Communication and Digital Media Marketing

Be on the cutting edge of this continually evolving field

The need to be an effective communicator is important in virtually every career field. Alvernia University’s Communication and Digital Media Marketing degrees help students develop the skills to effectively express ideas and produce successful marketing campaigns.

The programs are located within the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne in the heart of downtown Reading. The state-of-the-art facility allows Alvernia 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. Students also can get hands-on experience at a television station located in CollegeTowne. Berks Community Television (BCTV), one of the country's oldest, consistently active cable access managers, offers students the opportunity to take classes, intern, volunteer or produce content.
 

Learn more about Alvernia's Communication and Digital Media program and its Digital Media Marketing program.

Getting Started

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Application Instructions

For admission into Alvernia’s Communication and Digital Media Marketing degrees, you must have a 2.0 GPA or higher. To apply:

• Speak to an enrollment counselor
• Complete an application
• Provide evidence of high school completion/graduation. Documentation may include high school transcript, diploma, GED scores, or equivalent.*
• Submit official transcripts of all previous college work (if applicable)
• Submit a copy of DD214 from military (if applicable)

*This requirement may be waived if an official college transcript is provided to validate completion of 15 credits or more from an accredited school.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Program Overview

Curriculum: Communication and Digital Media

To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Digital Media, students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits, including 48 credits in the major. All Alvernia students must also complete the liberal arts core and community service hours to qualify for graduation. Communication and Digital Media 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.

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 and Digital Media 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 (course may be counted only once as fulfilling track requirement)
• 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 (course may be counted only once as fulfilling track requirement)
• 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

Curriculum: Digital Media Marketing

Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credit hours to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree. Between 31 and 55 of those credits will be applied to the Liberal Arts Core. In addition, Digital Media Marketing majors will construct a curriculum built around a dynamic mix of art, business and communication courses.

Required Courses (54 Credits) 

• ART 103 – Color and Design
• ART 124 – Digital Drawing
• ART 222 – Basic Digital Photography
• ART 251 – Basic 3-D Design
• ART 319 – Digital Photography 
• BUS 101 – Financial Accounting
• BUS 206 – Management Principles
• BUS 207 – Marketing Principles
• BUS 208 – Introduction to Sales
• BUS 309 – Advertising and Promotion OR COM 340 Advertising Workshop
• BUS 342 – Business Law
• COM 260 – Digital Storytelling
• COM 332 – Multimedia Creation - Publications
• COM 342 – Social Media Marketing
• COM 362 – Multimedia Creation - Videos
• COM 420 – Law and Ethics of Mass Communication
• COM 481 – Internship (3-12 credits)

Choose one related requirement:

• COM 131 – Writing for the Media
• COM 223 – Speech for Virtual Communities
• COM 240 – Public Relations
• ART 235 – Design with Type
• ART 281 – Graphic Design and Illustration
• BUS 315 – Data Analytics & Information Systems

Accreditation Statement

• Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

After earning your Bachelor of Arts in Communication or Digital Media Marketing, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Advertising Account Executive
• Audio/Visual Specialist
• Content Creator/Influencer
• Communications Specialist
• Copywriter
• Corporate Communications Director
• Digital Media Marketer
• Digital Media Analyst
• Journalist
• Marketing manager
• Photojournalist
• Public Relations Specialist
• Radio/Television Announcer/Producer
• Social Media Manager
• Sportscaster/Sports Information Director
• Technical Writer
• Web Designer
• Vlogger/Podcaster

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the range of jobs available with communication and digital media marketing degrees is projected to grow up to 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, about the average for all occupations. The average salary for the communications industry is between $71,940 and $154,470. The average salary for the digital marketing industry is between $67,120 and $141,490.

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The best way to experience Alvernia is to visit the campus and immerse in its vibrant campus.
 

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