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The program in communication and media design offers a cross-disciplinary course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in either communication or media design. The curriculum is grounded in design and communication theory and supports the development of research, writing, critical thinking, and creative practice skills. Students develop the conceptual and practical skills that enable them to create design and communication solutions for the contemporary media environment. Within the major in media design, students choose either the graphic design emphasis or the media communication design emphasis.
Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in a range of communication media and design organizations. In addition, the major in communication provides excellent preparation for graduate study in communication, public relations, corporate communication, law, and journalism. Students majoring in media design will participate in a professional portfolio review during the senior year.
Upon successful completion of the communication major, students will be able to
Upon successful completion of the media design major, students will be able to
Minimum Grade Requirements: There is a minimum grade requirement of C in CMD 100 and 102. A minimum grade of C is required in CMD 101, 206, and 209 for all communication majors.
A minimum grade of C is required in all CMD courses for all media design majors.
Program Requirement: It is recommended that majors purchase a personal computer. Each student entering the sophomore-level media design curriculum will be required to have a personal computer, a color printer, and the software supported by the media design major. Recommended computer specifications are available from an advisor or the communication and media design website.
Transfer Courses: Transfer courses for the communication major should have direct equivalences to Marymount's communication courses. If they do not, a maximum of two courses will be counted toward satisfying Marymount's communication curriculum.
Degree Requirements - Communication (B.A.) and Media Design (B.A.)
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See
University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core
for details. Communication majors may satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement by choosing among CMD 300 Report Writing (a major elective) and two other WI courses in the Liberal Arts Core or university electives. Media design majors may satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement by choosing among CMD 300 Report Writing (a major elective), CMD 301 History of Graphic Design (GD emphasis requirement), and other WI courses in the Liberal Arts Core or university electives.Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the majors in both communication and media design, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
Theory
CMD 100 Introduction to Media Communication
CMD 102 Visual Communication and Design
Writing and Presentation (choice of two)
CMD 300 Report Writing
CMD 302 Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques
CMD 307 Broadcast Writing and Delivery
CMD 315 Writing for Digital Media
Senior Requirements
CMD 400 Internship
CMD 405 Portfolio
Communication Courses
In addition to the required program courses, majors in communication will take an additional 30 credits chosen from the categories below.
Communication
CMD 101 Public Speaking
CMD 206 Introduction to Public Relations
CMD 209 Contemporary Journalism
CMD 425 Senior Seminar in Communication
Digital Media
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
CMD 203 Digital Photography
CMD 204 Video Production: Multimedia Communication
CMD 205 Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication
CMD 308 Web and Social Media Design
Electives
CMD 220 Intercultural Communication
CMD 310 Career and Professional Communication
CMD 360 Communication and Design Studio
CMD 401 Public Relations Case Studies
CMD 402 Organizational Communication
CMD 403 Principles of Communication Law
MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
Sample Degree Plan - Communication
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students should consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
CMD 100 Introduction to Media Communication
§
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
CMD 101 Public Speaking
§
CMD 102 Visual Communication and Design (3)
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
Year Two — Fall
CMD 206 Introduction to Public Relations
§
One (1) communication digital media course
§
**Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Year Two — Spring
CMD 209 Contemporary Journalism
§
*PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
One (1) communication writing and presentation, digital media, or elective course § **
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Three — Fall
Two (2) communication writing and presentation, digital media, or elective courses
§
**Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Three — Spring
Two (2) communication writing and presentation, digital media, or elective courses
§
**Three (3) electives
Year Four — Fall
CMD 400 Internship
§
*Two (2) communication writing and presentation, digital media, or elective courses
§
**Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Four — Spring
CMD 425 Senior Seminar in Communication
§
*CMD 405 Portfolio
§
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Three (3) electives
§
Requirement for the major* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See
University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core
for further information.** See Major Requirements for course selections
Degree Requirements - Media Design (B.A.)
In addition to the required program courses, all majors in media design will take an additional 18 credits chosen from the categories below, plus an additional 13 credits for the emphasis in either graphic design or media communication design.
Design
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
CMD 360 Communication and Design Studio
CMD 421 Project
CMD 433 Research
MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
MKT 412 Marketing Research
Digital Media
CMD 203 Photography: Digital Imaging
CMD 308 Web and Social Media Design
Graphic Design Emphasis
FA 105 Drawing I (as the required Liberal Arts Core FNA course)
CMD 104 Adobe Illustrator
CMD 202 Illustration
CMD 255 Typography
CMD 301 History of Graphic Design
CMD 305 Publication Design
Media Communication Design Emphasis
CMD 106 Motion Graphics
CMD 204 Video Production: Multimedia Communication
CMD 205 Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication
CMD 360 Communication and Design Studio
CMD 404 Performance Media Lab
Sample Degree Plan - Media Design (Graphic Design Emphasis)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students should consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
CMD 102 Visual Communication and Design
§
FA 105 Drawing I
§
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
CMD 100 Introduction to Media Communication
§
CMD 104 Adobe Illustrator §
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
§
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
Year Two — Fall
CMD 202 Illustration
§
*One (1) communication writing and presentation course
§
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Year Two — Spring
CMD 203 Digital Photography
§
CMD 255 Typography
§
One (1) communication writing and presentation course §
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Three — Fall
CMD 305 Publication Design
§
CMD 308 Web and Social Media Design
§
MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Year Three — Spring
CMD 301 History of Graphic Design
CMD 360 Communication and Design Studio
MKT 412 Marketing Research
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Four — Fall
CMD 405 Portfolio
§
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Three (3) electives
Year Four — Spring
CMD 400 Internship
§
*Three (3) electives
§
Requirement for the major* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for further information.
** See Major Requirements for course selections
Sample Degree Plan - Media Design (Graphic Design Emphasis)
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students should consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
CMD 102 Visual Communication and Design
§
CMD 106 Motion Graphics
§
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
CMD 100 Introduction to Media Communication
§
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
§
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
Year Two — Fall
CMD 204 Video Production: Multimedia Communication
One (1) communication writing and presentation course
§
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Two — Spring
CMD 203 Digital Photography
§
CMD 205 Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication
One (1) communication writing and presentation course §
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Year Three — Fall
CMD 308 Web and Social Media Design
§
MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-2) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Three — Spring
CMD 404 Performance Media Lab
§
MKT 412 Marketing Research
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Four — Fall
CMD 360 Communication and Design Studio
CMD 405 Portfolio
§
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Two (2) electives
Year Four — Spring
CMD 400 Internship
§
*CMD 360 Communication and Design Studio
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Two (2) electives
§
Requirement for the major* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for further information.
** See Major Requirements for course selections
Minor Requirements
CMD 100 Introduction to Media Communication
CMD 101 Public Speaking
CMD 206 Introduction to Public Relations
CMD 209 Contemporary Journalism
Nine (9) additional credits in CMD courses. Of the 9 remaining credits in the minor, at least two courses (6 credits) should at the 300 or 400 level.
Minor Requirements
CMD 102 Visual Communication & Design
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
CMD 203 Digital Photography
CMD 302 Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques or CMD 315 Writing for Digital Media
Nine (9) additional credits in CMD courses. Of the 9 remaining credits in the minor, at least two of the courses (6 credits) should be at the 300 or 400 level.
Minor Requirements
CMD 308 Web and Social Media Design
CMD 404 Performance Media Lab
IT 125 Web Development
IT 225 Advanced Web Design
IT 310 Database Technology
Three (3) more credits in IT or CMD courses
*Students can place out of these courses and substitute other IT and CMD courses. The following courses are also relevant to web design and can be used as electives: CMD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator, CMD 202 Illustration I, CMD 203 Digital Imaging, CMD 205 Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication, CMD 310 Electronic Media, CMD 421 Project, IT 130 Java Programming, IT 210 Software Engineering, IT 230 Advanced Java Programming, IT 305 Computer Networking, IT 340 Data Structures and Algorithms.
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