Communication and Media
About This Program
You know that communication is a powerful part of human interaction. You’re fascinated by the many ways we share information in today’s digital world. You want an education that offers a multitude of career possibilities. Communication and Media may be the major for you.
Why Utica College
Communication and Media combines elements of the college’s longstanding journalism, communication arts, theatre, and public relations programs to explore the information we share and the way we share it. Students will develop skills to discover, understand, and report information, and the knowledge to analyze the power of written, oral, and digital media. A common core of courses taught by expert faculty, combined with courses in a chosen concentration, provides graduates with both the specialized and essential communication skills necessary to excel in today’s top fields.
The Communication Arts concentration focuses on developing a broad array of knowledge and skills applicable to many careers, with particular emphasis on oral, interpersonal, organizational, intercultural communication and media studies. Students engage in a critical assessment of the values underlying communication practices, technologies, institutions, and their social and ethical consequences. Advisors work with students to develop a course of study based on a student’s interests and desired career path.
Link your passion for social justice with a communication-based foundation and a variety of disciplinary perspectives to develop the knowledge and skills you need to understand and combat the social, cultural, and institutional causes of inequality, injustice and oppression. The concentration provides excellent preparation for students wishing to become human rights, civil rights, or environmental advocates, community organizers, social workers, alternative media workers, or lobbyists, as well as those considering graduate study in the social sciences, social work, or law.
Brainstorm, experiment, fail, try again and discover new ways to deal with challenges. Creativity is the ability to come up with a variety of innovative solutions to a problem, and it is a skill that anyone can develop and apply to any field. Students who select a concentration in Creativity Studies will combine the skills from their core communication classes with a variety of arts and learn to apply all of these in any future career path. This is particularly beneficial for students who choose careers where they will be asked to develop creative ways to get across a message using multiple media or any field where innovation is critical.
This concentration will provide students with an understanding of the many ways that communication plays a role in healthcare. Whether it is the interaction between a physician and a patient discussing treatment options for a serious illness, the unraveling of complicated healthcare insurance rules, or effectively explaining dangerous drug interactions to an elderly patient, healthcare in our society requires professionals who understand the importance of communication.
The journalism concentration provides the core courses necessary for today’s digital, broadcast and print journalist. Students will learn the storytelling, reporting and media production skills essential for careers in journalism and study the issues shaping the field. The concentration emphasizes hands-on experience through interactive classes, working with student media organizations and internships with professional media organizations.
The public relations concentration prepares students to manage relationships between an organization and its key publics by becoming skilled in communicating across multiple media platforms, research, problem solving, strategic decision making, conflict resolution, speaking and campaign/event planning. Public relations practitioners are highly sought after in a wide range of industries, including business, government, education, sports, health care, and human services.
The sports communication and public relations concentration is designed for the person who wants to promote sports and emphasizes applying public relations skills in a sports setting. Students study the complex relationship between sports and the media, how the business of sports works, and how sports reporters craft their stories. Students also gain experience through internships at professional sports organizations and sports media outlets.
The sports journalism concentration focuses on how to cover sports for television, websites and other digital media, magazines, and newspapers. Students learn to write and produce sports stories, study the complex relationship between sports and the media, and learn how the business of sports works. Students also gain hands-on experience through professional media internships and student media outlets.
The purpose of the theatre concentration at Utica College is to create a culture of theatre-makers who are adept at collaboration, grounded in social justice, and interdisciplinary thinkers. We in the Department of Performing & Fine Arts believe that the art of theatrical storytelling is a continuous exercise in empathy, enabling theatre artists and audiences to imagine themselves into the places of others, gain emotionally engaged knowledge about their situations, and use that empathetic perspective to build community across differences. To that end, we train students in a variety of theatrical roles, contexts, and styles from around the world. Paired with our grounding in social justice and theatre for community building, this emphasis on variety prepares our students to be effective collaborators across disciplines, subcultures, and professions well beyond their time at Utica College.
Communication and Media at Utica
"In my classes, I’ve learned how to give a speech, write and speak effectively, and connect with my audience. But more important, I’ve developed confidence and leadership skills that will benefit me in my career and my everyday life."
Career Opportunities
Experience It
Insight
What You'll Learn
The Communication and Media curriculum helps students develop a deep understanding of historical, legal, cultural, and critical aspects of communication. Graduates will have the ability to write and speak logically, clearly, and precisely on a professional level, as well as to contextualize and criticize aspects of contemporary culture. In keeping with digital media trends, students will learn how to utilize multimedia technology to produce and share compelling information.
As part of the Communication and Media major, students work closely with an adviser to select a concentration in one of these areas:
- Communication Arts
- Communication and Social Justice
- Creativity Studies
- Health Communication
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Sports Journalism
- Sports Communication
- Theatre
Depending on the chosen concentration, a student may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Students are encouraged to explore areas outside their concentration through major electives.
Communication and Media Faculty
- Associate Professor of Communication Arts
- Professor of Journalism
- Director of Tangerine Ops.
- Chief Oper & Advis Station Mgr
- Assistant Professor of Communication Arts
- Dir-Convergence Media Ctr.
- Professor of Public Relations and Journalism
- Associate Professor of Communication
Adjunct Faculty
- Adjunct Instructor of Public Relations
- Adjunct Professor of Public Relations
- Director of Tangerine Ops.
- Adjunct Lecturer of Journalism
A Degree That Works
For graduates of the Communication and Media program, career opportunities are almost limitless. Students are prepared success in a diverse range of professions, including journalism (print and broadcast), marketing, publishing, government, business, human services, and more.
Pioneer Radio
For those seeking first-hand experience in the world of broadcasting, WPNR-FM hires matriculated students into both premier and behind-the-scenes positions. Students are hired into one of five departments (music, production, promotions, public service, and sports broadcasting). Each department plays an integral role in the overall operation of the radio station.
Visit Pioneer Radio
UC TV
Students receive training in how to operate digital production equipment and how to produce public service announcements and interview shows for the campus.
More on UC-TV
The Tangerine
Utica College's weekly independent student-run campus newspaper is a great place to improve your writing, editing, and photography skills, as well as put into practice the web design principles you learn in your classes.
Learn more about The Tangerine
The Ray Simon Institute
Named for the former head of the Utica College public relations degree program, The Raymond Simon Institute for Public Relations was founded in 1986 with the purpose of enhancing UC's public relations and journalism programs.
Learn More about The Ray Simon Institute
Alumni Voices: Tim Roye '81
Graduate of Utica College's Public Relations - Journalism program Tim Roye '81 tells the story of his journey from WPNR sports announcer to the voice of the Golden State Warriors.
Student Voices: Lia Tobin '16
A brief conversation with Lia Tobin '16 about her experience studying broadcast journalism at Utica College and her time as an editor of UC's student newspaper, the Tangerine.
Alumni Voices: Stephanie Zimmer '96
A conversation with distinguished Utica College alumna Stephanie Zimmer '96, Head of Brand Experience Marketing for Mercedes Benz USA.
FILM@UC
Utica College's campus film series is free and open to the public. Screenings take place Thursday nights at 7 p.m. in Macfarlane Auditorium at DePerno Hall.
Film@UC Schedule
Department of Performing and Fine Arts at UC
Art and performance continuously thrive at UC. Exposure to the creative arts is an essential facet of liberal education, and involvement in the arts promotes personal growth, the development of valuable skills, and the realization of a richer, more fulfilling life. At Utica College, students have a variety of opportunities to engage with the creative arts both as a participant and as an informed observer.
Learn More about the Arts at UC
Student Voices: Maggie Tabone '18
Maggie Tabone, a Communication Arts student, discusses her program, her experiences on campus, and how she sees Utica College as one big family.
Alumni Voices: Ericka Bennett '00
Ericka Bennett '00 talks about her experience at Utica College and her position as Associate General Counsel at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY.
Alumni Voices Chris Bandura '99
Hear how Chris Bandura's experience at Utica College prepared him for an exciting career as Vice President of Media Relations and Communications for the Buffalo Sabres.
Student Voices: Matthew Rogers '16
A brief conversation with Matthew Rogers '16, journalism major and 2016 Salutatorian, about his passion for reporting, his love for sports, and more.
Student Voices: Jon Kealy '15
A brief conversation with Jon Kealy '15, graduate of the Journalism Studies program with a concentration in Sports Journalism.
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
Utica College established one of the first national chapters of PRSSA in 1968, and the organization continues to be active on campus today. Its members attend national and regional conferences, including past conferences in San Diego, Detroit, New Orleans and Philadelphia. The chapter sponsors professional speakers, local tours of public relations agencies, and events.
Society for Collegiate Journalists
This student organization focuses on journalism and media issues. It sponsors speakers and other activities. Students also attend the national SCJ convention. For more information, contact Professor David Chanatry at dchanatry@utica.edu.
Tau Mu Epsilon
Public relations majors have the opportunity to be a part of the oldest honorary academic public relations fraternity in the United States, called Tau Mu Epsilon. Each year a select group of students who meet academic as well as leadership and character requirements are inducted during a special candlelight ceremony.
Utica Watchdog Reporting
Presenting student projects produced for Utica College's Watchdog Reporting journalism course. The topics focus on social issues relevant to Utica, Oneida County and Central New York.
Utica Watchdog ReportingCommunication and Media at Utica College
In Memoriam: Professor Jack Behrens
Social Life: Patrick Holt '22
Luttrell ’98 named a 2021 Kopenhaver Center Fellow
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