Summary
The Master of Arts in Contemporary Communication is an interdisciplinary program for students seeking graduate education in new communication approaches. The Program of Study allows students options to explore their interests and goals ranging from development of communication skills in new media to entrepreneurial communication.
Through their coursework, students learn to bring critical analysis, creative insights, technological competence, and new media skills to their endeavors in communication. The curriculum prepares students for careers as effective, strategically-oriented communications professionals by providing them with a set of essential communication skills enhanced by knowledge of new communication technologies.
The M.A. in Contemporary Communication produces graduates who can write clear, purposeful, audience-oriented communications and apply creative approaches to communications planning and problem solving. Job opportunities for students who complete the program include positions in public relations, organizational communication, website and social media development—some of the most rapidly-growing segments of the professional communication field.
In addition to the face-to-face course offerings at Notre Dame’s main campus, the Contemporary Communication program has a fully online option for students interested in exploring this mode of course delivery. The online program provides learners with flexible degree completion options that allow them to further their educations while continuing to pursue their careers and lives. Students may complete the degree totally through face-to-face courses, totally through online courses or through a combination of both. Consultation with an advisor will help the student determine which mode is best.
Curriculum (36 Credits)
- Required Courses (6 Credits)
- Discipline Requirements (30 Credits)
Required Courses
IDS-510 Approaches to Contemporary Communication (3)
CST-515 Technology in Contemporary Communication (3)
In addition to the required courses, students complete 30 credits, including at least 18 credits in any combination of CST and COM courses. The remaining credits may be taken in any combination of ENG, PHL, ART, COM, CST, and IDS from the list below.
Art
ART-509 Graduate Photography Workshop (3)
ART-520 Visual Culture (3)
Communication Arts
COM-505 Business Communication (3)
COM-507 Film Themes (3)
COM-509 Media Criticism and Theory (3)
COM-511 Communication Issues (3)
COM-515 Cross-Cultural Communication (3)
COM-517 Communication and Gender (3)
COM-520 Media Technology Management (3)
COM-530 Independent Study (3)
COM-556 Research Methods for Professionals (3)
COM-565 Campaign Design and Execution(3)
COM-610 Social Media for Professionals (3)
COM-620 Public Relations Management (3)
Computer Studies
CST-511 Topics in Information Systems (3)
CST-530 Fundamentals of Knowledge Management (3)
CST-531 Data Design and Management (3)
CST-534 Data Driven Business Decisions (3)
CST-580 Managing Info in Web-Based World (3)
CST-593 Web Development (3)
CST-595 Multimedia Applications (3)
English
ENG-503 Graduate Writing (3)
ENG-512 Topics in Contemporary Interpretation (3)
Philosophy
PHL-511 Topics in Philosophy (3)
PHL-521 Ethical Issues in Leadership (3)
Interdisciplinary
IDS-512 Writing Workshop (3)
IDS-600 Colloquium in Contemporary Communication (6)
ART-509 Graduate Photography Workshop
Promotes the visual literacy and technical skills to allow students to effectively use photography as a visual means of communication. Students will develop a critical and contextual understanding of photography within the framework of contemporary art and visual communication while exploring the theoretical perspectives, artistic and practical applications of digital photography. [3 credits]
ART-520 Visual Culture
Introduces a critical knowledge and understanding of images, their history, and their permeation of contemporary culture. Through historical and theoretical approaches, students gain skills necessary to analyze and interpret images and visual information. [ 3 credits ]
Analyzes verbal and written communication patterns and messages in organizations. Learners evaluate the effectiveness of a range of methodologies and tools to persuade and inform different stakeholder groups. Learners will critique and create oral and written presentations ranging from communicating statistical information and offering a persuasive call to action, to creating executive summaries and editing the work of others. [3 credits]
Provides students with a grasp of the communicative art of this global medium through analyzing selected films based in theories of film making, particular genre, specific director, culture phenomena or historical location. Discussion focuses on theoretical understanding of the art through an analysis of the selected topic. Students are allowed to take this course more than once if the focus topic is different. [3 credits]
Presents traditional and contemporary critical frameworks for evaluation of the rhetoric of diverse mediated messages. Students explore how to apply these critical theories to a number of media messages. The course examines the connection between the medium and message in successful communication. [3 credits]
Engages students in a critical examination of an emerging issue or problem of interest to communication practitioners. Possible topics: crisis communication, non-profit public relations, the computer/human interaction and impact of social media on human communication. [3 credits]
Explores, in our diverse and global world, how an understanding of communication between persons, or groups, of different cultures or sub-cultures is essential. This course looks at the dimensions that differentiate cultures, the diversity of perceptual and behavioral habits and the role of language and rituals within cultures. Study is applicable to building awareness of communication problems and solving them in multicultural and international settings. [3 credits]
Explores how communication creates, perpetuates and recreates gender roles. The course considers the perception and theoretical foundations that explain these situations. The rhetorical movements that provide the foundation for gender and communication in diverse settings are analyzed. This includes the role of the media and the personal environment be it workplace, social or educational setting. [3 credits]
Closely examines the nature and uses of media technology in organizations and aids students in developing skills in this technology. The course explores strategies for using multimedia as effective communication devices. These include uses of print, broadcast and/or Internet with a focus on the World Wide Web. Students also learn to develop skills in video conferencing, multimedia presentations and interactive computer instruction. [3 credits]
Allows the graduate student an opportunity to explore independently under faculty supervision a specialized topic in contemporary communication that is not part of the regular curriculum. The nature, scope and design of this area of study or writing, as well as a schedule of prearranged meetings will be individually contracted between the instructor and student with the approval of the contemporary communication chair. Required forms must be completed through the Graduate Studies office. This course may not be repeated. [3 credits]
Develops the skills and knowledge central in engaging in human communication research. Students gain an understanding in how to formulate communication questions, review pertinent research literature, collect and analyze information/data from answers in research question and report research findings in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Ethical and social/cultural implications of research findings are stressed. [3 credits]
Guides students through developing successful advertising, public relations and marketing campaigns. Through analysis of objectives, strategies, tactics and messages, students explore what is necessary and essential to reflect an organization's mission and strategic plans in order to devise a coherent campaign. Students will examine what succeeds, what fails, and why. [3 credits]
Explores the practical uses of, and rationale behind the strategic uses of various social media platforms in businesses and organizations. Students will engage in hands-on activities while developing a broad understanding of how social media can play a strategic role in developing an organization's mission and communication goals and objectives. [ 3 credits ]
Analyzes the practices of public relations in the corporate and nonprofit sectors as a function of management. Effective ways of preparing public relations messages are explored in depth. Strategies for communicating with an organization's internal and external constituencies including employees, clients, stockholders, media representatives, consumer advocates and regulatory agencies are evaluated. Emphasis in the course is placed on trends in public relations since the 1970s. [3 credits]
CST-511 Topics in Information Systems
Includes a variety of topics which focus on applications and issues related to the current technology. Students develop technology-related projects to enhance business. [ 3 credits ]
CST-530 Foundations of Analytics
Introduces the data, information, knowledge, wisdom continuum. Topics covered include the historical roots of knowledge management, theories/definitions of knowledge, and culture and strategies of knowledge management. [ 3 credits ]
CST-531 Data Design and Management
Covers fundamental concepts for the design, use and implementation of database systems. Concepts include basic database modeling and design, query optimization, concurrency control, recovery and integrity. [ 3 credits ]
CST-534 Data Driven Business Decision
Introduces the role that data play in understanding business outcomes, including uncertainty, the relationship between inputs and outputs, and complex decisions with tradeoffs. Students work with real-life examples to interpret statistical distributions, understand hypothesis testing and evaluate reliability. [3 credits]
CST-580 Managing Information in a Web-Based World
Examines the Internet as an organizational tool for data gathering, marketing, learning and communication. Students will study the advantages and disadvantages of using the Web as a major organizational decision support tool, including its social, legal and ethical impact. [3 credits]
CST-593 Web Development
Focuses on a user-centered approach to designing Web sites, including requirements gathering, conceptual design, physical design, coding, testing and implementation. Students will complete a number of practical projects as well as a Web site for a nonprofit organization. [3 credits]
CST-595 Digital Design
Explores strategic uses of various developmental platforms in businesses and organizations. Students will engage in hands-on activities while developing a broad understanding of how digital media can play a strategic role in developing an organization's communication goals and objectives. [ 3 credits ]
ENG-503 Graduate Writing
Develops the writing skills that are essential in every workplace. Emphasis is on the relationship between thinking and writing, being able to present with clarity and coherence the message in written form. What distinguishes the manager or managerial candidate is the ability to present written matter with precision, economy, accuracy and grace. While the course presents business-related writing, the focus is on simply being able to write well. Learners enhance their skills through a series of writing experiences. [3 credits]
IDS-512 Writing Workshop
Focuses on one or more areas of writing for a contemporary audience. In the workshop environment writing of students is critiqued and evaluated by the other writers in the course as well as the instructor. Course could focus on journalism, feature writing, writing for popular media, creative nonfiction, the essay, poetry, play-writing, screenwriting, fiction or a combination of genres dependent on the choice and expertise of the instructor. Course may be repeated to explore a different genre. Permission of the instructor will be required to enroll. [3 credits]
IDS-600 Colloquium in Contemporary Communication
Develops the master's project to integrate and build upon previous work in contemporary communication. Under the direction of a faculty advisor, the student produces a scholarly research manuscript, an original work of creative writing or art, or an original technical/software product. The format and length of the project will be determined with the guidance of the Contemporary Communication Council and the project advisor. Prerequisite: at least 27 credits completed in the program. [6 credits]
PHL-511 Topics in Philosophy
Examines in-depth a significant philosophical topic. This course may be taken more than once as long as the topic is not the same. [ 3 credits ]
PHL-521 Ethical Issues in Leadership
Analyzes a range of ethical issues and dilemmas inherent to corporations and leadership in relation to both the external environment and the internal processes of the organizations. Learners explore these issues through a series of cases analyses. [3 credits]
