Communication Option FAQ

Why should I major in communication?

Communication is one of the most practical majors. Studies have shown that employers are looking for three skills from college graduates. First, they want graduates that can write well. Second, they want people who can speak effectively. Third, employers want graduates who have strong analytical abilities. These are three skills that are emphasized in our communication program.

What will I learn in the communication program?

This option helps prepare students to work in the communication industry, or to successfully transfer to four-year schools. The program provides opportunities to learn about careers within communication including newspapers, radio, television, magazines, film, public relations, advertising and new media.

What can I do with a communication degree?

Communication graduates work in newspapers, television, radio, film, magazines, advertising, public relations and publishing. But they can get jobs in almost any kind of industry. There is a shortage of college graduates with effective communication skills. If you can write and speak effectively, you are needed in every industry. The one thing that all companies have in common is that they need people who can their message out.

Will a communication degree prepare me for the real world?

Courses in the Communication Option are taught from a real-world perspective and emphasize the development of strong writing skills, one of the most important ingredients to success in the communication field.

How many classes do I need to complete a communication degree?

Students in all majors take approximately 15-17 courses of general education, which includes such areas as social science, humanities, English, math, history, and similar broad subject areas. These courses are essential elements to a well-rounded education, and necessary to successfully transfer to any four-year school. It usually takes at least four full-time semesters to complete the communication program. Communication majors choose one of two tracks: Journalism or Creative Writing, following the sequence listed below.

Program Courses 18 credits
COMM103 Introduction to Mass Media 3
COMM104 Introduction to Public Relations 3
Choose one COMM110-Interpersonal Communication 3
or COMM120-Public Speaking
*Choose one track 6
Journalism Track
COMM/ENGL 209-News Writing I
COMM/ENGL 210-Special Topics in News Writing

or

Creative Writing Track
COMM/ENGL 220-Creative Writing I
COMM/ENGL 221-Creative Writing II
Communication Elective – Choose one 3
COMM 110-Interpersonal Communication (if student took COMM120)
COMM 120-Public Speaking (if student took COMM110)
COMM/ENGL 220-Creative Writing I (if student took COMM/ENG209)
COMM/ENGL 209-News Writing I (if student took COMM/ENG220)

Who will be teaching me?

Our faculty has extensive experience in the communication field.

Keith Forrest, Assistant Professor of Communication - his essays and editorials have reached a circulation of 5 million readers in the last year in publications such as The Philadelphia Inquirer. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the communication field from radio to public relations including working as a news producer at E! Entertainment Television in Los Angeles. He holds three master’s degrees and is a graduate of both Rowan University and Temple University.

Gerri Black, Assistant Professor of English - an award-winning writer, and developer of the creative writing program, she holds a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a former Teacher of the Year.

Will there be any opportunities for hands-on experience?

ACCC has an award-winning student newspaper, the Atlantic Cape Review. We also boast an excellent literature magazine, Rewrites. In addition, we are developing an internet radio station. But we also encourage our students to find internships with local newspapers, radio stations, television stations, advertising agencies, magazines, etc. so they can gain additional experience, and build a network of contacts that can help them land a job after graduation. The Atlantic City region has increased its presence recently as a media center with the proliferation of the casino industry, leading to the expansion of related industries such as advertising and public relations. Atlantic and Cape May counties are also part of the extended Philadelphia region, the fourth largest media market in the nation.

Who else is majoring in communication?

Communication has become one of the most popular majors in the country. Undergraduate enrollments in journalism and mass communication programs have increased nearly 50 percent since 1993. According to the Annual Survey of Journalism and Mass Communication Enrollments, there were 190,934 students enrolled in communication-related programs in 2003, the largest enrollments ever in the field.

Can I get a job with an associate’s degree in communication or do I need to transfer to a four-year school?

Our program will prepare you for an entry level job in the communication industry, but we recommend that you transfer to a four-year school after completing your associate degree at ACCC. Most employers in the field are now demanding a bachelor’s degree. The training you will receive in our communication program will make you more likely to succeed at a four-year school. Studies show that community college transfer students are more likely to successfully complete a bachelor’s degree than a four-year school’s own incoming freshmen.

After I complete my associate’s degree in communication, what schools can I transfer to?

You can transfer to any four-year school that you can get into. But ACCC is in a very unique position. Two of the top four-year communication schools in the country are located within 50 miles of our Mays Landing Campus. Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ and Temple University in Philadelphia are two of the best. We advise our students to transfer to one of those two schools. Or if your situation allows you to leave the region, we recommend you consider some of the best programs across the country. Some of those schools include: Emerson College, University of North Carolina, Syracuse University, New York University, Indiana University, etc.  Recently, Keith Forrest (Assistant Professor of Communication) was a guest lecturer at the Indiana University (IU) School of Journalism, providing insights about the emerging field of Creative Non-Fiction. He also met with IU’s dean to discuss forming links between ACCC and their School of Journalism.

Can you tell me more about the communication course offerings?

We offer eight communication courses. They are listed below with brief descriptions:

COMM 103
Introduction to Mass Media
Studies the impact on our daily lives of television, radio, films, magazines and newspapers, and on-line media. Students examine how the media influence politics, purchases, entertainment, and how they affect the culture in shaping beliefs and attitudes. It discusses how each of the media operates and what each accomplishes. By developing their media literacy, students are able to examine the gap between real life and "mediated" reality.

COMM 104
Introduction to Public Relations
Explores the history and role of public relations in society. Students explore mass media, persuasion, publicity, radio and television. Students examine special events, crisis management, communication techniques, research, and evaluation, communication law, and ethics. Basically a theory course, this introduction also applies ideas practically to real clients and organizations.

COMM 110
Interpersonal Communication
The observation and study of linguistic and behavior patterns as persons participate in one-to-one and group communications transactions.

COMM 120
Public Speaking
The study of the elements of rhetoric and speech composition as applied to informative speaking; also instruction and practice in the basic techniques of extemporaneous delivery.

COMM/ENGL 209
News Writing
Introduction to basic news writing and reporting. Students will use a basic word processing software package.

COMM/ENGL 210
Special Topics in News Writing
Prerequisite: COMM/ENGL 209 or permission of instructor
Students continue to cultivate journalistic and writing skills developed in News Writing through an intensive writing-workshop that emphasizes an examination of a specific genre including public relations writing, magazine writing, broadcast journalism, or creative non-fiction. See the latest course schedule for the genre currently presented.

COMM/ENGL 220
Creative Writing I
Study of and practice in the techniques of writing for three major genres of imaginative literature: poetry, short fiction and short drama.

COMM/ENGL 221
Creative Writing II
Prerequisite: COMM/ENGL 220 or permission of instructor
Students continue to develop their voices as writers in three genres of imaginative literature: poetry, short fiction, and short drama.  Students will narrow their focus through intensive writing workshops leading to a final project specializing in one of the three genres.

If I am already at ACCC, can I change my major to communication?

Since you are already taking courses here, you have probably completed many of your general education requirements. These requirements are fairly similar for all majors. As a result, changing your major to communication shouldn’t cause any significant delays in graduation or transferring to a four-year school. But you need to begin taking communication courses as soon as possible. The six communication course requirements could be completed in two semesters if your personal schedule links up with the times and days that those communication classes are offered.

When should I take my communication courses?

We recommend that you take your communication requirements in the following order:

First Semester
Introduction to Mass Media (COMM 103)
Second Semester
Introduction to Public Relations (COMM 104)
Public Speaking (COMM 120) or Interpersonal Communication (COMM 110)
Third Semester
News Writing I (COMM/ENGL 209) or Creative Writing I (COMM/ENGL 220)
Communication Elective
Fourth Semester
Special Topics in News Writing (COMM/ENGL 210) or Creative Writing II (COMM/ENGL 221)

Can I take communication courses if I’m not a communication major?

Most New Jersey state colleges require a speech communication course for community college transfers. As a result, you will probably need to take either Public Speaking (COMM 120) or Interpersonal Communication (COMM 110). Even if it wasn’t required you would still want to take one of these two courses because you need to develop strong oral communication skills if you want to succeed in the workplace.

Can non majors take communication courses other than Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication?

All students should consider taking Introduction to Mass Media (COMM 103). To succeed in the current marketplace, you need to understand how the media works and how it affects your life. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “There is widespread consensus in the education and policy communities that media literacy encompasses a crucial set of skills that empowers students to be fully literate and successful members of their communities.” Introduction to Mass Media can be taken as an elective. It can also count in other transfer categories. For example, Rowan University accepts the course as a Social and Behavioral Science, while Stockton College counts Mass Media as Humanities.

What other communication courses could help me succeed in my major?

If you want to develop strong writing skills, you should consider taking News Writing I (COMM/ENGL 209) or Creative Writing I (COMM/ENGL 220). These courses help develop your writing and research skills in a way that goes beyond the basic English composition courses that all students are required to take. This more-advanced writing ability can help set you apart from other students in your major. In addition, business majors should consider taking Introduction to Public Relations (COMM 104). Understanding Public Relations concepts is one of the keys to succeeding in the business world. Having a basic knowledge of Public Relations can help students succeed in almost any job, but is especially helpful to computer science, social science, culinary arts and literature majors.

How can I get more information?

To find out more about the communication program, contact Keith Forrest, Assistant Professor of Communication at (609) 343-4994 or kforrest@atlantic.edu.