Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media

Academic Director: Elizabeth Alsop, PhD.
CUNY School of Professional Studies
101 West 31^st Street, 7^th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Email Contact: communications-media@sps.cuny.edu

Mission

The online BA in Communication and Media equips students with a critical understanding of both new and traditional media, and provides them with the durable skills needed to succeed in the 21^st century workplace. Through interdisciplinary coursework, students explore the history of mass media and communication technologies; examine their social implications; and consider their contemporary applications. In addition to gaining subject-matter expertise, students also develop their ability to conduct research, analyze texts and data, think critically, and write effectively. The skills and knowledge acquired in the program prepare graduates for careers in public relations, journalism, advertising and marketing, and social media management, while also serving as a foundation for further study.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Apply the theories, research tools, and competencies of communication and mass media studies for commercial and educational purposes;

2. Analyze the impact of media on the individual, the community, governments, and the world;

3. Demonstrate knowledge of historical and contemporary media types;

4. Create persuasive and compelling messages for a variety of audiences;

5. Identify the ethical and legal foundations of media production and consumption; and

6. Evaluate and utilize emerging technologies for the production and distribution of media.

The Program

The online BA in Communication and Media offers an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on critical issues related to communications, with special emphasis on new and traditional media. Students also examine how social and organizational cultures influence how people communicate.

Drawing on communication and media studies and the social sciences, courses develop students’ abilities to:

Interpret and evaluate various forms of communication, with special emphasis on web-based content; Use communication strategies that are responsive to cultural and audience differences and the requirements of new media; and Understand the global reach of communication and media and how they serve as powerful links between and among the world’s cultures.

Required research courses will enable students to interpret current research and to focus on a particular interest relevant to communication and media. General education courses complement this specialized study and emphasize critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, effective communication and the exploration of the foundations of knowledge and culture.

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must possess at least 24 transferrable credits from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants need to demonstrate basic proficiency in reading, writing, and math.