for Strong Communications Skill
Emory & Henry is well-known for its strong liberal arts approach to education. The time-tested liberal arts tradition remains valid in today’s modern, high-tech world and stands strong even in the technical areas found in mass communications. People trained to think critically and speak and write well will be better prepared for advancement in all areas than people who are trained in narrow technical or vocational areas.
The mass communications department reflects the college’s respect for the liberal arts while recognizing a reponsibility to train students for entry-level jobs in communciation professions. We teach basic skills that qualify students for jobs in print and electronic media. Students learn sophisticated media skills in advanced courses and at professional internship sites.
We believe that Emory & Henry’s mass communications program provides unusually broad training for students. Undergraduate communication programs around the country commonly offer students a choice of tracks, such as journalism, broadcasting, public relations, graphic design or advertising-the traditionally defined careers in communications. Often, when students choose one of these tracks, they don’t take courses in the other areas. However, because the world is changing and the lines between the fields are blurring, Emory & Henry’s curriculum requires all communication students to be knowledgeable in print, electronic media, public relations and advertising. Specifically, all students take courses in writing for the media, copy editing, broadcasting and persuasion. Additionally, most of our students take the publication design course, which incorporates principles used in contemporary print, broadcasting, public relations and advertising jobs. Many of today’s mass communication job skills are similar from one field to another, especially as every medium relies on the computer for a compelling visual design. Gathering information, organizing it and presenting it is basic, whether the presentation is in a newspaper, brochure, advertisement or on television.
The broad range of required courses in this curriculum was not chosen by chance. Reality shows employment patterns flowing freely among the traditional communication sequences. A job in radio may lead to a position with newspapers or television; newspaper and television reporters may move into public relations, advertising or other related fields. Successful writers are often asked to express their ideas on television. Public relations practitioners use videotape productions to achieve objectives. Television broadcasters use computer design in their work. The communications faculty at Emory & Henry recognizes the trend, not only from our professional connections and our graduates, but from our work in the communications field.
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Emory and Henry College
Department of Mass Communications
Emory & Henry College
P.O. Box 947
Emory, VA 24327-0947
(276) 944-4121 (College's central number)