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Dec 26, 2024
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Fall 2020 - Summer 2021 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Communications and Media Arts A.A.
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School: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Academic Dept: Arts and Communications
HEGIS: 5008
Important Note about Program Requirements
The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2020 to Summer 2021. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.
Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) Degrees Defined
The purpose of the A.A. and A.S. is to build a foundation in a discipline, then continue to higher levels of education by transferring to a four-year institution. The A.A. contains liberal arts credits; including coursework in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and provides flexibility to pursue several careers. Conversely, coursework for the A.S. contains some liberal arts credits and coursework also directly applicable to a clearly defined career path. Click to learn more about the differences among award types.
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Program Description
The complexities of human communication require that we understand the process and develop our capacities to make ourselves clear to others through effective written and oral expression and to understand the barrage of messages directed at us. As citizens within a democracy and educated people within an information society, we must also have the critical tools to understand, analyze, and use the mass media. In turn, students of communications and media may discover the challenges of preparing for a career within this vast, important and exciting field of human enterprise.
A large percentage of graduates of the Communications and Media Arts curriculum transfer to colleges and universities, both private and within the SUNY system. Others obtain entry-level positions in a wide variety of media/communications and related fields. Special facilities available at Westchester Community College for communications/media arts majors provide opportunities for hands-on experience with state-of-the-art digital equipment. Students can participate in the fully licensed college-owned radio station, WARY-FM, the award- winning student newspaper, The Viking News, and the Student Media Association, which provides digital multimedia projects including a digital yearbook and a student documentary. They can also gain experience in front of and behind the camera in our television studio, where students produce their own programming. Communications and Media Arts internship programs, which give students additional learning opportunities, can be taken for 1-9 credits; however, only three credits can be applied toward the major.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic theories and concepts of effective human and mass media communication.
- Engage effectively in face-to-face and mediated communication with both individual and public and mass audiences by utilizing appropriate principles of interpersonal, public and mass communication.
- Produce multimedia content that meets media industry standards.
General Education Requirements - 31 Credits
Students are required to fulfill a certain number of credits within the specific categories shown below. Where specific courses are not listed within these categories, courses must be selected from the list of SUNY General Education Courses .
Basic Communication (3 credits)
Natural Sciences (4 credits)
Social Sciences (3 credits)
Other World Civilizations (3 credits)
American History (3 credits)
Western Civilization (3 credits)
Degree Requirements - 30 Credits
Production Electives
Select 1 from the following list of courses to satisfy the Production Elective requirement. The other courses remain available for students to take as General Communications and Media Arts Electives if they choose (see complete list of electives also below):
Communications and Media Arts Electives
Satisfy 6 credits from the following courses:
Free Electives
Satisfy 3 credits of Free Electives. Choose these electives according to career or transfer goals and recommendations of Curriculum Chair.
Recommended Electives Include: Photography; Electronic Pre-Press; Keyboarding; Desktop Publishing; Business Communications; Motion Graphics; Audio; Advertising; Business Organization; Sales; Marketing; Word Processing; Computer Science; Creative and Technical Writing; Computer Graphic Design; Visual and Performing Arts; Modern Languages; Electrical Technology; Digital Video and Recording Engineering. These courses all grant elective credits; they do not grant Communication credit.
Note: All radio and television courses grant Communication credit; Understanding Mass Media, Journalism, and Speech courses grant English and/or Communication credit.
Minimum Total Credits - 61
Career Path Opportunities
 Are you wondering what careers you can explore with a degree or certificate? Perhaps you are not sure what people do or how much money they make in certain careers that pique your interest? Would you like to know how many jobs are predicted to be available in a particular industry? Or maybe you are unsure whether receiving a degree or certificate would be right for you? Go to https://sunywcc.emsicareercoach.com to explore career paths, their associated job descriptions, salary trends, and jobs trends. Complete a career assessment for additional guidance. Still not sure? Visit www.sunywcc.edu/career for more career resources and contacts.
Transfer Opportunities
Transfer Agreements
Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.
State University of New York (SUNY) Transfer Paths
 This program of study is an approved SUNY Transfer Path. The program outlines core coursework in the major that is common to all SUNY campuses offering those majors and maximizes credit acceptance. Visit SUNY Transfer Paths for more information about how to advance your academic career within the State University of New York.
Getting Started
Are you a prospective Westchester Community College graduate? We look forward to seeing you soon! Apply today, then see the College’s Admissions and Enrollment Checklist.
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