The Program in Communication and Media offers two undergraduate degrees: the bachelor of arts (B.A.) and the bachelor of science (B.S.); the former is more humanistic, the latter more technological. The program entails study of a set of core courses covering various aspects of communication, and course concentrations of choice in six disciplinary areas: Digital Expression, Journalism, Literature (with an option in Education), Media Arts, Professional and Technical Communication and Theater Arts.

Both degrees prepare students with the skills and knowledge to work  in a variety of fields crucial to the twenty first century global economy. Today, communication specialists are required for a wide range of positions in business, industry, government, journalism; and in artistic, humanistic, scientific, and technological communities. Professional communicators are needed to serve as editors, researchers, and writers. The typical Communication and Media graduate can work in occupations such as multimedia design and communications; technical communication;  journalism; television; film and video production; print publishing; theater; graphic design; education; quality assurance documentation; advertising; grant proposal writing; medical and/or scientific reporting or analysis; and technical reporting or analysis.

The bachelor's degrees also serve as the foundation for a graduate degree in journalism, literature, law, theater and writing. There are accelerated programs leading to medical, dental, physical therapy, optometry and law degrees, for qualified students, who also can enroll in the B.S./M.S. program in Professional and Technical Communication, in which students earn a bachelor's and master's degree in less time than if earned separately. In addition, students may earn primary or secondary school teaching certification.

Both the B.A. and B.S. have the same core curriculum including a co-op work experience consisting of two semester-long internships in appropriate fields and a senior project capstone course in which a student produces a substantial, original work consisting of either a traditional research thesis, a substantial work of creative writing (such as a novella), or a practical communication application. In addition to NJIT courses, a number of courses in related areas offered at Rutgers-Newark may be taken for degree credit.

Double Majors
Students may earn a second major in addition to the Communication and Media major. A double major with the B.A. or B.S. in Communication and Media and the B.A. in History, for instance, is usually feasible within four years of full-time study. For general rules about double majors, see Degree Options in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the undergraduate catalog. For further information about appropriate double majors with the Communication and Media program, contact the Humanities department.

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The curriculum as described below is for students entering NJIT as freshmen in the fall of 2009 or after this date. Students entering before that date may have a different program and should consult the department to learn which curriculum applies.

This curriculum represents the maximum number of credits per semester for which a student is advised to register.  A full-time credit load is 12 credits.  First-year students are placed in a curriculum that positions them for success which may result in additional time needed to complete curriculum requirements. Continuing students should consult with their academic advisor to determine the appropriate credit load.

Electives

Basic Social Sciences GUR: Three credits of the basic social sciences requirement must be taken in economics; acceptable courses are Econ 201, Econ 265, or Econ 266 . The remaining 3 credits may be satisfied by EPS 202, STS 257, or STS 258. Students also may take approved introductory courses in basic social sciences at Rutgers-Newark to fulfill this requirement.

Lit/Hist/Phil/STS GUR: Students must take one 300-level course from any of the following fields: literature; history; philosophy; or science, technology, and society (STS); or an approved 300-level course at Rutgers-Newark.

Open Elective in Humanities and Social Science GUR: Students must take one 300-level course from any of the following fields: English (Eng); history (Hist); literature (Lit); philosophy (Phil); science, technology, and society (STS); social science (SS); or theater (Thtr). Students also may satisfy this requirement with Architectural History IV (Arch 382) or by taking an approved 300-level course at Rutgers-Newark.

Cultural History GUR: Take one courses (3 credits) from among Hum 211, Hum 212, Hist 213, and 200-level history courses at Rutgers-Newark.

Capstone Seminar in Humanities and Social Science GUR: All students, except those enrolled in the honors college, take one of the following: HSS 403, HSS 404, HSS 405, HSS 406, HSS 407, HSS 408, HSS 409 . Students enrolled in the honors college take one from HSS 491H-499H .

Natural Sciences GUR: Coursework totaling 7 credits in any of the following disciplines: biology, botany, chemistry, geology, and physics. Students may take a sequence of courses in one of these disciplines or courses in different disciplines. Laboratory credit must be included in the 7 credits.

Physical Education GUR: Students who register as full-time undergraduates for two or more consecutive semesters must take two PE courses, one of which must be a 100-level fitness core course. Students are urged to complete the requirement as soon as possible.

Foreign Language (I, II, III, IV): B.S. students concentrating in Literature can take 12 credits of a foreign language in lieu of literature courses. The language and choice of courses is determined in consultation with the advisor.

Art or Architecture: A number of courses offered by the New Jersey School of Architecture or Rutgers-Newark can be used to fulfill this requirement. See the advisor for appropriate courses.

Technology: See the advisor for appropriate courses.

Communication and Media Core Courses:

COM 303, Hist 345, Eng 302, Eng 333, Eng 339, Eng 340, Eng 353, Eng 354, Eng 490, Eng 491, Eng 496, STS 349.

Communication and Media

Concentrations

All concentrations require courses (twenty-four credits) and should be selected in consultation with the program director from a variety of NJIT and Rutgers-Newark course offerings.

Please consult the Humanities Department website for specific course listing. http://humanities.njit.edu/