Declaring a Major in Communications
Some students enter Miles College knowing the major discipline in which they will study. Others do not know their major upon initial registration. Yet students sometimes change their majors. The following is the procedure students follow to declare Communications as their major.
On the application for admission, a student may indicate Communications as his prospective major. A general education advisor coordinated by the Counseling, Advising and Testing center consults with the student who completes a "Declaration of Major" form that is forwarded to the Communications Division. CAT assigns a Communications instructor who advises the student. On the other hand, for a student who does not know what discipline he or she will major in, CAT categorizes the student as "undecided" and assigns a general education advisor, who advises the student until he or she chooses a major and completes a "Declaration of Major " form. If a student changes his or her major, he or she also completes a "Declaration of Major" form, thereafter CAT assigns a Communications advisor.
Concentration in the Division of Communication
The Division of Communications offers a bachelor of arts degree in Communications, within which students must earn 128 academic hours. The Division offers three concentrations within which students choose one as his or her area of specialization: Journalism and Public Relations, Electronic and Visual Communications, and Management and Communications Law. A brief description of each specialization follows.
Journalism and Public Relations is a concentration mostly involving work in print journalism, which is the collection, verification, and dissemination of newsworthy information presented in a neutral manner or without the journalist expressing his or her opinion. On the other hand, public relations involves work in persuasive media, which attempts to influence the public to do something or to think a certain way. J&PR also includes instruction in advertising. The specialization prepares students for jobs including, newspaper reporter, magazine writer, public relations professional, broadcast news writer, and advertising copywriter for radio and television.
Electronic and Visual Communications is one of the Division's three specializations. It concerns broadcast media, which mostly includes television and radio but also involves digital photography. E&VC encompasses a system of collecting and disseminating messages that informs or entertains the public. The specialization prepares students to work entry-level position including photographer, camera operator, production assistant, and on-air talent such as field reporter or disk jockey.
Management and Communications Law is one of three areas of specialization students consider in order to earn a bachelor of arts degree in Communications. The Management and Communications Law concentration is designed for students interested in the general principles of communications including theory, research, and case studies. With a concentration in M&CL, the professional opportunities are boundless. Unlike traditional communications degrees, which lead to specific jobs in particular industries, M&CL students acquire a broad knowledge base and a comprehensive set of skills.
This concentration is ideal for students planning to attend graduate school. Students will learn how to conduct research, use theory to solve issues, and understand human communications. Students will gain practical skills in relating ideas and information to communications problems.
The specialization prepares graduates for entry-level leadership roles in broadcasting, cable, sales, customer services, human resources, training and development, labor relations, and employment in regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission. Specific jobs include research assistant, contract specialist, telecommunications policy analyst, attorney advisor, and program analyst.
