Communication

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Professors K. Groenendyk (chair), C. Mattson (Arthur H. DeKruyter Chair in Communication), G. Pauley
Associate Professor S. Smartt
Assistant Professors G. Heetebrij, J. Rhym

People with effective communication skills are needed more than ever in every industry. Our communication courses in digital media, public speaking, public relations, advertising, and visual arts provide the hands-on experience and quality education that will land your first job. We offer four majors, two minors, and a master’s program.

From the start of your Calvin education, you are teamed with global professionals and leading scholars in Digital Communication, Film and Media, Health Communication, and Strategic Communication, ready to guide you in God’s plan and groom you for your future career. To keep pace with industry needs, we continuously update our course curriculum to give our graduates the competitive edge and shape leadership abilities.

Internships

Gain the on-the-job experience needed to compete in the job market with one of our local partners or with the Chicago Semester, the American Studies Program in Washington, DC, or the Los Angeles Film Studies Center. Students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher are encouraged to apply.

Scholarships

Thousands of dollars in scholarships are available each year to assist communication students in paying for college. One unique scholarship, the Communication Department Mentoring Scholarship, includes one year of mentoring by a faculty member for an incoming first-year student.

Programs

• Applied Film and Media Major
• Digital Communication
• Film and Media Major: Production Concentration
• Film and Media Major: Studies Concentration
• Health Communication Major
• Strategic Communication Major

• Communication Minor
• Film and Media Minor

• Media and Strategic Communication, MA

Courses

• COMM 101 - Oral Rhetoric
• COMM 141 - Visual Rhetoric
• COMM 145 - Introduction to Film and Media
• COMM 180 - Communicating with Digital Media
• COMM 190 - Media Production I
• COMM 200 - Advanced Oral Rhetoric
• COMM 201 - New Media
• COMM 214 - Creating Communication Arts in the Classroom
• COMM 222 - Calvin Media Company
• COMM 248 - Writing for the Media
• COMM 249 - Digital Audio Production
• COMM 250 - Multi-Camera Production
• COMM 254 - Screen Storytelling: Theory and Criticism
• COMM 255 - Documentary Film and Television
• COMM 263 - Communication and Conflict Resolution
• COMM 265 - Leadership Communication for Organizations
• COMM 285 - Public Relations and Communication Practice
• COMM 286 - Advertising and Communication Strategies
• COMM 290 - Media Production II
• COMM 296 - Film as a Narrative Art
• COMM 305 - Persuasion and Propaganda
• COMM 311 - Argumentation and Advocacy
• COMM 316 - Directing for the Screen
• COMM 322 - Advanced Calvin Media Company
• COMM 330 - Media and Society
• COMM 346 - Internship in Communication
• COMM 351 - Media Production III
• COMM 358 - Advanced Project in Media Production
• COMM 361 - Health Communication Theory and Practice
• COMM 362 - Organizational Communication
• COMM 381 - Topics in Film and Media History
• COMM 383 - External Practicum
• COMM 390 - Independent Study
• COMM 395 - Special Topics in Communication
• COMM 398 - Communication, Technology, and Society
• COMM 399 - Advanced Communication Study
• COMM 500 - Basics of Media Production
• COMM 510 - Storytelling across Media Platforms
• COMM 511 - Audience Research and Analytics
• COMM 512 - Communication Ethics and Law
• COMM 520 - Advanced Public Relations
• COMM 520L - Media Lab
• COMM 521 - Advanced Advertising
• COMM 521L - Media Lab
• COMM 522 - Multimedia Journalism
• COMM 522L - Media Lab
• COMM 530 - Media and Society
• COMM 539 - Master’s Project Proposal
• COMM 540 - Master’s Project
• COMM 550 - Creative Media Agency

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