In the past ten years, social media, mobile computing and digital marketing have revolutionized the way the world communicates. All of these nuances have made communications an in-demand expertise for almost any career and field.
Program Overview
Master the art of communications.
There has never been a more exciting and complex time to be in the world of communications.
At Western Colorado University, the Communication Arts curriculum has been adapted to the current demands of the global marketplace. With dynamic courses in Introduction to Film and Theater, Public Relations Communications and Media Writing, you’ll learn how to craft, edit and disseminate stories for artistic and functional expression.
Outside of the classroom, you’ll have the unique opportunity to apply your skills in student-run media outlets like the Western Theater Company and KWSB Radio. Through a combination of relevant coursework and hands-on opportunities, you’ll learn to analyze written, oral, visual, and electronic messages from historical, critical and social science perspectives. A strong communications background will open doors to careers in marketing, politics, executive leadership and many other in-demand fields.
The impact of discourse
Communications Arts students study media-related industries and the issues related to those industries that affect contemporary public discourse.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.
A minimum of 36 credits is required including the 9-credit Communication Arts Nucleus, 15 credits of upper-division Communication Arts electives:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Communication Arts Nucleus | ||
COM 205 | Communication Arts I | 3 |
COM 305 | Communication Arts II | 3 |
COM 405 | Communication Arts Seminar | 3 |
Total Credits | 9 |
And the following:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
COM 241 | Media Writing | 3 |
COM 274 | Public Relations Communication | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
COM 119 | Introduction to Film | |
COM 121 | Introduction to Theatre (GT-AH1) | |
COM 151 | Introduction to Mass Media (GT-AH2) | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
COM 261 | Introduction To Audio Communication | |
COM 264 | Introduction to Media Production I | |
Total Credits | 12 |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following course fulfills the capstone course requirement for the Communication Arts Major: COM 405 Communication Arts Seminar.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
COM 119 or COM 121 or COM 151 |
Introduction to Film or Introduction to Theatre (GT-AH1) or Introduction to Mass Media (GT-AH2) |
3 |
ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area II) | 4 |
HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
MATH 105 or MATH 140 |
Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) or College Algebra (GT-MA1) |
3 |
Credits | 17 | |
Spring | ||
COM 241 | Media Writing | 3 |
Elective | Elective, minor, or second major course | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area II) | 4 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area III) | 3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
COM 205 | Communication Arts I | 3 |
COM 274 | Public Relations Communication | 3 |
COM 261 or COM 264 |
Introduction To Audio Communication or Introduction to Media Production I |
3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area III) | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
Elective | Elective, minor, or second major course | 12 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
COM 305 | Communication Arts II | 3 |
COM 346 | Multimedia Communication ((or other upper division elective)) | 3 |
Elective | Upper division COM elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective, minor, or second major course | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Elective | Upper division COM elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective, minor, or second major course | 12 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
COM 405 | Communication Arts Seminar | 3 |
Elective | Upper division COM elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective, minor, or second major course | 9 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Elective | Elective, minor, or second major course | 12 |
Credits | 12 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
Spotlight
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Apply your education to the real-world.
Take your education outside of the classroom—build your professional network, gain practical experience and jump-start your career.
- KWSB Radio: On air since 1968, KWSB is student driven, student staffed, and open to anyone who wants to have their own radio show.
- Mountaineer Media: A student-run media production group specializing in short films, screenings and storytelling abilities.
- Western Theatre Company: A co-curricular program and student-run producing board that oversee and provide quality live performance to the campus and Gunnison community.
- Taylor Media Center: Houses film production studios, audio production studios, and more.
- Top o’ the World Newspaper: Monthly paper composed by students offering opportunities in newswriting, photography, editing, designing, and advertising sales.
Step up to the mic
Students operate and manage KWSB radio station and program it to serve the student body of Western, the community of Gunnison and the broader internet audience.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Communication Arts, Language & Literature (CALL) Department
Department Chairperson
Tamara Toomey, M.S.Chair – Communication Arts, Languages and Literature and Lecturer in English
Administrative Assistant
Cindy PetitoAdministrative Assistant III
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Taylor Hall 216
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231