Communication and Cinema

Associate Professors Brett, Lemieux, Slade, and Vance (Department Chair); Assistant Professor Trader; Adjunct Lecturers Bigwood and Hospelhorn.

Areas of particular teaching interest: Professor Brett: scriptwriting, video production, film theory and history; Professor Lemieux: interpersonal communication, relational communication, health communication, organizational culture, and quantitative research; Professor Slade: media literacy, video production, film analysis; Professor Trader: computer mediated communication, message design, instructional communication; Professor Vance: media literacy, pop culture, media analysis, propaganda, gender, intercultural communication, and qualitative research.

Communication Major:

Whether face-to-face or mediated, communication is interaction between individuals that shapes their personal as well as public worlds. The communication paradigm places communication at the nexus of all human endeavor and perceives all other disciplines as dependent upon it. In the field of communication we look at how individuals interact in creating symbolic meanings in their verbal, nonverbal, or visual. Because communication is closely tied to culture, we consider the nature of the message source, the context in which the message exists, and all that goes into creating, sending, and receiving the message. Our social scientific approach introduces students to theory and research methods used to examine communication, whether face-to-face or mediated – and by mediated, we mean not only traditional forms of broadcasting, but emerging forms of communication as well. Theories in the communiation field help put the so-called “new media” into context.

Along with public speaking and rhetoric, television, radio and cinema emerge from oral traditions.

However, our courses also place a strong emphasis on writing. Not only will students be expected to write analyses, they will also write term papers in our research sequence and capstone courses. The research sequence is designed to train students to think critically by putting aside preconceived notions and following social scientific procedures to help them observe the world for themselves.

The Communication major at McDaniel College is a flexible degree that promises wide applications as you develop strong verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, strong written communication skills, and strong research skills. Communication majors pursue careers in media (publishing, television, radio, internet sites, the film industry, advertising, public relations and event planning), business (sales, customer service, human resources, marketing, lobbying, public relations), law (mediation), government (public information, conflict negotiation, campaigning), and education (recruitment, alumni affairs, student advising, teaching).

Other Educational Options in Communication: Please see the dual majors options with Art , French , German , Spanish and Sociology .

Please see the Education section under Curriculum in this catalog for teacher certification requirements in Communication.

Programs

Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Minor

Communication and Cinema

Programs

Courses