Communication Studies

Communication Studies focuses upon the ways in which culture communicates information through book, newspaper, memo, telephone, radio, television and cinema, computer, Internet and fiber optics, conversation, and conference in order to help students determine their relationship to the world and understand the information society in which they live.

About the Program

Communication Studies is both theoretical and practical. Students are expected to understand a set of interlocking concerns: how institutions shape the message and how people interpret the message; the possibilities and the limits of particular media; the influence of culture upon communication technologies; and the effects of technological change upon society as a whole. Additionally, students are expected to manage the tools of their discipline: computers, video, radio, print, and spoken discourse.

The program in Communication Studies is open to any student with an interest in the discipline. A distinctive feature of Communication Studies is its preceptor/preceptee collaboration. Students’ cognate choices are the result of a careful negotiation between students and preceptors. Students wishing to major in the program are encouraged to declare their intentions no later than the beginning of their junior year. Intended majors must consult with a Communication Studies faculty member, who will explain the nature of the program and its specific requirements.

 

 

Communication Studies Program Statement in Support of Black Lives

Program Chair

Joe'l Ludovich

Joe'l Ludovich
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Joe'l.Ludovich@stockton.edu
609-626-3474 | K-111

 

Communication Studies Student with the Talon

Photo Credit: COMM Social Media Internship

 

  1. Communication Skills
    Communication Studies is a growing and rewarding field of study. Communication Studies at Stockton is a dynamic multidisciplinary program exploring a wide range of interests in contemporary global and popular culture, including radio and television, advertising and public relations, digital communication, film and cinema, visual communication, international communication and more. The thread that runs through all of our tracks, and hence the tie that binds the program, is the dual premise that a Stockton Communication Studies graduate should be able to: 1) Critically interrogate media messages from a variety of angles, and 2) Produce effective media messages in a variety of contexts. These two premises underscore the core classes that all of our majors are required to take. The specific applications of these premises are honed in the track-specific curricula.

  2. Adapting to Change
    Our program prepares students for careers in diverse fields. In recent years, our alumni have gone on to work at The Press of Atlantic City, ESPN, MTV, Clear Channel Radio, Equity Communication, Suasion Communications Group, NBC40 WMGM-TV, and a host of other companies.

  3. Program Competence
    A collection of scholars, artists, and media professionals, Communication Studies Program faculty are engaged in developing a rigorous program of study in the liberal arts tradition. The program strives for graduates who are able to think critically about media messages, and to apply varied and interrelated media studies concepts (including media literacy, critical media analysis, cultural studies, media writing, and media production) toward the effective production media messages.

  4. Teamwork & Collaboration
    Our students get hands-on experience right on campus, with opportunities to participate in Stockton Student Television (SSTV), the Stockton radio station (WLFR, 91.7 FM), the Community TV Partnership, and Stockton’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). They also gain real-world production experience interning for companies such as CNN, MTV, and NBC; they gain PR experience working for various local politicians and also with various PR firms.

  5. Creativity & Innovation
    Our students work with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, such as our HDTV Studio.

 

Curriculum

 

Program Organization

The Communication Studies Program is divided into three tracks—Public Relations & Advertising, Media Production, and Journalism & Media Studies. In Public Relations & Advertising, students learn multifaceted aspects of the field and how to strategically manage, design, and disseminate effective messages to target audiences. The Media Production concentration focuses upon behind-the-scenes skills and offers students a more hands-on approach to learning the media production field. The Journalism & Media Studies concentration offers both skills-based journalism courses and a broader theoretical understanding of the field to allow students both to critically analyze and effectively produce media texts. The program also requires core courses in communication theory and media writing, as well as a senior seminar. Students are also required to participate in a professional internship.

 

2022-2023 Curriculum Worksheets

B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in Journalism & Media Studies
B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising
B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in Media Production

 

CRIL Lab

 

To view the curriculum, you’ll use the web program, Degree Works. This program is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Stockton University.


Current Students

Access your portal for Degree Works, then look for the “what if” option to explore the various paths towards degree completion. Click the button below for instructional videos on how to use Degree Works:

Degree Works Training Videos

 

Prospective First Year or Transfer Students 

Use the button below: 

Current Curriculum and Transfer Equivalency

 

How to Use Degree Works Equivalency:

  • At the next page you are prompted with three (3) options. Select the one that says “continue without signing in.”
  • Respond to each prompt using the pull-down menu in the center of the page. [Please be patient. It may take a few seconds for the system to process your request. If you see a NO symbol, you need to wait a moment!]

Prompts include:

  • Enrollment dates (Choose intended semester attending)
  • Intended level (Choose “undergraduate”)
  • What degree you will pursue? (Choose “Bachelor of Arts”)
  • What is your intended major? (Choose “Communication Studies”)
  • What is your intended concentration? (Choose “Media Production,” "Public Relations," or "Journalism and Media Studies")
  • What is your intended minor? (Choose “none” or select one - it is not required). 
  • For prospective students, choose “I’m all done" button.
  • For transfer students, use the “class” button to see how courses already taken fit into the Stockton degree path.
  • You will see an overview of the degree you have selected, including all requirements.
  • At the bottom of the screen, you could save or print the worksheet.

Faculty

Donnetrice C. Allison

Donnetrice C. Allison, Professor of Communication Studies and Africana Studies

609-652-4721 | C-118
Joe’l Ludovich

Joe’l Ludovich, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Program Chair (2020-2024)

609-626-3474 | K-111
Christina M. Morus

Christina M. Morus, Associate Professor of Communication Studies

609-626-6874 | F-239
Jeremy Newman

Jeremy Newman, Associate Professor of Communication Studies

609-626-6865 | L-109
Toby Rosenthal

Toby Rosenthal, Teaching Specialist, Communication Studies

James JinGuo Shen

James JinGuo Shen, Professor of Communication Studies

609-652-4511 | F-135
Xu Song

Xu Song, Associate Professor of Communication Studies (Public Relations)

609-626-3510 | K-114
Suya Yin

Suya Yin, Associate Professor of Communication Studies

609-652-4975 | H-202e


Adjunct Faculty

 

M. Toni Buckley

M. Toni Buckley, Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty 

James Chairman

James Chairman, Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty

Diane D'Amico

Diane D'Amico, Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty

609-652-4593 | L-212e
John Froonjian

John Froonjian, Senior Research Associate, William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy; Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty

609-626-3626 | N-007
Vanessa Graber

Vanessa Graber, Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty

Erin O'Hanlon-Keys

Erin O'Hanlon-Keys, Professional Services Specialist 4, Office of Service Learning; Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty

609-652-4256 | F-009
Netesha Peterson

Netesha Peterson, Assistant Director, Career Education & Development; Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty

 609-652-4584 | CC-1040
Chad Roberts

Chad Roberts, General Manager, WLFR; Communication Studies Adjunct Faculty

609-652-4780 | CC-205

 

Careers

Students pursuing degrees in Communication Studies may prepare themselves for careers in teaching, law, journalism, technical writing, speechwriting, radio and television production, public relations, advertising, marketing, consulting, government, civil service, administration, and the ministry. A Communication Studies degree can lead to opportunities in private organizations, media outlets, non-profit institutions, and government agencies. Majors who wish to pursue graduate school in Communication Studies or related areas of study should inform their program preceptors of their plans as early as possible.

Internships

Employer Internship Toolkit

 
COMM 4901 Communication Internship: Steps to Take

The semester before you want to enroll in the internship, begin the following process:

 Step 1: Create a Handshake account.

Handshake is where all of the Stockton-vetted current internship and job listings are posted.

  • Feel free to pursue opportunities not listed, but it’s best to first talk to the Internship Coordinator.

Some internship application processes take longer than others.

Step 2: Create a Resume.

  • Go on the CED website
    • ○ Search resume resources.
  • Create your own resume.
  • Make an appointment to take your resume to CED for revisions and packaging.

Step 3: Set up a meeting with the internship coordinator.

  • The paperwork for an internship can take many weeks to go through Stockton’s clearances.

Step 4: Once you’re hired, paperwork must be completed by all parties.

Step 5: YOU MUST ENROLL IN COMM 4901 BEFORE DROP/ADD ENDS.

 

Special Opportunities

Qualified students may be assisted in obtaining pre-professional experiences in their fields of interest by means of internship opportunities with local and regional corporate, media, and nonprofit organizations. The proximity of Stockton University to Atlantic City and Philadelphia and major radio, TV and print media markets makes possible internship opportunities in the media and in other areas, such as public relations, advertising, and promotions for commercial, political and/or social programs and events.

Students can also opt for an on-campus internship with the university radio station, WLFR, the Community TV Partnership Internship, the Social Media Internship, or the Editing Internship, and can gain hands-on journalism experience through an engaged community journalism partnership with the Atlantic City Press in the newly launched Community Reporting Innovation Lab (CRIL) in Atlantic City. Students can also get involved with Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), our award-winning Public Relation Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter, host their own radio show with WLFR, gain hands-on TV production experience through the Community TV Partnership Internship in our HD TV studio, and contribute to Stockton University’s student-run newspaper, The Argo.

WLFR

WLFR 91.7 FM has been in operation for more than 30 years! We take pride in our diversity of music and shows and strive to bring you programming not found on commercial stations. Students can participate in the WLFR Internship to gain handson experience on the air as well as behind the scenes. Students will also learn about the day-to-day operations of a radio station. WLFR can be found on the web at www.wlfr.fm.

Society of Professional Journalists - Collegiate Institutional Member

SPJ LOGO     SPJ MEETING 12-2022
Stockton's Communication Studies Program is a Collegiate Institutional Member of the Society of Professional Journalists. The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. The COMM Program hosts innovative student workshops each semester to support professional development. 

PRSSA

Stockton’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Chapter was established in May 2013. Since that time, under the guidance of Dr. Ai Zhang, Stockton’s PRSSA chapter has become a powerhouse, providing a range of professional enrichment and community engagement opportunities. Each year, PRSSA students organize a series of successful events including industry tours, guest speakers, workshops, career and alumni panels, and large-scale networking events.These events have helped quickly establish Stockton PRSSA as a strong organization on campus, in the community, and of the national body. PRSSA students also have the
opportunity to participate in national conferences. PRSSA is open to all Communication Studies students, and students across campus.

Now is the time for Journalism@Stockton.

There are more student-centered storytelling opportunities on and off campus.

We offer new platforms and methods to engage and produce impactful content, from reporting and writing to getting published.

Why Now? Our democracy depends on journalism.  We need truth-tellers who are ethical and honest. Consumers need to know what good journalism is. It will make you a better analyst, evaluator, and practitioner. 

View the curriculum.

 

Journalism@Stockton flyer

Student Magazine

Communications Student Magazine

Spring 2019 Edition

Featured Stories:

  • Dr. Christina Morus on COMMUnity
  • President Kesselman talks COMM
  • COMM Awards
  • Club Updates
  • COMM through the years

View Magazine (6.5MB PDF)