Organizations across all sectors depend on strategic communications to control their brand’s message and maximize exposure. Whether you want to pursue a career in advertising, marketing or public relations, a strong background in strategic communications will be an invaluable asset personally and professionally.
Program Overview
Master your ability to communicate efficiently and effectively.
Strategic communication encompasses all aspects of public relations, advertising and marketing. In the Strategic Communication program at Western Colorado University, you’ll acquire the ability to communicate consistently and effectively to a target audience. In the process, you’ll develop skills in analytical thinking, writing, presentation, multimedia, and production. Through comprehensive coursework and hands-on experience in Western’s state-of-the-art media production facilities, you’ll have the knowledge and experience to become a charismatic and decisive communications leader in the professional world.
Developing leaders
Western’s Strategic Communication program teaches students to build critical thinking skills, hone their writing and develop strong presentation skills on their way to becoming charismatic and decisive leaders in the professional world.
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
A minimum of 51 credits is required including the 9-credit Communication Arts Nucleus:
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 |
---|---|---|
ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | 3 |
BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
COM 151 | Introduction to Mass Media (GT-AH2) | 3 |
COM 241 | Media Writing | 3 |
COM 264 | Introduction to Media Production I | 3 |
COM 274 | Public Relations Communication | 3 |
COM 323 | Media/ Arts Management | 3 |
COM 346 | Multimedia Communication | 3 |
COM 351 | Media Theory and Research | 3 |
COM 375 | Social Media Skills | 3 |
COM 474 | Campaign Planning in Advertising and Public Information | 3 |
COM 499 | Internship in Communication Arts | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
COM 371 | Small Group and Conflict Management | |
COM 377 | Intercultural Communication in the Digital Age | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
BUAD 333 | Organizational Behavior | |
BUAD 335 | Marketing Communications | |
BUAD 345 | Consumer Behavior | |
PSY 258 | Introduction to Personality | |
SOC 380 | Social Class, Status, and Power | |
Total Credits | 42 |
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 151 | 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 | ||
ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area II) | 4 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area III) | 3 |
Credits | 13 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
COM 205 | Communication Arts I | 3 |
COM 241 | Media Writing | 3 |
COM 274 | Public Relations Communication | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area III) | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | 3 |
COM 264 | Introduction to Media Production I | 3 |
BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
COM 305 | Communication Arts II | 3 |
COM 346 | Multimedia Communication | 3 |
COM 371 or COM 377 |
Small Group and Conflict Management or Intercultural Communication in the Digital Age |
3 |
Elective | BUAD/PSY/SOC elective course | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
COM 375 | Social Media Skills | 3 |
COM 499 | Internship in Communication Arts | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 3 |
Elective | Upper Division Elective course | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
COM 405 | Communication Arts Seminar | 3 |
COM 351 | Media Theory and Research | 3 |
Elective | Upper Division Elective course | 9 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
COM 323 | Media/ Arts Management | 3 |
COM 474 | Campaign Planning in Advertising and Public Information | 3 |
Elective | Elective or minor course | 9 |
Credits | 15 | |
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
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Making connections
Strategic Communication students have access to Western’s state-of-the-art media production facilities and get connected with off-campus organizations searching for innovative students.
News & Research
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