Media and Communication, B.A.

About the Program

• Three-year accelerated degree option
• Opportunities for specialization in Public Relations, Multimedia Publishing or Screen Media
• Professional internships—here or abroad
• Preparation for careers in business, public relations, news and magazine writing, editing, technical writing, creative writing, video production and visual communication
• Student-run online magazine, radio station, and TV channels
• Opportunities to study abroad at some of the top universities around the world

Media and communication offers diverse job opportunities in the expanding field of media and information technology. Arcadia’s program balances theory with practice, providing a critical understanding of the communication process along with skills for specific careers. Students majoring in Media and communication specialize in one of the following areas:

• Public Relations focuses on careers in business communication, new media marketing, multimedia/web design, and public relations. Courses in organizational communication, public relations, crisis communication and multimedia for the web provide practical training for successful careers. Supported by professional faculty with strong experience and insights from the field, this concentration offers opportunities for entrepreneurial as well corporate careers.
• Multimedia Publishing provides training in writing for broadcast media, film, and emerging forms of writing for the web. This concentration prepares you for careers in the fast-changing world of journalism. Working professionals teach our writing courses, bringing a wealth of experience to students and the classroom. Multiple study abroad options offer opportunities for studying international journalism and multimedia writing.
• Screen Media prepares you for a broad range of careers. In addition to video production courses, the concentration also includes coursework in film studies and writing to provide diverse training for the field. Producing creative projects and training in web design augment the Screen Media concentration’s already strong preparation for careers in the film, television, radio, and new media industries, with the groundwork for innovative entrepreneurial ventures. Multiple study abroad options offer opportunities for studying film production, cinema studies, entertainment industries and electronic media production.
• An Individualized Concentration develops a special combination of interdisciplinary courses to meet specific interests of individual students. Approval by the academic adviser is required.

Internships

Students in Media and communication complete a closely supervised, professional internship in their senior year. They can choose from among 400 media organizations in the greater Philadelphia area, utilizing their acquired knowledge within the challenges of the workplace. Recent internship sites have included: ABC Sports, the Academy of Natural Sciences, WYSP (radio), the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Arthritis Foundation, and Philadelphia Magazine.

Facilities

Murphy Hall houses the Media and Communication classrooms, video editing room, audio editing room, and student lounge. Students work with the most current software, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Mac Pro computers and high-definition camcorders. In addition, they may utilize the audio recording facility, with Pro Tools and other software programs in PC and Mac platforms. We also offer 4K cameras, 360 cameras, Oculus Rift, and 3D printing for video fabrication. Student work in various forms of video, documentary, narrative, experimental or animation is supported by expert guidance from the professionals and open access to the facilities. A campus-based television facility provides opportunities to work on individual and group projects. Student-run media include online magazine Logo Mag, Web-based radio station, the ARC, and student-run Public Relations firm, 1853 Communications.

Double Majors

Students may have an option to declare a double major. (Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures for the total number of credits for double majors.) The Chair of the Department must approve all double majors.

Study Abroad

Media and Communication majors are encouraged to spend a semester or a year studying abroad. Exciting opportunities are available and are relatively easy to arrange through Arcadia’s College of Global Studies. Media and Communication is a global field. Studying in a different environment and learning about the communication processes in a wider context are essential to a student in this field. 

Media and Communication majors who plan to study abroad must do so during the sophomore or junior years only. With prior approval, students may take courses to fulfill any University-wide requirement. Students must plan study abroad programs at least a year in advance to ensure finding appropriate courses for their concentrations. 

Since it is important that students plan ahead for study abroad, they should consult with their advisers as soon as possible and make their intentions known to the Department Chair and the Division of Civic and Global Engagement.

Requirements

(81–86 credits as listed below, with Undergraduate Curriculum and credit requirements.)

The following requirements are for all of the Media and communication programs. Some required courses are offered evenings only.