Create. Communicate. Connect.
The Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication major prepares students for the communication challenges of today and tomorrow.
If you’re interested in fascinating multimedia content and making long-lasting connections in a fun environment, major in Media and Communications! Everyone is supportive, whether they’re part of the faculty or a student. There are also a variety of amazing opportunities available to MCOM majors, and they can become YOUR opportunities as well if you join us! Fly drones, attend the Super Bowl, write articles… The possibilities are endless when you’re an MCOM major.
Alexandra Gue ’24 | Media and Communication major
In this diverse major, students are given opportunities to work hands-on with faculty and field professionals on real-world projects. Some of these opportunities include working on films such as Santa Girl, Cupid for Christmas, and GetAWAY as well as volunteering at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea.
Shenandoah’s Media & Communication alumni are employed in the fields of newspaper reporting, radio operations, television sports reporting, university public relations, arts and nonprofit management, museum operations, network television, and more.
With my degree in Media & Communications from Shenandoah, I am pursuing a career in creative media at a power five ACC university. I am director of creative media for the University of Virginia’s football program, where I am in charge of producing and posting content across all of our social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook).
Taylor Simone White ’20 | B.A. in Media & Communications
Learn More About This Program
Shenandoah University’s College of Arts & Sciences is your direct connection to a classic, broad-based education to satisfy both your intellectual curiosity and career goals. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, small classes and individualized learning opportunities, we put students at the center of all our decisions and events.
We blend the liberal arts with pre-professional courses and hands-on learning to prepare you for careers in the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. You’ll learn through small, engaging classes and relationships with faculty mentors; hone your skills to solve problems; and learn to use creativity and critical thinking to make informed decisions.
Minor in This Program
Gain a foundation of knowledge and skills of communication in the 21st century. Your enhanced communication skills will be highly marketable in a variety of professions. We focus on active learning, so you will not be a passive receiver of information, but will engage in the learning process to cultivate creativity, ingenuity and problem solving.
Select a specialized minor in one of these areas:
All of these hands-on, practical minors provide students with real world opportunities.
Declaring A Minor
Shenandoah students work with their Academic Advisor to declare a minor. Academic Advisors will continue to work with students to ensure that they fulfill all of the requirements to complete the minor.
Incoming students should not indicate their intended minor on their Shenandoah application. Applications are for intended majors only.
Internship Possibilities
All students in the program are required to complete at least one campus or field internship.
I interned at the Office of Marketing and Communications on campus. At my internship I was able to work in a very similar, if not identical, environment to what I hope to do in the future. I was fortunate enough to use some amazing equipment and work with even more amazing people. With my fellow interns and staff, I had the ability to go on interviews, photoshoots, be interviewed, write articles, and edit videos. My favorite thing about this internship was the staff. They were all so welcoming and encouraging and want me to succeed in my career just as much as I want to.
Monica Baranko ’19 | Media and Communication
The Career & Professional Development staff helps Shenandoah students search and apply for internships related to their major and career goals. Internships differentiate you as an applicant in your future job searches, provide hands on experience in your field, allow you to sample different career paths for your major, and help you find a specific position that fits your passion before graduation.
Career and Salary Possibilities
SU alumni are employed in the fields of newspaper reporting, radio operations, television sports reporting, university public relations, arts and non-profit management, museum operations and network television news.
Career and Salary Examples for Media & Communication Majors:
- Broadcast Journalist: $44,000
- Event Planner: $55,200
- Journalist: $52,100
- Media Specialist: $57,600
- Public Relations Specialist: $60,800
- Social Media Coordinator: $47,100
- Marketing Manager:$40,752 – $93,069
- Marketing Coordinator: $30,294 – $53,744
- Marketing Director: $35,870 – $123,190
SU helped by preparing me for the media industry by the coursework offered, excellent professors and a good academic environment. After working for CNN for 10 years, I founded Pro Performance Productions in Rockville, Virginia. Learn the new technology that is out there. Since there is so much to learn and constant change happening in this field, take it one day at a time.”
Christopher Carter ’98 | Media & Communication
Career & Professional Development provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to assist Shenandoah students in their career search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.
Classes
All majors complete a common core of courses in media history, theory, writing, research, law and ethics. Students can then select from an array of elective courses in the areas of journalism, digital media, public relations, and media studies to cultivate their individual talents and professional objectives.
Going to the Olympics meant everything to me. Shenandoah’s Office of Marketing & Communications gave me the chance to make every single video, and take every single picture on this trip. It gave me the opportunity to tell the story of, not just me, but the people who were around me, and that’s what I wanted to do. It led me to where I am today, still telling stories.”
Damon Mackin ’18 | Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication, was the official videographer/photographer for Shenandoah’s Olympic GEL delegation and is now a documentarian for the company, Uffect
Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from thesis development to proofreading and bibliography assistance. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.
Join the Honors Program
The Honors Program is a multidisciplinary Honors Program for students who are curious, creative, self-motivated, and eager to engage in their education and community.
Not only do Honors Program students partake in honors courses that emphasize collaboration, service, and communication, but they will also have the opportunity to develop aspects of the program based on their own interests and goals. By participating in the Honors Program you will acquire the tools, knowledge and experiences necessary to make meaningful contributions to your community – whether it be globally, locally, or specific to your life’s work. You will have access to unique courses, exciting experiences and a community of peers and faculty who never stop asking questions and striving for excellence.
Faculty
Imagine participating in interesting conversations led by engaging professors who’ve already done what you dream of doing. You’ll be in a small class — the average class size is approximately 12 students — with professors who know your name, care about your success and provide advice as you pursue your academic and career goals.
Application Information
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admission materials, and find our admissions standards.
Study Abroad
Make studying abroad the highlight of your college experience! Whether you go for a year, a semester, or just a few weeks. You will never forget learning in another culture! The Center for International Programs is here to help you plan your study abroad experience. Start your planning early to ensure the courses you complete abroad count toward your degree and you graduate on time.
Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program
The Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program offers Shenandoah students a short-term, faculty-led, study-abroad experience for academic credit. These short-term, credit-bearing, faculty-led programs are offered winter break, spring break, and during the summer. If a course is not within your major, it might be used as an elective.
Study Abroad
Shenandoah University is a member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a global network of 300 universities. This partnership allows students to study for a full semester or year at other member campuses abroad. By working closely with their academic advisors and the study abroad advisor, students can take classes taught in English abroad while receiving Shenandoah credit.
Shenandoah University also maintains direct partnerships with several universities around the world. These relationships allow students from SU to study abroad as exchange students and students from these universities to study at SU. All partner universities offer courses taught in English.
Media and Communication students looking to study abroad should consider studying at Audencia. Located in the city of Nantes, France, 2 hours from Paris, Audencia is an AACSB accredited university that specializes in courses in Business and Media and Communication.
Media and Communication Abroad Course Catalog
