Students majoring in Communication Arts (CA) explore the creativity and artistry of communication. Our course content ranges from working with cutting-edge digital media technology to discovering the complexities of human communication and media cultures.

While majors may select coursework from across the program¹s curriculum we have three suggested areas of study:

• Media & Cinema Arts
• News & Public Relations
• Relational Communication

The Communication Arts program strives to provide our students with essential knowledge and skills that will help them excel as professional communicators and media artists in our increasingly complex communication-driven society.

Our faculty members are highly qualified in their areas of expertise and many of our instructors are working professionals who bring current real world experience into the classroom. In addition to classroom instruction, the program provides students with opportunities for fieldwork (including internships, community-based research, service learning and media production) that connect them to the urban community and integrate their education within real life communication settings. Further, through internships students have the opportunity to learn more about their chosen fields and better prepare for the transition to professional life.

Communication Arts prepares students for many careers and postgraduate options, including advanced graduate study. Students emerge from the program with an important combination of hands-on and theoretical knowledge that is attractive to employers in professions such as media production, radio, television, film, digital video, web, journalism, public relations, corporate/organizational communication, sales, advertising, counseling, conflict mediation and others. The Communication Arts degree also translates to related work in government, social service and community affairs.

Employers in the general business community seeking well-rounded graduates with a strong liberal arts based professional education who can think creatively and communicate effectively in a variety of formats also find our graduates highly desirable.

Communication Arts majors must complete a minimum of 128 credits and satisfy the University’s Discovery Program and foreign language requirements. Communication Arts majors must complete 10 courses (40 credits) and maintain an overall grade point average in the major of 2.0 or better. Transfer students must complete at least 20 credits in the CA major at UNH Manchester. CMN 455, 456 and 457 may not be used to satisfy Discovery Program requirements for CA majors. Information on prerequisites for CA courses can be found in the course descriptions at the back of this catalogue. CA majors considering taking CIS 515, HIST 690, HUMA 796, or PSYC 762 must meet the prerequisites for each course and should consult with their faculty advisor before registering. Degree requirements for the major are presented below.

I. Required Core Courses – 12 credits (3 courses) Students must earn a “C” or better in each course if it is to count toward either the UNH Manchester Communication Arts major or the UNH Durham Communication major.

CMN 455, Introduction to Media Studies
CMN 456, Propaganda and Persuasion
CMN 457, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

II. Selected Coursework–28 credits (three courses from area A, two from area B,
two from area C). Students must earn a “C -” or better in each selected course to satisfy CA requirements.

A. Communication Practices: Applied (12 credits).
Any three courses.
CA 444, Manipulating Media
CA 450, Introduction to Public Speaking
CA 500, Media Writing
CA 501, Internship: Communication in the Urban Community
CA 502, Image and Sound
CA 503, Techniques for News Reporting
CA 504, Film Criticism
CA 506, Gender
CA 508, Conflict in Relational Communication
CA 510, Language and Interaction
CA 512, Scriptwriting
CA 513, Radio News Production
CA 514, Fundamentals of Video Production
CA 515, Advanced Video Production
CA 516, Speechwriting
CA 517, Fundamentals of Audio Production
CA 520, Special Topics in Applied Communication
CIS 515, Multimedia: Introduction and Applications
HIST 690, Public History
PSYC 762, Counseling

B. Communication Practices: Organization, History and Policy (8 credits). Any two courses.
CA 525, Media Programming
CA 526, Organization of Newswork
CA 527, History of Film
CA 528, Media Policy and Law
CA 531, History and Organization of Advertising
CA 535, Marital Communication
CA 539, Communicating in Families
CA 540, Public Relations
CA 550, Special Topics in Communication Organization, History and Policy
HUMA 640, Birth of Rock and Roll

C. Communication Practices: Theory and Research
(8 credits). Any two courses.
CA 600, Research Methods: Media
CA 601, Exploring Relationships
CA 610, Communication Technologies and Culture
CA 611, Theories of Relational Communication
CA 612, Narrative
CA 614, Communication and Power
CA 615, Film History: Theory and Method
CA 618, Documentary
CA 720, Seminar in Communication Arts
CA 795, Independent Study

The capstone requirement will be satisfied in a student’s senior year by completion of a specific four-credit capstone course at the 600 or 700 level. Students may not enroll in a capstone course until they have completed all three CA program core courses (CMN 455, 456 and 457) and all CA Area A and Area B requirements. The capstone course can also fulfill an Area C course requirement.

The capstone experience offers seniors an opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge and skills gained throughout their Communication Arts major coursework. The capstone course requires students to conduct an original research study, a creative media project, an internship, or an advanced service learning project in Communication Arts under the close supervision of a Communication Arts faculty member. Students are strongly encouraged to share their capstone projects with the larger UNH community through participation in the Undergraduate Research Conference, a presentation in the Brown Bag lunch series, publication in the UNH undergraduate journal Inquiry, or presentation in some other public venue. Students should work closely with their advisors to make sure the capstone requirement has been satisfied.

Courses that satisfy this requirement include but are not limited to: CA 601, Exploring Relationships; CA 614, Communication and Power; CA 615, Film History: Theory and Method; CA 720, Seminar in Communication Arts; and CA 795, Independent Study.

The core requirements for Communication Arts are identical to those for Communication; therefore credit for CMN 455, CMN 456, CMN 457 automatically transfers for students transferring from Manchester to Durham to major in Communication, as well as for students transferring from Durham to Manchester to major in Communication Arts. All other courses in Communication Arts have a CA designation. The transfer of these courses to satisfy degree requirements for the Communication major in Durham is determined on a course-by-course basis by Communication faculty. Likewise, the transfer of Communication courses (other than CMN 455, 456, 457) to satisfy degree requirements for the Communication Arts major in Manchester is determined on a course-by-course basis by Communication Arts faculty.

Students are welcome to choose courses from across the Communication Arts curriculum, but those wishing to meet specific academic or professional goals may plan coursework using one of the concentrations suggested below.

Media and Cinema Arts
CA 444, Manipulating Media
CA 500, Media Writing
CA 501, Internship
CA 502, Image and Sound
CA 504, Film Criticism
CA 512, Scriptwriting
CA 514, Fundamentals of Video Production
CA 515, Advanced Video Production
CA 517, Fundamentals of Audio Production
CA 525, Media Programming
CA 527, History of Film
CA 600, Research Methods: Media
CA 610, Communication Technologies and Culture
CA 615, Film History: Theory and Method
CA 618, Documentary

News and Public Relations
CA 450, Introduction to Public Speaking
CA 500, Media Writing
CA 501, Internship
CA 503, Techniques for News Reporting
CA 513, Radio News Production
CA 516, Speechwriting
CA 517, Fundamentals of Audio Production
CA 525, Media Programming
CA 526, Organization of Newswork
CA 528, Media Policy and Law
CA 531, History and Organization of Advertising
CA 540, Public Relations
CA 600, Research Methods: Media
CA 610, Communication Technologies and Culture
CA 618, Documentary

Relational Communication
CA 501, Internship
CA 506, Gender
CA 510, Language and Interaction
CA 535, Marital Communication
CA 539, Communicating in Families
CA 601, Exploring Relationships
CA 611, Theories of Relational Communication
CA 612, Narrative
CA 614, Communication and Power
CA 720, Seminar in Communication Arts
For more information contact Anthony Tenczar, program director, at 603-641-4316 or email atenczar@unh.edu or contact the Office of Admissions

The objective of the “minor in Communication Arts” is to provide students with a knowledge base that not only approximates the overall range of communication practices included in the Communication Arts major, but also gives students the opportunity to select several courses that may be of special interest to them or that may more directly complement their major field of study or enhance their professional interests.

The Communication Arts minor requires the completion of five courses, twenty credits, according to the requirements below. An overall average of 2.0 in minor courses is required, with no individual grade lower than a C-. Students should work with their advisors to insure that any prerequisites for 500 level courses have been met, or that permission to enter the course has been granted by the appropriate course instructor.

Courses used to satisfy General Education requirements may also be used to satisfy CA minor requirements.

I. Breadth Courses

Select any two courses, as long as they are NOT from the same category.

Category A
CMN 457 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

Category B
CMN 455 - Introduction to Media Studies
CA 502 - Image and Sound

Category C
CMN 456 - Propaganda and Persuasion
CA 450 - Introduction to Public Speaking

II. Depth Courses

Select any three 500 level CA courses, except CA 501.

Note: Students who use CA 502 as a “breadth” course may not use it as a “depth” course.
For more information contact Jeff Klenotic, Minor Supervisor, at 603-641-4130 or email klenotic@unh.edu.

Communication Arts Audio Studio and Video Lab

The Communication Arts Program maintains state of the art video and audio facilities for students to use in their media-related classes.

• This state-of-the-art digital video editing lab reinforces the theoretical concepts presented in classroom experiences.
• The Video Lab is a state-of-the-art high definition editing lab.
• Students have access to video cameras, including high definition, as well as high end, assorted lighting and microphone kits.
• The lab is equipped with powerful Mac Pro tower computers and professional Final Cut Studio editing software.
• From scriptwriting to narrative films, students can make their work come to life in the video lab.
• Students produce and present their work at the annual Undergraduate Research Conference at Cinema Arts Day.

• Audio Studio includes a digital recording booth, control room, and editing work stations.
• The Audio Studio uses Apple Soundtrack and Soundtrack Pro audio production software.
• The studio is a resource used by students in Communication Arts audio and video production courses and is a resource for both audio and video production students.
• The audio lab is equipped with a broadcast audio mixer and separate recording studio.
• Students use digital handheld audio recorders in the field.
• Students produce and present their work at the annual Undergraduate Research Conference at Cinema Arts Day.
• unhm.net is a showcase of audio and video work done by students enrolled in Communication Arts courses at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester

A liberal arts degree in Communication Arts opens doors to rewarding careers in a wide variety of areas. Graduates successfully pursue careers in business, public relations, non-profit organizations, media, education and law.

The study of Communications Arts develops skills critical to a broad range of careers. These qualities include:

• Intellectual curiosity
• Effective writing
• Skilled oral communication
• Proficiency in reading
• Persuasive message formulation
• The ability to collaborate in groups
• Interpersonal communication
• Effective listening, questioning and reasoning skills

Make the most of your major:

• Explore careers early in your undergraduate degree
• Choose a minor
• Get involved in a college club or student organization
• Complete an internship
• Participate in the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference
• Study abroad
• Volunteer in the community
• Join professional organizations
• Network by using your connections
• Attend internship and career fairs
• Schedule informational interviews

Career Possibilities