Department of Communication

Chair: Professor Ford (Communication Studies).

Communication Studies: Professors Hardig, Ozley; Associate Professors Wang; Assistant Professor Walker.
Mass Communication: Professor Cofield; Associate Professor Finklea; Assistant Professor Dean; Instructors Vest.

Department Contact Information

Dr. Sherry Ford, Chair
Strong Hall
205-665-6625
fords@montevallo.edu
montevallo.edu/communication

Mission

The Department of Communication facilitates opportunities for students and faculty to develop and apply functional knowledge of relevant theory, which is necessary for successful storytelling and effective creation and management of meaning in a variety of contexts (i.e. personal, professional, public.) The department places particular emphasis on using best practices and innovative technologies to ensure interdisciplinary understanding; media and informational literacy; informed and engaged citizenship; cultural awareness; and effective ethical written, oral, and visual communication.

General Education

All students seeking an undergraduate degree at UM must complete a core General Education curriculum that includes courses in English, history, mathematics, the natural sciences, social sciences, fine arts, oral and written communication, and personal development. The minimum requirements can be found in the General Education Credit Hour Requirements section of the Undergraduate Academic Policies  section in this Bulletin.

The department supports the General Education Core requirements by offering COMS 101  (or 102 ) which is required for all undergraduate students. MC 100  and MC 325  applies toward the Humanity and Fine Arts requirement.

Majors

The Department of Communication offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Communication Studies (COMS) and Mass Communication (MC). Courses in the Department of Communication are three (3) credit hours unless otherwise noted.

Minors

Minors are available in Broadcast Production , Communication Studies , Digital Filmmaking , Multimedia Journalism , Public Relations , and Social Media Administration . Details about the Arts Administration Minor  are available under Department of Theatre . 

Experiential Approach to Learning

Effective communication must be active. One learns only by applying classroom theories in real-time situations. Thus, communication majors are encouraged to engage in a number of experiential learning opportunities including collaboration with other programs across campus, service learning, undergraduate research, internships, study away, and hands-on learning outside the classroom such as livestreaming athletic events, attending academic conferences, and event planning. Majors get hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art television studio producing newscasts, entertainment programs, and music shows. Majors also have access to a wide range of media production gear for class and experiential learning projects.

Internships

Majors in the Department of Communication are encouraged to seek out internship opportunities to gain valuable real-world experience, network with professionals, and build their portfolios. Up to six hours of approved internship credit can be counted toward the degree. Contact your academic adviser for Communication Studies or Internship Coordinator for Mass Communication.

Strong Hall

Communication Studies and Mass Communication are housed in Strong Hall, a state-of-the-art facility that began operations in fall 2017. Majors in both programs learn their craft on industry-standard, digital equipment and receive personal instruction and guidance from the Communication faculty. Strong Hall ensures that the Department of Communication’s long history of preparing graduates for successful communication careers will continue.

Student Organizations

Each communication program includes a student club or honorary society: Lambda Pi Eta for Communication Studies; Broadcast Education Association (BEA) for Mass Communication. Students who desire to become actively involved should contact the student club or honorary society advisers for details.

Fair Use Rights

The Department of Communication reserves the right to retain examples of student work for instructional, publicity or recruiting purposes. Similarly, each program of the department reserves the right to use photographs, video/DVD and audio recordings of student productions in any departmental promotional material including University-related websites and social media platforms.

Courses in Communication

• Courses of Instruction  

Every class is not offered every semester. It is strongly recommended that students arrange their schedules around courses in the major.

Programs

• Communication Studies, B.A.
• Mass Communication, Broadcast Production, B.A.
• Mass Communication, Multimedia Journalism, B.A.

• Communication Studies, B.S.
• Mass Communication, Broadcast Production, B.S.
• Mass Communication, Multimedia Journalism, B.S.

• Broadcast Production Minor
• Communication Studies Minor
• Digital Filmmaking Minor
• Multimedia Journalism Minor
• Public Relations Minor
• Social Media Administration Minor