English 
Communicate in a connected world.
There is a great need for great communicators in every corner of the world. Every industry. Every sector. No matter your passion, the ability to communicate effectively and powerfully can enable you to contribute and make an impact.
At William Woods University, communication majors find their niche in one of several concentrations:
- Communication Studies
- Digital Filmmaking
- Digital Media
- Multimedia Journalism
- Sports Communications
- Public Relations
- Open Concentration
Graduates have gone to pursue careers in broadcast, corporate communications, organizational promotions, and management. They are employed at television networks, non-profit organizations, professional sports teams, advertising agencies, and the list goes on.
Special opportunities
- Join our team at the campus radio station, 94.9 FM The Pulse, where students can be live DJs, produce content, play music, and assist in managing the different aspects of the station
- Get involved in a variety of student organizations on campus, including the Forensic (Speech and Debate) Team, Reel Fanatics Film Club, Served up Crispy Improvisation Team, and Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society
- Write, produce, direct, act, and more in your own film. Then watch it at our annual film festival in the Fulton movie theatre
- Use our alumni network and various connections to gain real-world internship experience
Our Communications degree at Work
Pursue an exciting career as a/an:
- Radio news director, radio talk show host, disc jockey
- Editor, journalist, publisher, proofreader
- Television reporter, producer, news anchor, media editor, digital content producer, broadcasting production supervisor
- Copywriter, advertising executive, public relations coordinator
- Publicist
- News Anchor
- Media Editor
- Digital Content Producer
- Media Buyer
- Production Assistant
- Special Effects Artist
- Colorist
- Director, cinematographer
- Lighting Supervisor
- Sports Marketer or publicist
- Company Spokesperson
- Community Outreach Director
- Lobbyist
- Political Analyst
- Social Media Manager
- Communication Trainer
- Quality Inspector
- Activities Director
- Human Resources Manager
- And more
Students majoring in communication have many opportunities to pursue Master’s degrees in Communication, Organizational Communication, Rhetoric & Critical/Cultural Studies, Mass (Media) Communication, Film Studies, and Leadership Communication, among others.
Recent Employers
Our students are highly sought after by distinguished employers across the country, including:
Other employers of our recent alumni include:
- Fairmont Grand Del Mar Resort
- WSMV Channel 4
- KRCG TV Channel 13
- Zimmer Radio Group
- Clear Vision Development Group
- CN Video Production
- Focus Pointe Global
- True Media Advertising
- The Callaway Bank
- Y107 FM
- Studio City KC
Graduating from William Woods University with a degree in communications, I was excited and confident that I was prepared to enter the workforce. From the classroom to my sorority, I left WWU having had the experience of a lifetime. The internships, hands-on class projects and a flourishing campus community at WWU, encompassed with a liberal arts base, helped me develop the skills I use every day in my job and personal life.— Emily Hall, communication graduate, legislative manager for the Oklahoma State Medical Association (OSMA)
My job would not be possible without the education I received at The Woods. Through one-on-one teaching and small classes, I was able to develop in-depth skills, work methods and relationships that I incorporated into my internship, then as an employee with a St. Louis production company and, later, into starting and running my own business.— Stephen Boulware, communication graduate, field producer/videographer for REC, which films big game hunts all over the world
The Bachelor of Science in Communication degree at William Woods University consists of 120 distinct credit hours for graduation—including 21 core major credits, 12 required electives, and a 21-hour concentration in Communication Studies, Digital Filmmaking, Digital Media, Multimedia Journalism, Public Relations, Sports Communication, or in the Open concentration.
Major Requirements
Core Credits: 21.00
| Designed to introduce the student to the area of oral communication with exercise covering the various phases. credits: | Intro To Speech Communication -O | 3 |
| An introduction to the creation and design of communication materials. Students will produce a variety of digital content designed for an audience. credits: | Visual Communication & Design -X | 3 |
| An introduction to the field of mass communication, its influence, and its ubiquity. Students will study the industries and history of print, broadcast, and digital media. credits: | Media & Mass Communication -i | 3 |
| Contemporary Media Ethics explores the following aspects of media decision-making: news, persuasion in advertising, persuasion and public relations, and entertainment. Student participation is required. credits: | Contemporary Media Ethics -U | 3 |
| This course will introduce students to the structure, importance, and practical use of communication theory as it relates to their personal, professional, and social lives. Students will discover how theory can help them better understand, investigate, and critically answer questions about the nature of communication in today’s interconnected world. We will examine theories from a variety of communication contexts, including but not limited to intercultural, organizational, public, mass media, and interpersonal. This course is geared towards all undergraduate students who are interested in how theory and research can help them become more skilled communicators. credits: | Communication Theory | 3 |
| This course examines the theoretical and historical foundations of how we think about freedom of expression and its relationship to democratic culture. We will discuss landmark speech controversy cases and analyze how freedom of expression has been influenced through digital technology. We will explore the degree to which censorship has both historical and contemporary relevance within our society and consider how these systems of thought are communicated to public audiences. We will cover current freedom of expression topics including but not limited to social media, corporate power, free speech on campus, and free speech in politics. credits: | Freedom of Expression | 3 |
credits: | Senior Seminar | 3 |
Concentrations
Communication Studies Concentration - 33 Credits
Required Credits: 33.00
| In this class skills-based immersion into journalism, students will learn the foundations of journalism by reporting and writing the news using multiple platforms, including print, broadcast and the internet. credits: | Writing for Multimedia | 3 |
| Ethics in sexuality is a course that explores all aspects of sexual decision-making. Students will study the biology and psychology of sexuality and explore a variety of sexual issues and topics. A constant focus will be maintained on prescribing individual ethical beliefs to sexual situations. Students participation is required. credits: | Ethics in Sexuality -U | 3 |
| This course will focus on the study of persuasion and examine how it used as an instrument of communication within the news media, social media, popular culture, health, politics, and human relationships. We will learn how persuasion can be used in both productive and unproductive ways, paying careful attention to the speaker’s motivations for their message and the effect these messages have on people and society. credits: | Persuasion -X | 3 |
| This course examines communication in interpersonal relationships. There is a balance between theoretical and practical approaches. credits: | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Small Group Communication is designed to increase students’ understanding of group dynamics, particularly in decision-making task groups. Traditional topics such as role negotiation, leadership, and decision processes will be explored, emphasizing the need for balance between socio-emotional and task dimensions. credits: | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| In this course we will look closely at the ways gender is communicated within various cultural and institutional settings (how we come to know what it is to be a woman or a man), the multiple ways humans communicate within and across gender lines (how we express ourselves as gendered individuals and why we do it many different ways), and the relationships of the two. credits: | Gender Communications | 3 |
| This course will focus on both practical and theoretical knowledge about social media. Students will learn about the effects and influence social media has on people, societies, and groups. credits: | Social Media | 3 |
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Digital Filmmaking Concentration - 33 Credits
Required Credits: 33.00
| In this class skills-based immersion into journalism, students will learn the foundations of journalism by reporting and writing the news using multiple platforms, including print, broadcast and the internet. credits: | Writing for Multimedia | 3 |
| Students will gain an intermediate level of understanding in contemporary film and video production techniques and styles while creating content suited for advertising, marketing, and production house content. credits: | Video Production | 3 |
| Students study the basic elements of film production and meaning, with particular attention paid to defining and interpreting various aesthetic, technological, social, psychological, and philosophical aspects of cinema. Prerequisites – ENG 101 credits: | Introduction to Film Studies -Q | 3 |
| Students investigate and assess major critical perspectives narrative cinema, from the journalistic approach to the ideological/theoretical approach. Students distinguish between film reviewing and film criticism and apply what they learn to their own analysis of specific works. Prerequisite – ENG102 and (ENG210 or ENG215) credits: | Film Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| You will learn how to wield conflict, story structure, plot, character development along with the basic mechanics of screenwriting. credits: | Screenwriting I -X | 3 |
| You will develop your camera work and master the functions of your camera equipment. You’ll also get some hands-on experience staging scenes and blocking for the camera. credits: | Cinematography I -X | 3 |
| Video editing is one of the most complex and important pieces of the filmmaking process. In this course you will encounter various editing theories and techniques, as well as get some hands-on practice with editing. credits: | Editing I -X | 3 |
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Digital Media Concentration - 33 Credits
Required Credits: 33.00
| Fundamentals of Graphic Design sets the framework for the graphic design concentration. This course introduces students to the graphic design profession, including fundamentals of publication design, digital illustration, packaging design, and animation. Students will also enhance conceptual and technical skills as required in the field. (lab fee) Prerequisite: ART 103 (or ART105) and ART140 credits: | Fundamentals of Graphic Design | 3 |
| This course introduces students to creative photography as a method of visual communication. While experimenting with manual camera controls through both film and digital processes, students explore methods of imaginative and meaningful image-making. Additionally, students develop skills in composition, sequencing, and preparing files for print.manipulation. (Lab fee) credits: | Introduction to Photography -X | 3 |
| In this class skills-based immersion into journalism, students will learn the foundations of journalism by reporting and writing the news using multiple platforms, including print, broadcast and the internet. credits: | Writing for Multimedia | 3 |
| Students will gain an intermediate level of understanding in contemporary film and video production techniques and styles while creating content suited for advertising, marketing, and production house content. credits: | Video Production | 3 |
| This course is designed to introduce students to the technology and techniques behind live on-air broadcasts and producing recorded podcasts for streaming. Enrolled students will examine recording strategies and styles, while also developing their understanding of audio equipment and editing software. Students will be responsible for hosting regular productions, making use of the university facilities and technology. credits: | Podcasting | 3 |
| This course will focus on both practical and theoretical knowledge about social media. Students will learn about the effects and influence social media has on people, societies, and groups. credits: | Social Media | 3 |
| The development of disciplines controlling vocal and visual mechanics and interpretative performances for announcers, newscasters, interviewers, and narrators of various radio and television programming. Prerequisites: COM110 credits: | Announcing and Reporting I | 3 |
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Multimedia Journalism Concentration - 33 Credits
Required Credits: 33.00
| This course introduces students to creative photography as a method of visual communication. While experimenting with manual camera controls through both film and digital processes, students explore methods of imaginative and meaningful image-making. Additionally, students develop skills in composition, sequencing, and preparing files for print.manipulation. (Lab fee) credits: | Introduction to Photography -X | 3 |
| In this class skills-based immersion into journalism, students will learn the foundations of journalism by reporting and writing the news using multiple platforms, including print, broadcast and the internet. credits: | Writing for Multimedia | 3 |
| Students will gain an intermediate level of understanding in contemporary film and video production techniques and styles while creating content suited for advertising, marketing, and production house content. credits: | Video Production | 3 |
| A news reporting and writing course that focuses on media coverage of public policy, legal, and social issues and problems. Students will use reporting techniques to produce news stories for presentation to the general audience. Prerequisite: COM 110 credits: | Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| This course will focus on both practical and theoretical knowledge about social media. Students will learn about the effects and influence social media has on people, societies, and groups. credits: | Social Media | 3 |
| The development of disciplines controlling vocal and visual mechanics and interpretative performances for announcers, newscasters, interviewers, and narrators of various radio and television programming. Prerequisites: COM110 credits: | Announcing and Reporting I | 3 |
| Students will demonstrate their ability to interest readers in significant, research-based subjects by writing about them in the context of non-fiction stories that have characters, show development and follow a structural arc from beginning to end. credits: | Feature Writing | 3 |
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Open Concentration - 33 Credits
Required Credits: 33.00
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Sports Communication Concentration - 33 Credits
Required Credits: 33.00
| In this class skills-based immersion into journalism, students will learn the foundations of journalism by reporting and writing the news using multiple platforms, including print, broadcast and the internet. credits: | Writing for Multimedia | 3 |
| This course introduces students to the practical and scholarly domain of Sports Communication. We will examine contemporary issues related to communication, sport, and culture. The course will introduce students to the nuanced ways sport reflects and actively shapes culture and society. We will cover topics ranging from how sports organizations function through the integration of athletes, managers, and audiences through communication. Additionally, the course will address the changing shape of sports media institutions, fan identities, the politics of race, class, gender, and sexuality that are revealed and struggled over within sports cultural contexts. Finally, the course will explore how the sports industry has evolved and continues to grow as a cultural phenomenon. credits: | Sport Communication -Q | 3 |
| This course is designed to introduce students to the technology and techniques behind live on-air broadcasts and producing recorded podcasts for streaming. Enrolled students will examine recording strategies and styles, while also developing their understanding of audio equipment and editing software. Students will be responsible for hosting regular productions, making use of the university facilities and technology. credits: | Podcasting | 3 |
| You may be an athlete, sports fan, or just a casual sports observer. If you are interested in sports media, this class is for you. This class will introduce students to the role sports media plays in shaping cultural and social attitudes of sports. Students will learn to identify the issues which have contributed to the significance and impact of sports on America and the world. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, how sports media communicates about gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, nationalism, identity, capitalism/consumerism, citizenship, disability, and locality. Students will leave this class with a comprehensive knowledge about the changing and shifting landscape of sports media and its impact on society. credits: | Sports Media | 3 |
| This course will focus on both practical and theoretical knowledge about social media. Students will learn about the effects and influence social media has on people, societies, and groups. credits: | Social Media | 3 |
| This course will analyze how sport is used to market various non-sport products, the marketing of products used in sport, the marketing of the participants of sport, & the marketing of sport itself. credits: | Sports Marketing | 3 |
| This course will address the vast nature of sport beyond the borders of the US. Content areas will include international sport governing bodies, the production and consumption of sport on the world stage (e.g. Olympics, World Cup), the process of the global expansion by leagues in the US and how international sports have pushed through the US borders. credits: | Global Sport Environment | 3 |
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Strategic Communication Concentration - 33 Credits
Required Credits: 33.00
| An application of concepts from the field of marketing of consumer demand in relation to marketing procedures, functions, methods, policies, including issues of marketers from a marketing perspective. credits: | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| An application class that reinforces and creates various aspects of public relations models that connect policies, strategies, and procedures to include marketing, communication, and designing public relations models for ”real-world’ businesses and/or clients. Prerequisites: BUS 321 credits: | Public Relations | 3 |
| In this class skills-based immersion into journalism, students will learn the foundations of journalism by reporting and writing the news using multiple platforms, including print, broadcast and the internet. credits: | Writing for Multimedia | 3 |
| This course will focus on the study of persuasion and examine how it used as an instrument of communication within the news media, social media, popular culture, health, politics, and human relationships. We will learn how persuasion can be used in both productive and unproductive ways, paying careful attention to the speaker’s motivations for their message and the effect these messages have on people and society. credits: | Persuasion -X | 3 |
| Small Group Communication is designed to increase students’ understanding of group dynamics, particularly in decision-making task groups. Traditional topics such as role negotiation, leadership, and decision processes will be explored, emphasizing the need for balance between socio-emotional and task dimensions. credits: | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| This course will focus on both practical and theoretical knowledge about social media. Students will learn about the effects and influence social media has on people, societies, and groups. credits: | Social Media | 3 |
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