img:is([sizes=auto i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px} /*# sourceURL=wp-img-auto-sizes-contain-inline-css */

ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

Skip to Catalog 2018-2019 site navigationSkip to main content

Communication Arts (B.A.)

Website: School of Contemporary Arts

Concentrations: Digital Filmmaking, Global Communication and Media,
Journalism, Visual Communication Design, Writing.

About the Major

Areas of study within the Communication Arts major: Digital Filmmaking, Global Communication and Media, Journalism, Visual Communication Design (graphic design), and Writing

The Communication Arts Major prepares students for a richly interdisciplinary field that functions at the intersection of media, design, film and society. Emerging in the mid-1900s to become one of the most influential disciplines of the 21st Century, the field of communication is the study and practice of contemporary tools, languages, technologies, media and discourses of and about culture.

Faculty

The Communication Arts faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized scholars, authors, journalists, professional designersÌý filmmakers and writers whose work has been featured in publications, festivals, exhibitions, as well as in books and academic journals.

Curriculum

Students in the Communication Arts major begin their study with foundational knowledge in new technologies and practices in the communication disciplines. They then choose one of five concentrations for further study: Digital Filmmaking, Global Communication and Media, Journalism, Visual Communication Design and Writing. Courses in theory, history, criticism, research, writing and hands on production engage students analytically and creatively with the social, cultural, and aesthetic issues of media.

The curriculum culminates in a senior portfolio capstone project that demonstrates each student’s ability to conceptualize and execute meaningful work using the relevant technologies of his or her concentration.

Co-Op / Internship

As part of the curriculum, Communication Arts students are required to complete a co-op or an internship in their area of interest. ÌýStudents leave Ramapo College with professional experience in disciplines that include promotions, public relations, advertising, writing, broadcast, print and web design, interactive media, film, television, journalism publishing and non-profit.

Clubs, Events and Exhibitions

Other experiential and co-curricular activities include regular Cinematheque film screenings; the Rho Phi chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Arts Honor Society; a student Creative Media Club; regular presentations by artists, professionals, and alumni; and Media Collision, the annual spring showcase of outstanding student work.

Facilities

The Communication Arts Major maintains a wide range of facilities. Mac and PC computer labs are configured for use in the areas of print and web design, interactive multimedia production, animation, film and audio post-production, new media journalism and global communication and media research. Other facilities include a field production classroom, private editing suites, audio recording studio, student access clusters, print lab, and studio facilities for television/digital film/new media production.

Students completing this program will receive a B.A. degree. A minor in Digital Filmmaking is available.

 

Outcomes for the Major

Outcome 1: ÌýDemonstrate understanding of media as an economic, cultural, political and ideological force in society.

Outcome 2:ÌýÌýDemonstrate understanding of the ways in which the formal elements of media language (image, text, sound) create meaning.

Outcome 3:ÌýÌýApply original thinking in the work they produce.

Outcome 4:ÌýÌýBe able to write appropriately to their discipline, using proper documentation.

Outcome 5:ÌýÌýProduce advanced work making appropriate choices about tools and techniques.

Outcome 6:ÌýÌýDemonstrate effective oral communication.

Requirements of the Major and Concentrations
  1. Transfer students who have 48 or more credits accepted at the time of transfer are waived from the courses marked with a (W) below.Ìý Waivers do not apply to Major Requirements.
  2. Double counting between General Education, School Core, and Major may be possible.Ìý Check with your advisor to see if any apply.
  3. Writing Intensive Requirement (five):Ìý two writing intensive courses in the general education curriculum are required: Critical Reading and Writing and Studies in the Arts and Humanities the other three courses are taken in the major.
  4. Not all courses are offered each semester. ÌýPlease check the current Schedule of Classes for semester course offerings.
COMMUNICATION ARTS MAJOR
  • Subject & Course # – Title & Course Description
  • GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
  • REQUIRED –Ìý
  • SELECT ONE –Ìý OR
  • *
  • SELECT ONE –ÌýÌýORÌý(W)
  • *
  • SELECT ONE –Ìý OR (W) (Formerly SOSC 101)
  • *
  • SELECT ONE – (W)
  • SELECT ONE –Ìý(W)ÌýÌý *
  • SELECT ONE –
  • SELECT ONE –
  • SELECT TWO – DISTRIBUTION CATEGORY (One course must be outside of school)
    • Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý–Ìý Ìý
    • Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý–Ìý Ìý
    • Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý–Ìý Ìý *
  • * Students in the College Honors Program must take the HNRS course options.
  • SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS REQUIREMENTS
  • CA INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES: ÌýSELECT ONE (MUSTÌýbe discipline OTHER THAN major)
  • Ìý
  • (formerly MUSI-462)
  • COMMUNICATION ARTS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
  • THERE ARE FIVE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE COMMUNICATION ARTS MAJOR:
    1. DIGITAL FILMMAKING
    2. GLOBAL COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA
    3. JOURNALISM
    4. VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN
    5. WRITING
  • DIGITAL FILMMAKING CONCENTRATION
  • CATEGORY 1: ÌýFOUNDATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • CATEGORY 2 : HISTORY/THEORY/CRITICISM COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • 200 LEVEL: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • 300 LEVEL: ÌýSELECT TWO
  • CATEGORY 3: ÌýWRITING/PRODUCTION COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • CATEGORY 4: CAPSTONE PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENT
  • CATEGORY 5: CO-OP/INTERNSHIP COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • (4 credits needed)
  • CATEGORY 6: ELECTIVE COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • ELECTIVES: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • GLOBAL COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA CONCENTRATION
  • CATEGORY 1: ÌýFOUNDATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • CATEGORY 2 : HISTORY/THEORY/CRITICISM COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • 200 LEVEL: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • 300 LEVEL: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • CATEGORY 3: GLOBAL COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • MEDIA PRODUCTION: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • MEDIA CRITICISM AND ANALYSIS: ÌýSELECT TWO
  • MEDIA WRITING: ÌýSELECT TWO
  • CATEGORY 4: ÌýCAPSTONE PORTFOLIO COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • UPPER LEVEL PORTFOLIO COURSE: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • (Must take COMM312 in advance)
  • CATEGORY Ìý5: CO-OP/INTERNSHIP COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • (4 credits needed)
  • CATEGORY 6: ELECTIVE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • ELECTIVES: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • (Formerly COMM331)
  • (Formerly COMM360)
  • (Formerly COMM361)
  • JOURNALISM CONCENTRATION
  • CATEGORY 1: FOUNDATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • CATEGORY 2 : HISTORY/THEORY/CRITICISM COURSE REQIUIREMENTS (3 courses)
  • SELECT ONE:
  • REQUIRED COURSE:
  • (Formerly COMM331)
  • SELECT ONE FROM THE FOLLOWING:
  • CATEGORY 3: WRITING/PRODUCTION COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • SELECT THREE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • CATEGORY 4:ÌýCAPSTONE PORTFOLIO COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • PORTFOLIO COURSE: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • CATEGORY 5: CO-OP/INTERNSHIP COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • (4 credits needed)
  • CATEGORY 6: ELECTIVE COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • ELECTIVES: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN CONCENTRATION
  • CATEGORY 1: FOUNDATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS (2 courses)
  • CATEGORY 2 : HISTORY/THEORY/CRITICISM COURSE REQUIREMENTS (3 courses)
  • SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
  • (Formerly COMM360)
  • (Formerly COMM361)
  • CATEGORY 3: WRITING/PRODUCTION COURSE REQUIREMENTS (9 courses)
  • SELECT TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
  • (Course cannot double count)
  • CATEGORY 4: CAPSTONE PORTFOLIO COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
  • (Course cannot double count)
  • CATEGORY 5: CO-OP/INTERNSHIP COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • (4 credits needed)
  • WRITING CONCENTRATION
  • CATEGORY 1: FOUNDATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • CATEGORY 2: HISTORY/THEORY/CRITICISM COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • 200 LEVEL: ÌýSELECT ONE
  • (Formerly COMM331)
  • Ìý(Formerly COMM360)
  • 300 LEVEL: ÌýSELECT TWO
  • CATEGORY 3: WRITING COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • CATEGORY 4: LITERATURE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • LITERATURE: ÌýSELECT TWO
  • CATEGORY 5: CAPSTONE PORTFOLIO COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  • CATEGORY 6: CO-OP/INTERNSHIP COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • (4 credits needed)
  • CATEGORY 7: ELECTIVE COURSE REQUIREMENT
  • SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
  • (Formerly COMM331)

Note: A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.

Requirements of the Minor
  • At least 1/2 of the courses fulfilling a minor must be distinct from the student’s major. That is, three of the five courses required for a minor cannot be used towards fulfillment of major requirements. A school core does not need to be completed for a minor. Minors are open to students regardless of school affiliation.
  • Students outside Contemporary Arts school will need to take 5 classes.
  • Contemporary Arts school majors and Communication Arts students from different concentrations seeking Digital Filmmaking minor:
    • Some of the courses offered in the minor can count in their majors so they will need to take 3-4 courses in the minor depending on their concentration or major.
DIGITAL FILMMAKINGÌýMINOR
  • Subject & Course # – Title & Course Description
  • Required Courses:
  • HISTORY, THEORY & CRITICISM: ÌýSELECTÌýONEÌýFROM THE FOLLOWING LIST
  • PRODUCTION 300 LEVEL:Ìý SELECT ONE FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST