communication and media major provides students with a critical understanding of communication processes and industries, and their impact on society. It prepares students for entry level positions in the media field of their choice or for graduate study.

The communication and media (CM) major consists of 13 courses that combine experience-based learning of real-world practices with an emphasis on critical thinking, observation, analysis, and writing. Students may shape their course selection to concentrate in journalism, television, radio, advertising, public relations, graphic design, digital audio and video, and Web development, while also taking courses in areas such as publishing, popular culture, media and society, and free speech. Students may concentrate in more than one area. In small classes, majors benefit from close interactions with both the full-time faculty, who represent a broad range of disciplines associated with this complex field of study, and affiliate faculty with strong professional credentials.

The study of communication and media at Loyola is enhanced by participation in internships and co-curricular activities that include: the student newspaper; student radio station and television station; a student-run book publishing company; advertising club; public relations club; honor societies, and competitions associated with affiliated academic and professional organizations; and study abroad programs.

Communication and Media Minor

The communication and media minor consists of seven courses. A CM minor must choose a specific specialization from Advertising/PR, Journalism, or Digital Media.

  • CM 203- Introduction to Communication
  • CM 307 or CM 308 (depending on student's area of specialization)
  • Five CM courses at the 200-Level or higher (two courses must be at the 300-level and within the student's area of specialization)

Notes: 

  1. Communication and Media minors are not required to take a capstone course in their specialization; but may do so if they choose and if all course prerequisites are met. 
  2. Communication and Media minors are not required to take a Diversity-Justice designated communication course, but it is strongly recommended. 
  3. Communication and Media minors cannot take Media and Society as a specialization. Students must choose from Advertising/PR, Journalism, or Digital Media. 
  4. It is highly recommended that students meet with the CM Department Chair or Associate Chair to review courses before they declare a Minor in Communication and Media. 

Communication and Media Interdisciplinary Major

Communication experts are always in big demand in corporations, government, medicine and the health professions, fine arts, the law, and nonprofit organizations. The communication and media interdisciplinary major provides students with a critical understanding of communication processes and industries as applied to another field of study. It prepares students for entry level positions as communication specialists in their choice of professional field or for graduate study.

 

The Interdisciplinary major consists of eight courses, as well as the requirements of a second major field. An interdisciplinary major in CM must choose one of the following three specializations (Ad/PR, Journalism, or Digital Media) to focus on. All interdisciplinary majors are required to take CM203 and CM307 or CM308 (depending on the student’s area of specialization) as well as one additional CM 200 level course. Four CM 300/400 level courses (three of which must be under the declared specialization) must be completed as well as one CM 400-level senior capstone course for which all prerequisites have been met.

Diversity-Justice Course Requirement

Students pursuing a major or an interdisciplinary major in communication and media are required to complete a diversity-justice-designated course in the communication and media curriculum. Currently, the following courses in communication and media are designated as D-J courses:  

  • CM303: Media Ethics  
  • CM315: History of Graphic Design 
  • CM316: Travel Reporting  
  • CM330: Stereotypes in U.S. Media  
  • CM342: Media, Culture and Society 
  • CM346: International Communication 
  • CM359: Advertising, Culture and Identity 

Above courses in communication and media are approved by the university’s diversity curriculum committee.