Communication and Digital Media

B.A. in Communication Overview

Communication is at the heart of our human interaction, and a necessity in an increasingly networked world. The speed at which we connect and the sheer volume of communication made possible every day through advancing technology and innovation is nothing short of revolutionary.

Alvernia's Communication program is located within CollegeTowne in the heart of downtown Reading. This will allow for expansion of its real-world experience offerings, including a variety of service-learning classes, internships locally and in Washington D.C., as well as study-abroad. The facilities at CollegeTowne will allow Alvernia communication students to expand multimedia content creation, including YouTube videos and podcasts. New studio and lab spaces enable student to learn how to use the latest technologies to prepare for the needs of the 21st-century marketplace.

Communication is an excellent choice for students skilled at writing, public speaking, performing and fine arts, graphic design, marketing and social media, and offers career possibilities in virtually every industry. The move to downtown Reading will allow the program to expand its outreach to community partners, giving students the platform to implement acquired skills. Partnerships with non-profit organizations including Opportunity House, 18th Ward Business Alliance, Safe Berks, and the United Way, as well as newly developed partnerships with both non-profit and for-profit organizations will be available for student participation.

Alvernia University's Communication program positions students on the leading edge of theory and practice in this continually evolving field to prepare them to enter tomorrow's workforce. Students may choose one of six tracks to focus their studies to best match their interests.

• Film, Culture and the Creative Arts
• Journalism
• Media Design and Production
• Public Relations and Advertising
• Strategic Communications
• Sports Media
   

Impact

• Learning to think critically, write unambiguously and persuade convincingly prepares students to leverage the potential of human interaction in an increasingly interconnected world.

• Exploring broad-spectrum concepts related to communication provides flexibility in pursuing professional careers in an exceptionally wide range of fields and disciplines.

• Developing practical experience through internships introduces students to industries and careers with opportunities to engage their communication skills.

• Applying Franciscan values of justice and ethical service helps develop communication practitioners who champion honesty, fairness and human dignity.
   

Diverse Options & Steady Job Growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in Communication are expected to grow steadily, increasing 4 percent by 2028. It's a promising outlook for those preparing for future careers in this exciting field, such as:

• Television, Radio and Online Media
• News Networks, Newspapers and Magazines
• Social Media
• Sports and Entertainment
• Film and Theater
• Public Relations
• Marketing and Advertising
• Speech writing
• Law, Government and Politics
• Business and Trade Organizations
• Nonprofit and Social Services Organizations
   

Internships and Jobs

Our interns and graduates are in high demand and are making an impact at globally recognized brands including:

• ESPN
• The Rachael Ray television show, NYC
• The Golf Channel
• United Nations Department of Global Communication
• Fox News
• Santander Bank
• Bank of America
• Penske Transportation Solutions
• Johnson Controls
• The Hess Corporation
• Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania
• Toll Brothers Inc.
• Cognizant Co.
• Onmichannel
• Direct Energy
• Superior Plastic Products
• Inside Higher Ed
• Haydenfilms Institute
• Warfel Construction
• Pranzel Education
• Little Leaves Behavioral Services
• Accelerated Instructional Media
• United States Cold Storage
• Satisfi Labs
• WebFX
• High Construction Company
• University of Delaware
• WFMZ-TV
• Palladium
• House Majority PAC in DC
• Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications
• Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce
• Archbishop Wood HS
• Reese Advertising
• Berks County Living magazine
• Albright College
• Sorrelli Jewelry
• Body Zone
• DaBrian Marketing Group
• MailShark
• Washington Center
• United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
• Council on Chemical Abuse
• Glen-Gery Corporation
• Cozen O’Connor Law Firm
• BCTV
• Wiley Education
• Greater Valley Forge Management Association
• University of Delaware
• Propel Health
• Assembly Global NYC
• Stackpole and French

Curriculum

To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Communication, students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits, including 48 credits in the major. 

Required Courses

• COM 103 - Fundamentals of Speech -or- COM 223 Speech for Virtual Communities
• COM 112 - MS Excel (1 cr.)
• COM 122 - Mass Media Theory and Application
• COM 131 - Writing for the Media
• COM 260 - Digital Storytelling
• COM 420 - Law and Ethics of Mass Communication
• COM 481 - Internship

In addition to required courses, Communication majors must complete 9 credits of English electives, 6 credits of Communication electives, and one of six tracks:

Film, Culture and the Creative Arts

• COM 250 - Interpretation of Film
• COM 351 - Scriptwriting/Playwriting
• COM 353 - Film Studies
• COM 360 - Writers Workshop
• Related Electives - Any two 3-credit ART, MUS or THR courses

Journalism

• COM 213 - Interpersonal Communication
• COM 234 - Intercultural Communication
• COM 330 - News and Feature Writing
• COM 432* - Newspaper Production
• Related Electives - Any two 3-credit HIS or POS courses

Media Design and Production

• COM 332 - Multimedia Creation - Publications
• COM 342 - Social Media Marketing
• COM 362 - Multimedia Creation - Videos
• COM 432* - Newspaper Production
• Related Electives - Any two 3-credit ART courses

Public Relations and Advertising

• COM 213 - Interpersonal Communications
• COM 220 - Event Planning
• COM 240 - Public Relations
• COM 340 - Advertising Workshop
• COM 342 - Multimedia Design and Editing
• PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology

Sports Media

• COM 220 - Event Planning
• COM 232 - Athletic Communications (1 cr. repeatable)
• COM 240 - Public Relations
• COM 251 - Broadcasting & Electronic Media
• COM 332 - Multimedia Creation - Publications
• COM 362 - Multimedia Creation - Videos
• Related Electives - Choose two of the following:
  • BUS 207 - Marketing Principles
  • BUS 309 - Advertising and Promotion
  • SM XXX - Any Sport Management course

Strategic Communications

• COM 213 - Interpersonal Communication
• COM 234 - Intercultural Communication
• COM 344 - Writing for the Workplace
• COM 422 - Social Impact of Mass Media
• Related Electives - Any two 3-credit BUS or PSY courses
  
  *course may be counted only once as fulfilling track requirement.

All Alvernia students must also complete the liberal arts core and community service hours to qualify for graduation.

Special Responsibilities
Communication majors must achieve a 2.5 GPA in all major requirements, successfully complete a Microsoft Excel course (CIS 105 or CIS 115), and contribute to one of the university publications for one or more semesters.

Communication Minors
To minor in Communication, students must complete 18 credits in Communication and/or a maximum of 8 credits in English.

Experiential Learning

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.

Our students have worked with many different organizations including:

• Opportunity House
• 18th Ward Business Alliance
• Safe Berks
• United Way
• Berks County Living Magazine
• Reading Magazine
• Reading Eagle Newspaper
• BCTV.org
• WEEU-AM
• PBS 39 News 

 

In addition, students regularly visit local media outlets, public relations, and advertising agencies. The department also has taken students to Washington DC to visit Congress, Newseum, Supreme Court, and a taping of a CNN show. 

Graduates have also benefitted from internships with places such as ESPN, The Rachel Ray television show, QVC, The Berks County Bar Association, Longwood Gardens, Lamar Advertising, Channel 10 News program, BBC broadcasting, The Discovery Channel, Disney World, Universal Studios, The White House, Berks County Television and more. 

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

100% of Alvernia students receive some form of scholarship and/or aid. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Reading CollegeTowne featuring an Enhanced Communication Program

With the launching of Alvernia’s CollegeTowne initiative and new state-of-the-art John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne at 401 Penn Street in downtown Reading, the university’s Communication Program takes experiential learning to new heights. With world-class facilities and increased community engagement, our real-world learning opportunities will be further expanded to fully prepare students for success upon graduation.

Specifically, the Communication Department’s position in Downtown, Reading will enable us to strengthen our community partnerships as well as create new ones. With a highly developed digital production studio, our faculty is excited to expand their course capabilities by using new technology. This allows the department to take advantage of their new home to enhance student skills and take on a new interdisciplinary major, Social Media Marketing.

In addition to Alvernia's expansion, the Communication Department is able to collaborate with our community partners to train students to jump into entry-level positions immediately after graduation. Students have also partnered with a variety of non-profit organizations including Opportunity House, 18th Ward Business Alliance, Safe Berks, and the United Way. 

The Alvernia Communication Department also has relationships with professionals in the field. This new space will allow the department to offer additional opportunities for guest speakers, including the department's Executive and an Expert in Residence Program where Philadelphia news anchor Tracy Davidson and PBS 39 news anchor Brittany Sweeney can offer students valuable hands-on opportunities in the television news industry.  It will also provide a space for alumni to come back to campus and share their experiences with current students. Alvernia is extremely excited to begin this new concession, as it will benefit all current students, faculty, and alumni.

Learn More

For more information about Alvernia’s Communication Program contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:

Caroline Fitzpatrick, M.S. Ed., PhD
Associate Professor of Communication
Communications Department Chair
carrie.fitzpatrick@alvernia.edu