Communications
Why Study Communications at MCLA
You are encouraged to develop your overall writing and storytelling skills across media platforms ranging from digital media, television, and audio production. You will learn how to engage your audience in powerful ways through journalism, public relations, or entertainment.
Communications Courses
You can choose a number of courses in the foundation and in deciding on one or more concentrations. MassTransfer Pathways lets you see how easy it is to get the most out of your transfer credits from other schools.
- Foundation Courses
- Concentration Courses
- See How Your Courses May Transfer
Your Opportunities
You will be making media from your very first classes. The skills you gain will prepare you for a variety of rewarding internship opportunities, many of which can lead directly to jobs in digital media, journalism, PR, and television production. A number of scholarships specifically for Communications students are also available.
- Scholarships
- Media Production Work-Study
- TV & Digital Media Internships
- Journalism Internships
- PR Internships
- Careers
Our major emphasizes hands-on experience that you can gain in a wide variety of academic and professional settings including the college radio station (WJJW), the television and video studio (Beacon Web News (BWN)) and AVID editing suite, a digital production lab for film studies, the award-winning student newspaper (The Beacon), and our student literary magazine (Spires).
Foundation courses (24 credits)
All majors take the following eight courses.
- COMM 211 Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr
- ENGL 200 Communication Research and Methods 3 cr
- COMM 200 Media Writing and Production 3 cr
- Literature Studies
Students Choose ONE course from the following: 3 cr
- ENGL 250 Introduction to Literature
- COMM 221 Literary Journalism
- ENGL 265 Literary Theme
- ENGL 270 Literary Genre
- (or one 200-level or above foreign language)
- Media Practice in Context
Students choose TWO courses from the following, one of which must be a writing course (each 3 cr) 6 cr
- COMM 205 Introduction to Photography
- COMM 212 Radio Production
- COMM 214 Basic TV Production and Broadcasting
- COMM 312 Radio Practicum
- COMM 314 Advanced TV Production
- COMM 321 News Editing Practicum
- COMM 323 Publication Design & Typography
- COMM 337 Advanced Photography
- COMM 338 Photojournalism
- COMM 427 Senior News Practicum
- ENGL 2xx any 200+ ENGL or COMM writing course
- Media & Culture
Students choose ONE course from the following 3 cr
- ENGL 204 Media, Self-Identity, and Society
- ENGL 231 The Power of Words
- ENGL 331 The Story of English
- COMM/ENGL 3xx-4xx any upper-division literature or film analysis course
- COMM 481 From Semiotics to Signification
- COMM/ENGL 490 Senior Seminar
TOTAL FOUNDATION COURSES 24 cr
DEPARTMENTAL ELECTIVES (6 CREDITS)
Finally, you complete your major with additional courses that broaden your preparation. Working closely with your adviser, you choose the electives that enrich your qualifications for such career paths as digital media, journalism, media design, public relations (corporate and not-for-profit), advertising, radio or television production, technical writing, consumer relations, editing, politics, law, teaching, insurance, real estate, and many more.
For example, if you have a concentration in Digital Media Innovation, you might choose:
- Two courses in Public Relations that both strengthen your concentration and broaden your career options, or
- Two courses in Journalism that broaden your understanding of story-telling strategies and digital media production techniques, or
- Two courses in Literature or Creative Writing that best suits your individual needs and preferences, or
- Any combination of English or Communications courses that interest you--the choice is yours!
Your choice of electives should follow a coherent plan, reflecting your career goals, and broadening your exposure to the field.
Read the Anti-Racist Pledge from the English & Communications faculty
The Beacon is the weekly student newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Beacon Web News (BWN) is the weekly student news broadcast of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Spires is MCLA's student-run Literary Arts Magazine. In addition to our online platform, students publish a high quality print issue of the journal every spring semester.
WJJW (91.1 FM) is the radio station for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. We feature a wide variety of programming, 7 days a week, from hip-hop, comedy, vaporwave, folk, metal, and more!
Communications in the News
Mei Craig '22 and Isabel Costa '21 spent the summer reporting on the Berkshires with the Greylock Glass, covering everything from local businesses to performing arts to agriculture.
On her way to achieve her goal of a career in television broadcasting, Shadea Blyther ’16 headed to New York City, N.Y., where she works as a writer and an editor for Bronze Magazine. “I feel like this is the start. I am happy where I am for now, and will keep moving forward.”
As part of Dr. Rosanne Denhard’s “Arts of Medieval & Renaissance Britain” class, students explored landmark sites, visited art galleries and museums, and took in theatrical productions. “England was overall just an amazing experience,” said Michael Masley Hannett ’19. “I learned about another culture far more than I could have in a textbook or from a website.”