Communications and Media Arts A.A.

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 2022 to Summer 2023. 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.

Program Description

The Associate of Arts Degree in Communications & Media Arts prepares students to transfer to four-year degree programs in various areas of Communications studies. Students enrolled in the program acquire a basis in both interpersonal and mass communication history and theory, small group communication strategies, classroom presentation, media writing, and media production. Students may also choose electives in journalism, film/video production, and sports media.

The main campus in Valhalla features two cross-platform Communications & Journalism Innovation labs with audio-visual equipment for full multimedia production, as well as a full TV Studio for traditional productions.

Westchester Community College’s proximity to the media capital of the world provides unique opportunities for students to intern in Westchester and New York City. Students can also gain experience and internship credits as news staff for student media on campus, including the award-winning student newspaper The Viking News, and the student run radio station, WARY 88.1FM.

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.

Program Map

The academic map below presents the recommended plan of study and will guide you through your program in a timely manner. Click the course abbreviations for full course descriptions. A course may be critical because it is a pre-requisite, requires a minimum grade, or because it is only offered once a year. Missing a critical course may push back your graduation date. Meet with an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure you are on track to complete your program.

Critical Courses should be taken in the order shown to stay on track and graduate on time.

Semester 1

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
ENG 101	✔	✔	3
COMM 101	✔		3
Social Sciences Gen Ed Elective			3
Mathematics Gen Ed Elective			3
Humanities Gen Ed Elective			3
Semester Total Credits			15

Semester 2

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
ENG 102	✔		3
COMM 109	✔		3
American History Gen Ed Elective			3
The Arts Gen Ed Elective			3
Liberal Arts Elective			3	✹
Semester Total Credits			15

Notes:

✹ Choose one: any ANTHR, any ARABC, ART 108 , ART 109 , ART 109A , any ASL, any BIOL, any CHEM, COMM 103 , COMM 104 , COMM 106 , COMM 111 , COMM 115 , any CHINS, any ECON, FILM 100 , FILM 101 , FILM 102 , FILM 109 , FILM 113 , FILM 125 , FILM 220 , any FREN, any GEOG, any GER, any HIS, any ITAL, any JAPNS, any MATH, MUSIC 100 MUSIC 101 MUSIC 102 MUSIC 103 MUSIC 110 MUSIC 111 , MUSIC 150 , any PHIL, any POLSC, any PSYCH, any PHYSC, any RUSSN, any SOC, any SPAN, or THEAT 101

Semester 3

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
COMM 115	✔		3
COMM Elective or Internship	✔		3	✹
COMM 112	✔		3
Natural Sciences with Lab Gen Ed Elective			4
Other World Civilizations Gen Ed Elective			3
Semester Total Credits			16

Notes:

✹ Choose one: COMM 102 , COMM 103 , COMM 104 ,COMM 106 , COMM 114 , COMM 116 , COMM 117 , COMM 118 , COMM 119 , COMM 121 , COMM 125 , COMM 205 /COMM 206 (internship), FILM 140

Semester 4

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
Western Civilization Gen Ed Elective	✔		3
COMM Elective or Internship	✔		3	✹
COMM Production Elective	✔		3	✹✹
Liberal Arts Elective			3	✹✹✹
Liberal Arts Elective			3	✹✹✹
Semester Total Credits			15

Notes:

✹ Choose one: COMM 102 , COMM 103 , COMM 104 ,COMM 106 , COMM 114 , COMM 116 , COMM 117 , COMM 118 , COMM 119 , COMM 121 , COMM 125 , COMM 205 /COMM 206 (internship), FILM 140

✹✹ Choose one: COMM 106 ,COMM 114 , COMM 116 , COMM 117 , COMM 119 , COMM 121 , FILM 130 , FILM 140

✹✹✹ Choose one: any ANTHR, any ARABC, ART 108 , ART 109 , ART 109A , any ASL, any BIOL, any CHEM, COMM 103 , COMM 104 , COMM 106 , COMM 111 , COMM 115 , any CHINS, any ECON, FILM 100 , FILM 101 , FILM 102 , FILM 109 , FILM 113 , FILM 125 , FILM 220 , any FREN, any GEOG, any GER, any HIS, any ITAL, any JAPNS, any MATH, MUSIC 100 MUSIC 101 MUSIC 102 MUSIC 103 MUSIC 110 MUSIC 111 , MUSIC 150 , any PHIL, any POLSC, any PSYCH, any PHYSC, any RUSSN, any SOC, any SPAN, or THEAT 101

Minimum Total Credits: 61

Transfer Opportunities

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.

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