Course Listings
Communication
A major and a minor in Communication is available. See also majors and minors in Broadcasting, Journalism, and Film Production, and the minor in Multimedia Communication.
Major in Communication
44 credit hours (core + one concentration area)
Core courses (26 credit hours)
Generalist concentration (18 credit hours)
- Any communication courses, with advisor's approval9
- Any upper level communication or related courses, with advisor's approval9
- At least four semesters participation in Communication department co-curriculars.NC
Public Relations concentration (18 credit hours)
- BUS 316 Marketing Management3
- COMM 108 Digital Design3
- COMM 250 Journalism Essentials3
- COMM 322 Organizational Communication3
- COMM 324 Principles of Public Relations3
- Choose one3
- ART 208 Graphic Design 2: Typography
- BUS 121 Entrepreneurship
- BUS 220 Spreadsheet Skills
- BUS 315 People & Culture Management
- BUS 338 Professional Selling
- COMM 255 Photography
- COMM 260 Broadcast Writing
- COMM 308 Feature Writing
- COMM 326 Creating for the Web
- COMM 350 Reporting for the Public Good
- COMM 412 Special Project
- THEA 235 Your Powerful Voice
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a major in Communication will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of core communication principles and research methods.
- Create a diverse multimedia portfolio.
- Demonstrate a set of professional skills and competencies.
- Engage the campus and community through co-curricular media involvement.
- Demonstrate learning and competence in completing one or more internships.
- Report that courses and other collegiate training prepared them for a position in communication or a related career.
- Engage in meaningful discussions about media, professionalism, and ethics.
Planning Guide
| First Year | Goshen Core Introduction to Communication Communication Research 100-299 level courses in major |
| Second Year | Goshen Core Media Law and Ethics Expository Writing Other courses in major SST |
| Third Year | Goshen Core Communication and Society Courses in major |
| Fourth Year | Balance of Goshen Core Balance of major Internship Senior Seminar |
Planning and Advising Notes
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.
Minimum academic requirement: All communication majors and minors must earn a grade of C- or higher in all courses required for their major or minor. Failure to attain this level of achievement requires the student to either repeat the course (for specific requirements) or take an additional course (an option for elective courses) and achieve a grade of C- or higher.
A maximum of 45 credit hours in communication courses may be applied to a degree. Also, no more than 12 credit hours in experiential learning (Comm 200, 209, 409 or 412) may be applied.
Minor in Communication
18 credit hours
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a minor in Communication will:
- Comprehend a core of knowledge in the field.
- Report that courses and other collegiate training prepared them for a position in communication or a related career.
Planning and Advising Notes
In the minor concentration, at least 5 credit hours must be upper level (300 and above), with at least 9 credit hours in communication and at least 6 taken at Goshen College.
ART 208 Graphic Design 2: Typography
ART 208 Graphic Design 2: Typography at Goshen College focuses on type and image in publication, poster and ad design, plus the history of typography.
BUS 121 Entrepreneurship
BUS 121 Entrepreneurship at Goshen College teaches by doing: design thinking, customer discovery and practice starting new ventures.
BUS 220 Spreadsheet Skills
BUS 220 Spreadsheet Skills at Goshen College teaches the spreadsheet skills employers expect: functions, charts, data analysis and visualization.
BUS 315 People & Culture Management
BUS 315 People and Culture Management at Goshen College covers managing an organization's people: HR law, ethics, diversity, equity and inclusion.
BUS 316 Marketing Management
BUS 316 Marketing Management at Goshen College covers how organizations build marketing strategies and marketing mixes, at home and abroad.
BUS 338 Professional Selling
BUS 338 Professional Selling at Goshen College teaches business-to-business sales techniques through role playing and a sales presentation.
COMM 101 Introduction to Communication
COMM 101 introduces communication at Goshen College: public relations, journalism, radio and visual media, with hands-on studio work and career exploration.
COMM 108 Digital Design
COMM 108 Digital Design (same as ART 108) at Goshen College teaches InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop through design exercises, projects and critiques.
COMM 200 Communication Practice
COMM 200 Communication Practice at Goshen College gives credit for applied work with The Record, Globe Media, FiveCore Media or PRSSA on campus.
COMM 202 Purposeful Presentation
COMM 202 Purposeful Presentation at Goshen College builds public speaking, facilitation and listening skills, from impromptu talks to persuasive speeches.
COMM 204 Expository Writing
COMM 204 Expository Writing at Goshen College builds control of logic, organization, rhetoric and audience in a variety of prose forms. Same as ENGL 204.
COMM 240 Communication Research
COMM 240 Communication Research at Goshen College introduces mass communication theory and quantitative and qualitative research methods.
COMM 250 Journalism Essentials
COMM 250 Journalism Essentials at Goshen College teaches reporting across platforms: interviewing, research methods and Associated Press style.
COMM 255 Photography
COMM 255 Photography (same as ART 255) at Goshen College teaches digital photography with manual camera settings, editing and printing.
COMM 260 Broadcast Writing
COMM 260 Broadcast Writing at Goshen College teaches the principles and forms of writing for broadcast, with practice writing news and commercials.
COMM 270 Media, Law & Ethics
COMM 270 Media Law and Ethics at Goshen College covers the U.S. legal system, libel, privacy, plagiarism and fairness, and models for ethical decisions.
COMM 308 Feature Writing
COMM 308 Feature Writing at Goshen College teaches narrative nonfiction and how to publish articles in newspapers, magazines and online outlets.
COMM 322 Organizational Communication
COMM 322 Organizational Communication at Goshen College explores communication in and between organizations, including power, culture and conflict.
COMM 324 Principles of Public Relations
COMM 324 Principles of Public Relations at Goshen College covers PR research, planning, communication and evaluation, with a focus on nonprofits.
COMM 326 Creating for the Web
COMM 326 Creating for the Web at Goshen College teaches web page design with HTML, CSS and responsive design, treating the web as a form of communication.
COMM 350 Reporting for the Public Good
COMM 350 Reporting for the Public Good at Goshen College explores civic and watchdog journalism through independent reporting projects.
COMM 383 Communication and Society
COMM 383 Communication and Society at Goshen College studies communication issues in modern society and the people, media and systems behind them.
COMM 409 Internship
COMM 409 Internship gives Goshen College communication majors and minors hands-on experience, usually in an off-campus professional setting.
COMM 410 Senior Seminar
COMM 410 Senior Seminar at Goshen College prepares art, communication, English and theater students for work with interviews, a portfolio and a resume.
COMM 412 Special Project
COMM 412 Special Project at Goshen College lets students pursue research or applied communication projects of their own under faculty supervision.
THEA 235 Your Powerful Voice
THEA 235 Your Powerful Voice at Goshen College introduces performance studies and storytelling, exploring how narrative texts are shared with audiences.