Communication & Emerging Media

Department Mission Statement

The Department of Communication and Emerging Media offers two degrees (BA in Communication and BA in Emerging Media), and two minors (Communication minor and Emerging Media minor). We offer our degrees in the traditional in-person setting, as well as fully online through Palmetto College/Aiken Online. The Department offers a range of courses to prepare students for careers, graduate study, personal, social, and civic life. We provide engaging learning environments to help each student understand how fundamental communication and media theories work and how to strategically apply those theories in practice. We seek to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills, develop the knowledge and skills for effective communication using multiple channels in a variety of settings (e.g., relationships, small groups, organizations, public, media), and promote ethical sensitivity and intercultural competence.

Curricula

Liberal arts degrees with ancient roots in rhetoric, our programs combine a firm theoretical foundation with extensive practical application. Students work closely with faculty in small classes to gain an understanding of communication and media theories while they develop and enhance their oral, written, visual, and media communication skills. The degree requirements are flexible enough to prepare students for careers in diverse areas, including strategic communications, social media/digital marketing, public relations, broadcasting and journalism, healthcare communication, business and advertising, government, social and human services, and higher education. The rigorous curriculum also prepares students for graduate studies in communication and journalism/mass communication.

Learning Outcomes

BA in Communication Program

1. Students will demonstrate critical thinking, analytical, and evaluative skills.
2. Students will demonstrate research abilities: gather and synthesize information, and share results with others.
3. Students will apply knowledge of communication principles and theories.
4. Students will demonstrate interpersonal communication competence.
5. Students will demonstrate competence in public presentations.
6. Students will demonstrate competence in written communication.
7. Students will demonstrate competence in visual communication.
8. Students will demonstrate intercultural communication competence.

BA in Emerging Media Program 

1. Students will apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press.
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.
3. Students will demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts.
4. Students will demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the use and presentation of images and information and apply them to their profession/field.
5. Students will write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
6. Students will demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
7. Students will apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
8. Students will apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
9. Students will critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
10. Students will apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

Certificate in Strategic Communication

1. Students will apply knowledge of strategic communication principles and theories.
2. Students will create strategic messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.