Communication Arts majors explore the creativity, artistry, and impact of human communication. The program offers a rich variety of learning experiences, including:
- Working with cutting-edge digital media in state-of-the-art sound and video production studios and a high-definition editing suite with full Adobe creative cloud access.
- Discovering how communication theories and practices shape personal identity, social skills, professional relationships, and human relations.
- Enhancing your media writing, social media, public relations, and strategic communication skills.
- Exploring the history of media using a super-tech screening room with surround sound.
- Developing hands-on research activities, creative media projects, and internship experiences that link students with businesses, nonprofits, and the community.
To complete the major, students can take courses from across the Communication Arts curriculum, or they may choose to focus their coursework in one of four suggested areas of study: Advertising and Public Relations*, Cinema and Media Arts*, Digital Media*, or Human Relations*.
A degree in Communication Arts prepares students for today's communication-driven society. The program offers students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed as professional communicators, media artists, and entrepreneurs working in a variety of careers. Our alumni have gone on to work in fields such as radio, television, film, web, digital video, corporate communications, journalism, public relations, social media, advertising, sales, strategic communication, audience research, counseling, conflict mediation, human resources, and more. A Communication Arts degree also creates pathways to careers in government, social services, public education, and community affairs, where employers seek graduates who can think creatively and communicate effectively to a variety of audiences and constituents.
Communication Arts faculty bring exceptional expertise to the classroom and are actively engaged in their own creative and scholarly work. They regularly share their knowledge with audiences around the state, the country, and the world. Some are also experienced professionals who bring current, real-world knowledge from the workplace to the classroom. In addition to classroom instruction, the program also provides students with exceptional access to experiential learning opportunities (internships, community-based research, service learning, and media production projects) that occur within real-life settings.
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Advertising and Public Relations, Cinema and Media Arts, Digital Media, and Human Relations are Degree Options that appear on the official UNH transcript and diploma. The specific requirements for each Degree Option are presented elsewhere in this catalog. Students are encouraged to contact the Communication Arts program coordinator or their academic advisor to discuss whether a Degree Option is the right choice for them.
Upon completion of the Communication Arts program, students will be able to:
- Analyze how creativity, artistry, narrative, identity, persuasion, and ethics shape messages and relationships produced within a variety of social, organizational, and industry contexts.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills that give them expertise and proficiency in areas such as human relations, social media, digital video, audio production, graphic design, writing, and speaking.
- Know the history of communication practices and understand how media technologies and messages have impacted societies, cultures, organizations, and businesses.
- Effectively research and creatively explore communication practices, experiences, and trends using high quality sources of information, multiple modes of inquiry, and multiple presentation formats.
- Identify professional interests or career paths by working with the Internship and Career Planning Office and by engaging with communication settings outside the classroom through internships, service learning, field trips, and independent studies.
