Mar 29, 2024  
2021 - 2022 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2021 - 2022 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Communication and Theatre


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(Administered by the Department of Communication, Art, and Theatre)

Department Chairs - Croft, Heaton

Professors - Croft, Heaton, Kennedy, Koch
Associate Professor - Gress 


The study of Communication began thousands of years ago. Even so, there is more yet to learn about how and why humans communicate. Our curriculum is organized around three principles we call “The 3 A’s”-Analysis, Application, and Artistry. These principles guide all courses, activities, and projects.

Analysis (questioning and understanding)-Communication impacts all aspects of our lives; therefore, we think it’s important for our courses and activities to directly impact your understanding of how people communicate across a variety of contexts-interpersonal, public, small group, mass mediated, and intercultural.

Application (functions and uses)-You’ll also learn how to enhance and improve your communication skills and apply them in your daily lives as well as in your future career.

Artistry (aesthetics and performance)-No matter its context or its technological sophistication, all communication is inescapably a performance at some level. You’ll develop a sense of how aesthetics and design impact the messages we share.

Within this program, we promote Internships, pre-professional programs, and co-curricular activities as an integral part of the student’s learning experience. We’re big advocates of learning-by-doing. We’ve developed several pre-professional activities that give you multiple ways to get involved on campus, off campus, and in preparation for careers and graduate study. And you can earn academic credit by participating in:  Intercollegiate Debate, Community Outreach, MOrE (Masquers Outreach Ensemble), the Petit Jean Performance Festival, Fat Tuesday Debutantes Improvisational Comedy Group, University Theatre (on stage and back stage), Impromptu Speaking and Interview Skills, and/or Individual Research.

Communication Program

We designed the Communication major to help students understand how human beings create and share meaning with each other. Excellent communication skills (interpersonal, group, public or intercultural) are valued components in leadership positions in business and professional areas. We encourage our majors to create a personalized profile of skills and knowledge for versatile use in a variety of fields.

Theatre Studies Program

The Theatre Studies major provides the student with theoretical and practical experiences in the various arts that, in a collaborative environment, become the art of theatre. Classroom and production training are offered to prepare students for work in regional or community theatres, liturgical drama, or graduate programs. We want our students to develop an appreciation for and an understanding of theatre as an art, a craft, and a tool of communication. To that end, our course offerings examine the traditions of the past and methods for creating the theatrical art of the future.

We offer the following three majors:

  • Communication Major
  • Theatre Studies Major
  • Communication Major with Education Licensure  - Students seeking Integrated Language Arts licensure (ILA) for Adolescent - Young Adults (AYA) should complete the requirements for the Communication major plus other course work required for licensure. (See Education for the additional requirements).

Minors are available in:

  • Film Studies
  • Organizational Communication
  • Performance Technology
  • Public Speaking
  • Theatre
Communication Learning Outcomes:

1.     Each communication major is able to prepare and deliver an effective public presentation that includes a clear message, coherent pattern, and needed supporting materials.

2.     Each communication major effectively demonstrates the ability to analyze critically a communication event or artifact from a theoretical perspective.

3.     Each communication major effectively demonstrates competence in a specific communication context.

Theatre Studies Learning Outcomes:

1.     Each Theatre Studies major will prepare and deliver an effective presentation or performance that includes a clear message, coherent pattern, and needed supporting materials.

2.     Each Theatre Studies major will be able to critically analyze a theatre event or artifact from a theoretical perspective.

3.     Each Theatre Studies major will demonstrate competence in a specific theatre context.

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