Course details

Communication

Ron Johnson, Associate Professor of Communication
Rachel Lapp, Assistant Professor of Communication
Pat McFarlane, Department Chair, Associate Professor of Communication
Jason Samuel, WGCS General Manager
Duane Stoltzfus, Associate Professor of Communication
Doug Caskey, Professor of Theater & Communication
Michelle Milne, Assistant Professor of Theater
Jerry Peters

The communication department offers:

• major in communication
• minor in communication,
• minor in writing
• minor in multimedia communication.

Concentrations within the communication major include:
• broadcasting
• journalism
• film studies
• generalist
• multimedia communication
• public relations.

The department considers communication a dynamic field of study that prepares students to engage in meaningful service and fulfilling careers. Also, involvement in communication provides avenues for self-discovery and creative expressions, giving students a strong base for further learning in graduate, professional and personal contexts.

Communication department faculty members endeavor to keep informed of academic advances and the latest professional practices to prepare students well for graduate study and careers. Faculty members are especially attuned to contemporary ethical issues and attempt to bring the college’s Christian/Anabaptist orientation to bear on these issues.

Visit the Communication department home page

Communication program

Communication students at Goshen College have numerous opportunities to apply their classroom learning and to test their vocational interests. Students can develop leadership skills in broadcasting (The Globe), journalism (Maple Leaf and Record), public address (the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest) and video production (GC-TV). Student journalism organizations are based in a Communication Center with a full-service newsroom and suite of offices. The Globe studios feature state-of-the-art digital and computerbased equipment with satellite connections; GC-TV also is equipped with digital and computer-based production and editing equipment. Visit the communication Web site.

Career opportunities

Graduates have pursued vocations as broadcasters, reporters, editors, public relations and advertising practitioners, educators, attorneys, business executives and church leaders.

Major in communication

Students majoring in communication must complete at least 38 hours of communication and related courses. All communication majors, in consultation with a faculty adviser, develop a plan of study that includes one of the concentration areas below.

Basic requirements for the major include these courses:

All students majoring in communication are required to take the general education course Comm 202, Oral Communication for three credit hours.


*Comm 200/Communication Practice should be with a co-curricular closely related to the area of concentration. The Comm 409/Internship should be in the student’s area of concentration.

A portfolio or its equivalent is required for graduation.

Concentration options

Broadcasting (Radio and Television)

Students are required to participate in at least four semesters with WGCS and/or GCTV.

Journalism

Students are required to participate in at least four semesters with GCTV, The Record, Maple Leaf, and/or WGCS.

Journalism education
Teacher certification is available for grades 5-12 in journalism education. Courses needed in addition to communication major and journalism concentration core requirements are Comm 190, Comm 260, and 30 credits of education courses, including a semester of student teaching. PJCS 210 is required for general education. The first education class, Educ 201, should be taken in May term of the first year or fall of the sophomore year. See the education department pages and the Teacher Education Handbook for more details about requirements.

Film studies

To obtain a film studies concentration a student must satisfactorily complete one full semester at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities’ Los Angeles Film Studies Center, or an approved alternative off-campus program. This concentration cannot be completed solely in residence at Goshen College.

Students are required to participate in at least four semesters with GCTV and/or theater.

Generalist (18 hours)

This concentration is individually designed, in consultation with the faculty adviser, to develop individual areas of interest or encompass a broad base of communication areas. The course selection must include at least nine upper-level hours, at least nine hours in “communication” and at least six hours from the communication department. Generalist students are required to participate in at least four semesters with one or more relevant department co-curricular activities.

Multimedia Communication

Students are required to participate in at least four semesters with GCTV, The Record and/or WGCS.

Public relations

Students are required to participate in at least four semesters with GCTV, WGCS, the Maple Leaf and/or The Record.

Planning guide

First year	General education Communication Research Oral Communication
Second year	General education Media Law and Ethics Expository Writing Other courses in major SST
Third year	General education (including humanities requirement) Communication and Society Courses in major
Fourth year	Balance of general education Balance of major Internship Senior Seminar

Minor in communication

Students minoring in communication must complete 18 hours in communication in addition to taking Comm 202, Oral Communication for 3 hours.
Concentration (12 hours)
Individually designed, with at least nine hours in communication and at least six of these hours in the GC communication department. At least five of the concentration hours should be upper level.

Communication minors may take additional hours in the department, but the total number of communication hours applied toward the degree may not exceed 45. Also, students may earn a maximum of 12 hours of credit for experiential learning in Comm 200, 209, 409 or 412.

Minor in writing

The writing minor is administered by the communication and English departments. Students selecting this minor must complete 18 hours. Students may focus on exposition/journalism or creative writing while augmenting those with courses in production/internships. See the English department pages for more details.

Minor in multimedia communication

The multimedia communication minor is offered by the art, communication, computer science and business information systems departments. Students in this program learn to design and develop Web sites and CD-ROM presentations that convey information effectively and aesthetically. A student must complete 18 credit hours (including at least eight upper-level hours) to receive a multimedia communication minor.

Communication courses

COMM 108 Digital Design 3
This course in visual expression and communication will introduce students to relevant computer programs including Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Through exercises, projects and critiques, students will learn both creative visual design and technical aspects of computer-generated images and composition. Prerequisite for Art 208.

COMM 190 Introduction to Radio 1
This applied course, offered on a credit/no-credit basis only, prepares students for work at WGCS-FM. Students attend lecture-discussion periods, engage in self-study and learn to operate the station through tutorial shifts.

COMM 195 TV News Reporting & Videography 1
Applied learning, involving work assignments on GC Journal, the campus television news program. Focuses on television news reporting, basic news videography and newscast studio operations.

COMM 200 Communication Practice 1 (1-2)
Applied work in communication with the student newspaper, yearbook, GC-TV, WGCS or other on-campus communication activity. A maximum of two hours applicable toward a communication major or minor. Consent of instructor required.

COMM 202 Oral Communication 3
A study of communication theories as applied to oral communication. Practical experience in a variety of activities including interpersonal communication, public speaking, small-group communication, persuasion and nonverbal communication. Attention is given to communicating in a culturally diverse society. Theories and principles of oral communication will be studied in all sections though individual professors may structure their courses around specific themes such as Border Crossings and Oral History. Communication, theater and education majors should take this course for three credits.

COMM 204 Expository Writing 3
(Cross-listed from Engl 204) Theory and practice of written communication. Assignments in a variety of prose forms aim at developing the student's control of logic, organization, rhetoric and usage. Prerequisite: Engl 110 or Engl 210 or equivalent.

COMM 206 Communication Across Cultures 3
A study of cultures, comparative message systems and principles of cross-cultural communication. A focus on current issues having to do with cultural interactions. Students analyze cultural dynamics through ethnographic projects, films and simulations. This course is designed as preparation for SST or for living in settings unlike one's native home.

COMM 209 Field Experience 3 (1-3)
Experiential learning, usually in an off-campus professional setting, for communication majors and minors. The student contracts with a faculty member in regard to goals, performance expectations, supervision, evaluation and course subtitle. The 209 level is intended for first year and sophomore students. Upper level students should enroll in 409. Prerequisite: Comm 202 or Comm 204.

COMM 212 Broadcast Media Production I 3
An introduction to broadcast media production with an emphasis on audio and video production. The primary goal of the course is the development of the necessary skills and understandings needed to create effective broadcast media messages. Secondary goals are to give an overview of media production tools and techniques and to explore aesthetic and ethical issues of media. This course places emphasis on the "craft" roles of media production personnel. Students will gain production craft experience as members of a production team.

COMM 240 Communication Research 3
An introduction to theory building and research methodology of mass communication. Course focuses on the practical aspects of communication research, providing a framework for conducting quantitative and qualitative research..

COMM 250 Writing for Media 3
An introductory newswriting course devoted to print, broadcast and multimedia environments. The course will cover new judgments and new values; reporting strategies; research techniques; forms of jounalistic writing and Associated Press style. Prerequisite: Engl 110 or equivalent.

COMM 255 Photo Communication 3
A first course including camera work, digital image workflow and printing. Technical fluency, visual composition, photojournalistic approaches, and expression are components of the course. Students must provide a camera on which f-stop and shutter speed can be controlled.

COMM 260 Broadcast Writing 3
Students will study the principles, forms and techniques of writing for broadcast media. Assignments will focus on the writing and editting of broadcast news and commercial messages. Prerequisite: Comm 250.

COMM 270 Media, Law & Ethics 3
A course devoted to models of ethical decision making as they are applied to mass media issues, with special attention given to Christian perspectives. The course will cover issues like access to information, accuracy, conflicts of interest, deception, fairness, libel, obscenity, plagiarism and privacy.

COMM 290 Radio Operations 1
An applied course providing advanced instruction and experience in radio station operations, emphasizing four areas: announcing, systems operations (computer-based operations, satellite downlinking, basic productions, etc.) programming and management. Course work includes assisting WGCS managers in such areas as programming, production, and operations. Prerequisite: Comm 190.

COMM 295 TV News Producing & Directing 1
Applied learning, involving leadership of GC Journal. Focuses on television news producing, directing and newscast studio operations. Prerequisite:Comm 195.

COMM 308 Feature Writing 3
Students will study nonfiction writing forms, including narrative journalism, and learn the process of publishing articles in newspaper, magazine and online markets. Students will prepare articles for submissioin. Prerequisite: Comm 204 or Comm 250 or equivalent.

COMM 312 Broadcast Media Production II 3
Advanced study of broadcast media production with an emphasis on audio and video production. The primary goal of the course is the development of advanced skills and understandings needed to create effective broadcast media messages. Secondary goals are to give extended development of media production tools and techniques and to explore aesthetic and ethical issues of media. This course places emphasis on the "creative" roles of media production personnel as producers, directors and designers. Students will take creative responsibility for media productions, including supervison of a production team. Prerequisite: Comm 212.

COMM 314 Broadcast Media Production III 3
The primary focus of this course is on advanced integration of audio and video elements in program-length productions. Capabilities of computer-aided editing and digital audio and video will be explored in depth. The major project for the class will accommodate an individual's interest in either audio or video. Prerequisite: Comm 312 or consent of instructor.

COMM 322 Organizational Communication 3
An exploration of communication within organizations, as well as communication between organizations and the larger society. Topics include theories of communication and organizational structure; examination of power, culture, and conflict in organizations; and analysis of verbal and nonverbal messages in interpersonal, small-group and public settings. Assignments will assist students in developing skills in listening, analysis, speaking and writing. Prerequisite: Comm 240 or Bus 316.

COMM 324 Principles of Public Relations 3
Introduction to public relations contexts, issues and practices - research, planning, communicating and evaluating. Emphasis on skills in analyzing public opinion and in communication with internal and external publics, with special attention to not-for-profit organizations. Prerequisite: Comm 240 or Bus 216.

COMM 326 Creating for the Web 3
The class focus will be on creating Web pages for Internet and Intranet use. Class work will be entirely on the World Wide Web. Issues of design, Web graphics and the language(s) of page development will be a major part of the study.

COMM 340 Audio Production 3
An introduction to the recording studio presenting its function in commercial music production. Areas include basic electronics, studio setup and engineering fundamentals. Lecture/lab.

COMM 350 Reporting for the Public Good 3
Journalism's role in serving the public good will be in the forefront as students discuss civic journalism, the watchdog function of the news media, tensions between profits and public service, and the advocacy of peace and justice. Students will focus on significant independent reporting projects intended to advance the public good. Prerequisite: Comm 250 or equivalent.

COMM 360 Broadcasting for the Public Good 3
This course examines the philosophical, historical, technological and social aspects of broadcast and new global electronic media industries. Students will study aspects of broadcasting and new media economics, management, audience analysis, programming, media effects, government policy and FCC regulations for the public good.

COMM 375 Multimedia Concepts 3
This course surveys a wide range of media based on new technologies - media such as the World Wide Web, CD-ROM, animation and virtual reality - to explore their strategic use in education and other organizational contexts. The course includes some hands-on research and creative assignments. Attention will be given to legal and ethical issues associated with new media. Prerequisite: Comm 326.

COMM 383 Communication and Society 3
A study of communication issues in modern society with attention to the persons, institutions, media and systems that facilitate social interaction. An overview of communication philosophy as a basis for ethical and aesthetic perspectives. Prerequisite: Comm 240 or consent of instructor.

COMM 385 Studies in Communication: 3
Investigations into particular communication issues: social, scientific, philosophic, historical, aesthetic, political or institutional. Focus on an institution or topic of current interest.

COMM 386 Film 3
Survey of film as art, literature and mass medium. Historical development; authors and genres; philosophical, economic and political issues. A selection of 12 films for detailed study. Emphasis on "reading" film, understanding the medium's function and exploring contemporary cinematic issues.

COMM 409 Internship 3 (1-3)
Experiential learning, usually in an off-campus professional setting, for communication majors and minors. The student contracts with a faculty member in regard to goals, performance expectations, supervision, evaluation and course subtitle. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

COMM 410 Senior Seminar 3
A consideration of ethical and professional issues in contemporary communication. Information interviews with practitioners in communication. Writing of resumes. Required of all communication majors.

COMM 412 Special Project 1 (1-3)
Students may conduct research of particular interest or pursue specialized applied projects in communication under faculty supervision. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.