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School of Communication -
Undergraduate
www.miami.edu/com
Bachelor of Science
| Bachelor of Fine Arts Visual Communication
| Minors | Honors
The School of Communication offers courses in seven Programs of Study leading to the degree Bachelor of Science in Communication. The programs are Advertising, Public Relations, Journalism, Motion Pictures, Communication Studies, Electronic Media and Broadcast Journalism, and Visual Communication. The School also offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication in Visual Communication. The degrees Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy are available in the School; these degrees are under the supervision of the Dean of the Graduate School and the Faculty Council on Graduate Studies.
The School of Communication is dedicated to a global educational perspective and is committed to providing a socially responsible and ethically grounded learning environment guided by a diverse faculty of scholars, artists and professionals. The School is committed to quality undergraduate and graduate programs in communication that emphasize the relationship between theory and practice. We believe in freedom of expression and creativity, and encourage both collaboration and independent thinking as we prepare future scholars, professionals and leaders for a lifetime of service and learning. The objectives of the School are to develop the student’s understanding and appreciation of communication theory, art, and science; to improve the student’s awareness of the pervasive role of communication in society; and to enhance the student’s communication skills.
Classroom, studio and research studies are complemented with practical experience. On-campus television, radio, cable, motion picture studios and multimedia labs are available for academic and extra-curricular student projects. Visual journalism students utilize contemporary digital imaging technology. Motion picture camera, digital editing, recording, and mixing facilities are available. Electronic Media and Broadcast Journalism students use studio and remote digital technology. New media technology is incorporated throughout the curriculum and the school houses several computer labs and digital classrooms.
The School houses two teleconference centers with simultaneous translation capability and broadcast quality interactive capability for remote interviews and programming. Under Communication faculty supervision, students use the University’s digital cable TV studio facilities and its Cable Channel, and may gain experience with the Coral Gables cable TV system. The University’s FM stereo radio station and student newspapers and magazines offer additional opportunities for career development. The Bill Cosford Cinema, a 250-seat motion picture theatre, supports the motion picture program and offers programming for the community in connection with the newly acquired Raymond J. Regis Motion Picture Archive consisting of over 2000 original prints of classic motion pictures.
The School’s Knight Center for International Media supports innovative research and development dedicated to the broadest spectrum of interdisciplinary communication study. The Center has produced a variety of special projects including documentary motion pictures, specialized research and global issue oriented faculty/student initiatives. Two endowed Knight Chairs bring experienced and international perspective to the School’s research and learning experience.
The School sponsors a nationally competitive intercollegiate debate team, which annually produces several members of the All American Debate team. In addition the School supports student chapters of the American Advertising Association, the Public Relations Society of America, the Society for Professional Journalists and other professional organizations.
Internships in professional settings are available to Communication students at the junior and senior levels. Professionals at daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, news bureaus, cable systems, radio and television stations, and motion picture studios cooperate in the faculty-supervised internships. Executives of city and county governments, advertising agencies, public relations counseling firms, and private business and nonprofit organizations join in providing internship opportunities.
Fifteen or sixteen credits constitute a normal semester schedule in the School of Communication. Students who wish to register for more than sixteen credits must obtain prior approval. Students who are on academic probation will be limited to a maximum of thirteen credits.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Bachelor of Science in Communication
A student entering the School of Communication as a freshman
or as a transfer will enroll in Communication pre-major status.
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Communication who
have achieved sophomore standing and have satisfactorily completed
the entrance requirements of one of the Communication majors
(see Program Statements) may apply for admission to major
status in a specific program of the School.
A student enrolled at the University of Miami in a school
or college other than the School of Communication may apply
for admission into the School of Communication. Applications
are accepted every fall and spring semester. A minimum overall
grade point average of 2.5 is necessary for consideration.
Applications are available in the Admissions, Academic &
Alumni Services Office of the School of Communication and
must be submitted prior to the end of classes in either the
fall or spring semester. Admission decisions will be made
promptly after semester grades are final. Students will be
notified in writing of the School’s decision.
A transfer student must complete in residence a minimum of
15 credits toward a Communication major or a minimum of 9
credits toward a Communication minor. Courses taken elsewhere
in Communication or related disciplines are not automatically
accepted for a major at the University of Miami. However,
courses not accepted in a Communication major may be considered
as elective credit counting toward the 120-credit University
graduation requirement. Students who have obtained the written
approval of the head of a Communication major to use transfer
credit to satisfy one or more requirements of that major may
be required to complete additional courses in residence at
the University before being admitted to that major. Students
should consult a School of Communication advisor to determine
whether the transfer of Communication courses will increase
beyond 120 the total number of credits required for a degree.
In general, transfer credit will not be accepted to satisfy
requirements for any course in any major or minor at the 300
level or above. In addition, transfer credits will not be
accepted to satisfy requirements for CNJ 216 News Reporting
and Writing. Student petitions to transfer credit from ACEJMC-accredited
or other accredited programs will be considered on an individual
basis.
Transfer credit may not be used to satisfy requirements for
any major in Communication without the written approval of
the heads of the programs concerned.
Students must maintain a quality point average of 2.5 or
higher in courses taken in residence and submitted for their
School of Communication major. Following the first semester
in which any student’s average in the major falls below
a 2.5, the School may issue a warning to that student that
his or her work does not meet School expectations. Should
that student’s QPA in the major be below a 2.5 in any
subsequent semester, he or she may be placed on Academic Probation.
The School may dismiss from the University any student who
is on probation a total of two semesters (not necessarily
consecutive). A student who has completed 60 University credits
while enrolled in the School of Communication but who has
not demonstrated computer competence by passing CIS 120, GEG
199, the major’s computer competency requirement, or
the appropriate test administered by the Computer Information
Systems Department will be dismissed from the School. A student
who has completed 45 University credits while enrolled in
the School but who has not been admitted to one of the Communication
majors may be dismissed from the School. A student who has
completed 60 University credits while enrolled in the School
but who has not been admitted to one of the Communication
majors will be dismissed from the School. A student who has
been dismissed from the School may apply for admission to
one of the other Schools or Colleges within the University
but will not later be readmitted to the School of Communication.
Those who wish to appeal their probation or dismissal must
do so in writing to the Dean within 30 days of the notice
of probation or dismissal. See also GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING,
WARNING, PROBATION, AND DISMISSAL, in this Bulletin.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication
The Bachelor of Fine Arts program is designed for those students
who seek artistic professional careers in the visual use of
the electronic and film media. Admission is limited to students
who demonstrate superior aptitude in appropriate Communication
courses.
Before applying for admission to the B.F.A. program, the
student should complete:
COM 101
COM 110
CBR 102 or CMP 103
CMP 126 or CMP 226 or CBR 201
CMP 222 or CBR 245
all with grades of C (C- is not acceptable) or higher and
with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3.
The appropriate time to apply for the B.F.A. is during the
second semester of the sophomore year or the first semester
of the junior year. Follow this procedure:
1. Obtain an application from the School of Communication
Admissions, Academic & Alumni Services Office. Complete
the application and return it to the Schools B.F.A. Coordinator.
2. As soon as possible after submitting the application,
arrange for an interview with the B.F.A. Coordinator. The
purpose of the interview is to clarify the objectives and
requirements of the program, and to select a faculty committee
for the proposed candidate.
3. Prior to the completion of the first year in the B.F.A.
program, the student will arrange his or her senior presentation
with the committee. The purpose of the senior presentation
is to provide the student with the opportunity to demonstrate
particular expertise in the chosen area of concentration.
A transfer student from another university or another division
of the University of Miami may apply for the B.F.A. program
at the beginning of his or her junior year. Transfer students
will be advised that the completion of B.F.A. requirements
may entail an additional semester or more of course work to
satisfy requirements.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication
Students will be permitted no more than three credits in
School of Communication Internship toward their 39- or 45-credit
majors or toward their 120-credit University degree.
Credits may be earned through Advanced Placement, CLEP Examinations,
and Advanced Placement by Proficiency Examinations. These
credits may be applied to the appropriate Required Areas of
Study or as electives except:
(1) where prohibited by a specific program area; or
(2) if the course is remedial (e.g., ENG 103, MTH 099);
or
(3) as limited by the following:
To earn credit toward the 66 credits required in the College
of Arts and Sciences, and toward the 120 credits required
for graduation, each student must pay a recording fee and
have exempted course credits entered on his or her University
transcript. An exemption may be granted for ENG 105 by the
Department of English, but this exemption will not earn credit
to be applied toward the 66 credits required in the College
of Arts and Sciences or toward the 120 University credits
required for graduation.
A candidate for the B.S. in Communication must complete the
credit hours and achieve the quality point average specified
for students in the University at large as stated in the section
titled ACADEMIC PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION, subject to additional
requirements specified in School and Program sections of this
Bulletin.
In applying these requirements to his or her course of study,
each student must carefully read School of Communication program
and major requirements that follow. In many cases, these requirements
will be more restrictive and more specific in describing how
each of these Required Areas of Study is to be satisfied.
A. AREAS OF PROFICIENCY
Proficiency requirements are intended to ensure that students
either already possess, or will develop at the University,
the ability to express themselves effectively, to use mathematics
with facility, and to reason cogently. Superior scores on
the SAT or ACT examinations may waive students from ENG 105
(requirement 1) and superior placement test scores administered
by the Department of Mathematics may waive students from MTH
101 (requirement 2), but not from requirement 3.
Students fulfill this requirement by satisfactorily completing
English 105 and English 106 or its equivalent. Appropriate
Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB)
scores in English composition may be used to satisfy the
English 105/106 requirement. An appropriate score on the
SAT or ACT verbal examination may earn a student exemption
from, but not credit in, ENG 105.
Appropriate scores on other tests determined by the Department
of English may earn a student exemption from, but not credit
in, English 105.
Courses satisfying the English Composition requirement
may not be used to fulfill the Writing Across the Curriculum
Required Area of Study.
Students fulfill this requirement by satisfactorily completing
a course in mathematics numbered above MTH 101 (excluding
MTH 107 and MTH 119), or MAS 110, or an approved course
in statistics. Exemption from the mathematics requirement
or placement in prerequisite courses is based on any of
the following tests: AP, IB, or an examination administered
by the Department of Mathematics during orientation.
3. Writing Across the Curriculum (W) 5 courses
Courses satisfying this requirement are those designated
as involving a substantial amount of writing and the preparation
of papers that are corrected for diction, syntax, style,
and content. Some courses satisfying this Writing Across
the Curriculum requirement will simultaneously fulfill a
requirement under B. Areas of Knowledge (below).
These requirements are designed to help students understand
and appreciate the intellectual achievements in major areas
of human inquiry and creative endeavor. In satisfying these
requirements students will explore the natural world, examine
human development and behavior, and appreciate creative expression
in the arts, literature, and philosophy.
No more than six credit hours may be taken in any
one department to satisfy the areas of knowledge requirement.
Most courses above the 100-level require pre-requisites.
Natural World (6 credits)
Courses in the following areas: Biology; Chemistry; Ecosystems
Science and Policy; Geological Sciences; Marine Science;
Physics; Physical Science; and the following courses:
Anthropology 203; Geography 120; First Year Seminars in
the Natural Sciences 190-199.
People and Society (6 credits)
Courses in the following areas: African American Studies;
American Studies (AMS); Anthropology except APY 203);
Economics; Educational Psychology; Geography (except GEG
120); History; International Studies; Judaic Studies (JUS);
Political Sciences; Psychology; Sociology; Teaching and
Learning; Women’s Studies (WOS), and the following
courses: CBR 102; COM 101; COM 110; COS 112; COS 336;
COS 472; First Year Seminars in the Social Sciences.
Arts and Humanities (12 credits)
Courses in the following areas: American Studies (AMH);
Architecture; Music; Art and Art History; Judaic Studies
(JUH); Motion Pictures; Theatre Arts; English (200-level
or above); Foreign Languages and Literatures (300-level
or above); Philosophy; Religious Studies; Women’s
Studies (WHO); and the following courses: COS 211; DAN
250; First Year Seminars in the Arts and Humanities FFA
190-199. Students who do not have a separate foreign language
requirement may use foreign language courses numbered
at the 100 or 200 level to satisfy part of the arts and
humanities requirement, if the language differs from the
student’s native language and if, when beginning
with a 101-level course, they also take the 102-level
course in the same language.
Students majoring or minoring in the School of Communication
must complete a School of Communication course with a grade
of C or higher (a grade of C- or lower is not acceptable)
before taking another course for which the first course is
a prerequisite.
A major in the School of Communication leading to a Bachelor
of Science in Communication requires 39 or 45 credits in School
of Communication courses specified in Program statements (below).
Each course within the 39- or 45-credit major must be completed
with a grade of C or higher (a grade of C- or lower is not
acceptable). In addition, students must maintain a quality
point average of 2.5 or higher in courses taken in residence
and submitted for their School of Communication 39- or 45-credit
majors.
Students majoring in Advertising, Public Relations, Journalism, Visual Communication, Electronic Media, Broadcast Journalism, and Media Management will be permitted no more than 30 credits in all these areas and in Motion Pictures, whether earned at the University of Miami or elsewhere, toward their 120-credit University degrees. Courses in these areas hereafter designated Mass Communication courses in this Bulletin, do not include COM 101, COM 110 or COM 250.
Students majoring in Motion Pictures or Video-Film will be
permitted no more than 36 credits in Mass Communication courses,
whether taken at the University of Miami or elsewhere, toward
their 120-credit University degrees.
Students majoring in Communication Studies will be permitted
no more than 36 credits of courses in these areas of study,
whether taken at the University of Miami or elsewhere, toward
their 120-credit University degrees.
Students who exceed the 30 or 36-credit limits set forth
above must complete a like number of credits more than the
120 credits normally required for a University degree.
Each Communication student, in addition to completing requirements
for a Communication major (below), must choose a second major
field in the University curriculum. To find the requirements
for such a major, consult this Bulletin and confer with the
appropriate department representative. School of Communication
Advisors will aid students in identifying the appropriate
representative. The candidate for a Communication degree may
choose from among any of the disciplines offering majors for
which they may qualify and complete the major’s requirements.
The choice of the second major should be made no later than
the beginning of the junior year and must be approved by the
discipline concerned. Each Communication student will be required,
by the time he or she has earned 72 credits, to submit to
his or her Communication advisor a statement of courses and
other requirements for the chosen major. This statement must
be signed by the second major’s program head concerned,
or by the head’s representative. Any student making
unsatisfactory progress in the second major subject may be
required to change majors or to relinquish candidacy for the
Communication degree.
Unless Communication Program statements otherwise restrict,
a maximum of six credits may count toward both a second major
and the Required Areas of Study in the School of Communication
(above); see Program Statements.
A minor is not required for a Bachelor of Science degree
candidate in the School of Communication. A student who wishes
to complete a minor offered by any program in the University
in addition to the major in Communication and second major
must consult the School of Communication Admissions, Academic
& Alumni Services Office. A student who wishes to take
a minor as well as a major in Communication must take into
account the credit limits in area courses specified above.
In earning a Bachelor of Science in Communication or a Bachelor
of Fine Arts in Visual Communication, each School of Communication
student must complete a minimum of 36 credits of course work
at the 300 level or above. Upper division courses taken in
Required Areas of Study, in the School of Communication major,
in the second major, and as general electives will count toward
this 36-credit minimum requirement. Upper division transfer
credits also apply.
Only Free Elective courses may be taken under the University’s
Credit Only option (see CREDIT ONLY OPTION, this Bulletin).
Free Electives are defined as courses not taken to fulfill
the requirements of the major within the School of Communication,
of the second major, or of the School’s Required Areas
of Study (i.e., General Distribution requirements). Free Electives
are Courses taken not to meet any of the above requirements
or their prerequisites, but taken solely to meet the requirement
of a total of 66 credits in Arts and Sciences or the requirement
of a total of 120 credits for the degree.
Electives in the University must be completed sufficient
for a minimum total of 120 credits. Electives may be chosen
from any courses offered by the University except certain
unapproved courses such as Dance 101, 102, 103; and activity
courses offered by the School of Education; students should
consult a School of Communication advisor before selecting
elective courses. General electives may be taken in any Arts
and Sciences program and in Communication courses, taking
into account the credit limits in area courses specified above.
Because specific courses are required in some School of Communication
majors, students are advised to read Program statements carefully
and seek the advice of a School of Communication advisor prior
to taking general University electives.
Students must earn a total of 66 credits in the liberal arts
and sciences, including those credits earned in Required Areas
of Study, in the second major, in electives in the College
of Arts and Sciences, in courses in the departments of Economics
and Political Science, in courses in the School of Music,
and in COM/COS courses 110, 211, and 333. Some majors require
specific courses; see Program Statements.
No course may be used to satisfy the requirements of more
than one major or of a major and a minor. Three Communication
core courses (see Program Statements) but no other courses
submitted for a student’s Communication major may be
used also to satisfy School of Communication Required Areas
of Study requirements. Unless Communication Program statements
otherwise restrict: (a) a course taken to satisfy Additional
Requirements of a student’s major (and which appears
on the list of courses accepted in satisfaction of School
Required Areas of Study) may also be used to satisfy a School
Required Areas of Study requirement; and (b) a maximum of
six credits may count toward both a second major and the School
Required Areas of Study. The foregoing notwithstanding, any
course designated as a Writing course, whether taken to fulfill
a major, minor, Additional Requirements, or Required Areas
of Study requirement, or as an elective, may also be applied
to the Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
An approved First Year Seminar may satisfy one of the School
Required Areas of Study requirements. Consult the School of
Communication Academic Services Office.
A maximum of six credits of Aerospace Studies and Military
Science courses at the 300 level or above may count toward
the 120-credit University degree but only as general elective
credit and not as general Arts and Sciences credit or for
School Required Areas of Study credit.
Most programs in the School require a student, in order to
obtain the School’s Bachelor of Science degree, to complete
specified courses in addition to those 13 or 15 courses that
comprise the majors. These courses may, in some cases, fulfill
requirements in Required Areas of Study or in the second major,
or may be electives in the College of Arts and Sciences or
general electives in the University. In completing these additional
course requirements, passing grades (D or better) are usually
acceptable. If a grade of C or better is required in any additional
course or courses beyond the 39- or 45-credit School of Communication
major, program statements will so state. Read program statements
carefully. Do not register for courses without a program advisor’s
signed approval.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication
To be awarded the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the candidate
must fulfill the following requirements:
1. Complete School of Communication requirements including:
• Courses in The Required Areas of Study
• The second major, and
• Electives sufficient for a total of 66 credits
in the College
• The minimum number of credits required of a student
by the B.F.A. program is 126
2. Maintain a cumulative 3.3 average in all courses taken
in the School of Communication.
3. Working independently, or in an approved group, produce
a senior presentation that must be submitted to the committee,
for approval.
4. Complete the following courses:
Core (10 courses - 30 credits)
COM 101 Mass Media Communication in Society
COM 110 Communication Theory
COM 250 Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics
CBR 102 Introduction to Electronic Media and Cable
CMP 103 Survey of Motion Pictures
CMP 126 Introduction to Scriptwriting or CMP 226 Writing
for Series Television or
CBR 201 Writing for the Electronic Media
CNJ 206 Graphics for Communication Media or CAP 202
Graphics for Promotional Media
CVJ 221 Still Photography I
CMP 222 Motion Picture Techniques
CBR 245 Introduction to Electronic Media Production
Electives (2 courses from each group below - 18 credits)
GROUP 1
CMP 306 What Is Cinema?
CMP 356 Cinematography or CMP 357 Editing
CMP 352 Motion Picture Workshop II
CMP 551 Animation and Motion Graphics
GROUP 2
CBR 233 Television Performance
CBR 301 Measurement and Analysis of Broadcast and Cable
Audiences
CBR 302 Social Control of Broadcast and Cable Media
CBR 345 Intermediate Electronic Media Production
GROUP 3
CVJ 331 Still Photography II
CVJ 361 Photojournalism and Editing
CAP 384 Advanced Advertising: Writing and Design
Additional Program Requirements (6 credits)
CMP 204 History of Motion Pictures (1895-1940) or
CMP 205 History of Motion Pictures (1941-Present) or
CVJ 107 History of Photography
COM 598 Special Topics in Communication
Project (2 courses - 6 credits)
CMP 451 Motion Picture Practicum - I and CMP 452 Motion
Picture Practicum - II
OR
CBR 445 Advanced Electronic Media Production and CBR
599 Advanced Projects and Directed Research
OR
CVJ 435 Seminar in Visual Storytelling and CVJ 499
Projects and Directed Research
Senior Presentation
During the Senior year, each B.F.A. candidate must
make a presentation of a major creative project to which
he or she has made a significant contribution. Before
the project is started, the candidate must present a
one-page statement of objective to the B.F.A. Coordinator.
Upon approval by faculty members in the candidate’s
major and minor areas, the B.F.A. Coordinator will place
the statement of objective together with a signed approval
to begin the presentation project with the candidate’s
records in the School’s Admissions, Academic &
Alumni Services Office.
COMMUNICATION MINORS
The School offers minors for students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences and for other students who require minors in their programs.
• A student minoring in the general area of Communication must complete 15 credits at least six of which must be at the 300 level or above.
• Courses taken for this minor must be approved in advance through the School’s advising system in the office of Admissions, Academic & Alumni Services.
• Other minors are in Advertising Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, Motion Pictures, Communication Studies, and Electronic Media; see Program statements.
• Each course submitted for a Communication minor must be completed with a grade of C or higher (a grade of C- or lower is not acceptable).
SCHOOL HONORS PROGRAM
School of Communication students may graduate with School
Honors in Communication noted upon their diplomas and transcripts.
Students should contact the School’s Office of Admissions,
Academic & Alumni Services (2037 Wolfson Building) for
details.
Students may receive recognition as graduates cum laude,
magna cum laude, or summa cum laude if they meet the requirements
set forth under GRADUATION HONORS in this Bulletin.
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