Communication and Performance Studies at NMU
Communication empowers us to remember the past, act in the present
and anticipate the future. It is the vehicle by which we manage
relationships with others in contexts ranging from "one-to-one" to
"one-to-many" using personal, public and mass-mediated channels of
communication. The disciplines represented in the Communication
and Performance Studies Department have developed a body of
knowledge concerning verbal and nonverbal symbols that are spoken,
enacted, heard and seen. The department covers seven major areas
of study and also serves the needs of students who wish to develop
more effective communication skills. While excellent teaching is
our first priority, we also engage in a variety of professional
development activities including research and creative endeavors.
Service to the university, the community and professional
organizations is a long-standing tradition of the Communication
and Performance Studies Department.
Communication and Performance Studies
Programs
Electronic Journalism
Electronic
journalism is designed for the student seeking a career in the
news industry. Students in this major learn how to research,
write, shoot, edit and produce news stories for electronic
media (radio, television and the Internet). Students are also
prepared for leadership and responsibility through study of
communication ethics and law. The coursework in this major is
integrated with the daily "live" student-produced newscast on WNMU-TV
Entertainment and
Sports Promotion
Entertainment and sports promotion prepares students for
entry-level positions as communication practitioners ranging from
being a publicist for an individual artist or entertainer to being
a sports information director for a university or professional
team, as well as for the pursuit of a graduate education in
entertainment or sports management. Course work and field
experience enables students to understand the nature of
communication practices in the field and to develop appropriate
skills. Faculty in this program guide students to develop skills,
understand the nature of media relations, promote intellectual
inquiry and emphasize sound, professional ethics.
Media Production and New Technology
Media production
and new technology serves students interested in a wide variety of
production careers such as music recording and corporate video.
Students use professionally equipped studios to learn concepts and
apply them to create award-winning media content. The newly
remodeled labs include professional audio and video equipment
using the latest digital technology such as Digidesign
ProTools, Final Cut Pro and Trinity.
Media Studies
Media studies is a non-production
major that examines media from a theoretical perspective. Topics
include mass communication theory, social effects of media and
intercultural aspects of mass communication. In addition to
analyzing media and media messages, students are also engaged in
writing for the mass media. This major is especially helpful for
students considering graduate or professional degrees.
Public Relations
The public
relations major is a professional program designed to meet, and in
some cases surpass, the Public Relations Society of America's
Guidelines for Undergraduate Education. This program teaches the
kind of research, writing, planning and budgeting skills that
students need to succeed in the job market, and affords them the
opportunity to employ these skills on behalf of a variety of
clients. An extremely active chapter of Public Relations Student
Society of America gives students additional opportunities for
learning and service. Students may not select a minor in
entertainment and sports promotion or speech cluster.
Speech Communication
Speech communication
majors learn face-to-face communication skills and how to think
critically based upon a body of knowledge that is transportable
and applicable to a variety of career paths. Performance and
theoretical electives in this major afford students the
opportunity to tailor their studies to their interests as they
prepare for careers ranging from sales to supervision, from the
ministry to law. A background in speech communication is an asset
to all career-minded individuals who must communicate clearly,
forcefully and persuasively.
Theatre
The theatre
program offers a full range of courses plus extensive applied
experiences both on and off stage. Students prepare for
professional, community, and educational theatre positions. The
Forest Roberts Theatre is one of the finest university theatres in
the nation, boasting computerized lighting control and an upgraded
sound system. Theatre majors put what they learn in performance
and technical theatre classes into practice onstage and backstage
in five major productions per year before traditionally sold out
houses. Experimental theatre space in the McClintock building is
home to numerous student-directed productions as well as many
performance classes. A special audition class has helped ensure
ninety-percent placement of theatre students over the past decade.
Department/Program Policies
All department
majors must maintain a 2.50 grade point average in the major, and
earn at least a “C-” in all major courses that are required for
graduation, unless otherwise noted. Department minors must
maintain a 2.00 grade point average.
Speech Communication Major
-
All students
are required to complete and pass a senior qualifying
examination the semester in which they intend to graduate.
-
All
students are required to present and receive a passing
evaluation for a graduation presentation to be given the
semester in which they intend to graduate.
-
Details
regarding either requirement may be obtained from a student’s
departmental advisor or the department head. Students will be
contacted at the beginning of their final semester and given
instructions for the completion of both requirements, and should
register for SP 485.
Theatre Major
-
All students
are required to participate each semester in a jury presentation
scheduled and critiqued by the theatre faculty. Juries are
evaluated on a "pass/fail" basis and are not reflected in
students' academic transcripts. Students who fail two
consecutive theatre juries at a given level may be dropped from
the major.
-
Transfer
students who wish to major in theatre must receive credit for at
least sixteen hours of academic work in the theatre area unless
a waiver is approved by the student’s advisor and department
head.
-
All theatre
majors are required to have at least one field studies
experience as part of their degree program. Only the New York
Field Studies, the Stratford Summer Tour, or a comparable
substitute approved by theatre faculty will fulfill this
requirement.
Entertainment and Sports Promotion Minor
Because
enrollment in ESPR prefix courses is tightly controlled, any
student electing to minor in entertainment and sports promotion
should notify the CAPS Department at the time the minor is chosen.
Students majoring in public relations may not minor in
entertainment and sports promotion. Students majoring in any other
departmental program that requires BC 165 and/or SP 110, who
elect the entertainment and sports promotion minor, should count
these courses in their major and bring the total number of hours
in the minor to 20 by choosing courses totaling four credit hours
from the following:
ESP 295 Special
Topics in ESP (2-4)
ESP 495 Special
Topics in ESP (2-4)
BC 325 Communication
and Performance in Africa (4)
EN 260 Popular
Culture (4)
EN 369 Literature and
Film (4)
MU 125 Music and
Society (4)
MU 325 World Music
(4)
PE 381 History of
Dance (2)
PE 383 Theory of
Dance (2)
SO 251 Sport in
Society (2)
SP 402 Communication
Criticism (4)
TH 130 Introduction
to Theatre (4)
TH 360 History of
Theatre (4)
TH 361 Modern Drama
(4)
Public Relations Minor
Because
enrollment in PR prefix courses is tightly controlled, any student
electing to minor in public relations should notify the CAPS
Department at the time the minor is chosen. Students majoring
in entertainment and sports promotion may not minor in public
relations. Students majoring in any other departmental program
that requires SP 110, who elect the public relations minor,
should count SP 110 in their major and replace it in the minor
with one of the theoretical electives listed for the public
relations major.
Media Studies Minor
Students
majoring in a departmental program which requires SP 110, who
elect the media studies minor, should count SP 110 in their major
and replace it in the minor with TH 130.
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