Communication Home

The Department of Communication provides opportunities for degrees at the BA and MA level. The varied programs offer an integrated introduction to the fields of journalism, film, video, audio, public relations and theatre. Courses of study in media combined with production-oriented classes make graduates productive citizens in an increasingly global and technological economy.

Degrees We Offer
Career Outcomes

Learn more about each of our programs:

BA in Communication

William Paterson University offers several distinct concentrations for its BA in communication:

Concentrations

○ Communication Studies: The communication studies concentration provides students with the opportunity to study human interpersonal communication from behavioral, humanistic, and scientific perspectives. This includes instruction in the theory and history of communication, the development and application of intercultural and international communication practices, as well as relational, team, and leadership communication competencies in business, education, and social settings. Enhanced competency in written and oral expression is supported through the examination of oral and nonverbal and current technology-based messaging formats.

○ Journalism: The journalism track prepares students for professional careers in the newspaper and related industries and for advanced study. In a fast-moving digital era, the curriculum enables students to become sophisticated consumers of news media and includes instruction in news writing, reporting, editing, and media law/ethics. Emphasis is placed on integrating new media throughout the concentration's curriculum. Students prepare for internships and entry-level positions at online news organizations as well as at traditional newspapers through writing for the student newspaper, the Pioneer Times. Produced both online and in print form, the Pioneer Times is an excellent training ground for future journalists.

○ Broadcast Journalism: The broadcast journalism track gives students an overview of the theory and history of television news, and focuses on the research, writing, and production skills associated with putting together the various parts of a TV network-style news program. Students learn to: write and produce TV news stories, both in the newsroom and also using cameras, editing and sound equipment; do "live" video reports from remote locations; assemble a news show rundown; supervise preproduction of a TV news program; and supervise the program as it airs. In this way, students are prepared for internships at the major TV news networks and ultimately for TV industry jobs.

○ Public Relations: The public relations track prepares students for careers in a variety of increasingly integrated marketing communications industries. Public relations knowledge and skills apply to virtually all industries and interest areas. Careers in public relations-related fields continue to grow faster than the national average and are listed as a top-8 growth industry by Fortune magazine. Public relations programs help support an organization's business objectives and increase corporate reputation, drive sales and even build a brand. We offer a rigorous public relations curriculum which includes integrated communication planning, digital and social media marketing, strategic multiplatform writing, event promotion, and program development. Our courses and extracurricular opportunities enhance a student's knowledge and skills in effective communication messaging, critical problem-solving, creative idea development, and reputation management. Students intern and secure careers working across a variety of industry sectors including fashion, sports, consumer, healthcare, food, travel, finance, entertainment, corporate, and many more. Our graduates enjoy careers in public relations agencies, corporations, government, nonprofits, hospitals, sports teams, entertainment venues, advertising agencies, record labels, investment firms, media companies, and professional associations.

○ Media Studies: The media studies track takes a generalist approach to understanding the social, economic, political, cultural, aesthetic, legal and ethical dimensions of communication media. Courses are designed to introduce students to an international and multicultural appreciation of the role of media technologies in a global society. Students have the opportunity to blend their critical studies in media with hands-on creative studies through elective media production courses. Students considering careers in the various media industries would benefit from this broad understanding and the program's emphasis on the critical analysis of the role of media in a society characterized by rapid media change.

○ Media Production: The media production track introduces students to the methods and techniques used to create aural/visual messages in a variety of mass media. Sequences of introductory and advanced courses in theory and practice of film, television, and radio provide students a comprehensive understanding of the aesthetics and techniques of media production and prepare them to function as professionals in different media fields. The production facilities in the concentration allow students hands-on practice in two television studios, a radio station, a film production lab, a digital audio production lab, and several digital video and audio editing rooms.

○ Theatre and Comedy: Theatre and comedy students focus on the arts of theatre and comedy, both academically and experientially. In theatre classes, such as Acting, Directing, and Playwriting, students learn historical and contemporary theories of theatre as they act in improvisations and scenes, direct fellow students, and write staged plays. In comedy classes, such as the Fundamentals of Comedy Writing and Performing: Stand-up I, they learn theories of comedy as they write and perform their final stand-up exam at Gotham Comedy Club in New York City; in Sketch Comedy Writing and Performing, they replicate the process by which Saturday Night Live skits are developed and enacted. Live performance, writing, research, and collaborative learning are the hallmarks of this program as students develop skills in presentation and creativity, and learn how to utilize them in all media. Requirements include performing in and working on University theatre productions.

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Minor in Communication

Communication minors are available in communication studies, film studies, international cinema, journalism, media studies, public relations, theatre and comedy, and visual communication.

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Film Studies Minor

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Minor in Visual Communication

The minor in visual communication enhances visual perception, cultivates independent thinking, and introduces students to the visual arts, specifically in the areas of graphic and interactive design.

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MA in Professional Communication

The master of arts in professional communication program at William Paterson University provides graduates with an edge in the ever-evolving job market. Expand your marketability and communication skills with our comprehensive curriculum that was designed to help master's degree graduates:

○ Advance professionally

○ Build integrated marketing and communication knowledge

○ Develop social media expertise

○ Sharpen strategic writing skills

○ Strengthen management and leadership abilities

○ Pursue new and emerging career paths

Our goal is to help you establish or further your career with a curriculum that exposes you to academic study, technology, and up-to-date communications platforms leveraged by companies today. While you will be able to study a broad array of communication topics, including programs around social media, writing, and video, our intent is for you to experience a master's degree curriculum that can help you achieve your objectives.

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Great communicators are not only great employees, but effective leaders as well. This degree builds awareness of how to communicate information to diverse audiences effectively and confidently, and how to connect with other people in a way that can be persuasive and beneficial to everyone. Good communication skills are essential in just about every industry, so this degree gives an advantage to those who can communicate powerfully both with the written and spoken word. With careers ranging from television producers, radio broadcasters, news journalists, theatre directors and screenwriters, film editors and producers, PR copy writers and marketing specialists, a communication degree prepares students with a huge variety of options and careers.

Communication News

William Paterson University TV Sports Show Wins Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Award

WPSC 88.7 FM – Brave New Radio Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Three Generations of WP Alums Returning for Station “Takeover”

WP Professor Nicholas Hirshon Releases New Book, “We Want Fish Sticks: The Bizarre and Infamous Rebranding of the New York Islanders"

WP Student Highlighted in NJBIZ Article Focused on Professionals Who Return to College

William Paterson University Radio Station WPSC-FM Wins Coveted National Marconi Award for Noncommercial Radio Station of the Year

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