Major/Minor
5-year Program
Communication Arts Department
The Communication Arts major offers a chance to study new advances in communications technology, understand principles that remain constant, and respond with appropriate messages for an increasingly dynamic media landscape. Through a liberal arts approach, the curriculum aims to develop effective communication talents in print, visuals, speech, and multimedia.
group of comm arts students filming an interview
Program Location

Available Majors

  • Communication Arts

Through a series of electives, you can design a specialty such as:

  • Advertising
  • Video and Digital Media
  • Public Relations
  • Journalism
  • Corporate Communication

Available Minors

  • Communication Arts

Additional Study Options

5-Year Communications Dual-Degree Program: Earn both a BA in Communication Arts and a MA in Contemporary Communications from NDMU in just five years.

Four-Year Plan
Fall Spring
First Year

COM-131 Mass Media and Society

3

COM-101 Introduction to Media Writing

3

Foreign Language

3

COM Elective

3

Natural Science

4

Mathematics

3

ENG-101 College Writing

3

RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies

3

NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education

4

History or Social Science

3

[16 credits]

 

Physical Education

1
 

 

[16 credits]

 
Second Year

COM-201 Interpersonal and Team Communication

3

COM-206 Speaking in Professional Settings

3

COM-210 Social Media

3

COM elective

3

PHL-201 Introduction to Philosophy

3

History or Social Science

3

English Literature

3

PHL or RST 300/400 level

3

General Education/Course in minor

3

General Education/Course in minor

3

[15 credits]

 

[15 credits]

 
Third Year

COM-314 Reporting and Writing News

3

COM-356 Communication Research Methods

3

COM Elective

3

COM-310 Media Literacy

3

Course in Minor

3

COM-313 Digital Media Skills

3

Gender Studies/Cross Cultural

3

Gender Studies/Cross Cultural

3

PHL or RST 300/400 level

3

Ethics/Values Requirement

3

[15 credits]

 

[15 credits]

 
Fourth Year

COM-441 Mass Communication Law

3

COM-461 Practicum

4

COM Elective

3

General Education/Minor/Electives

9-11

General Education/Course in Minor

6

[13-15 credits]

 

Internship

3

  

 

[15 credits]

 

  

 
Five-Year Communications Dual Degree

Students accepted into the Dual-Degree Communications program complete at least 90 credits of the BA in three years, and then begin the MA coursework during the fourth year, while simultaneously completing the requirements of the BA. The master’s degree is completed in the fifth year.

Sample 5-Year Plan

Fall Spring
First Year
NDMU-100 4 COM-101 3
COM-131 3 COM-206 3
Gen Ed 9 COM Elective 1 3
    Gen Ed 6
Second Year
COM-201 3 COM-310 3
COM-210 3 COM-313 3
COM Elective 2 3 COM-356 3
Gen Ed 6 Gen Ed 6
Third Year
COM-314 3 COM-461 3
COM-441 3 COM Elective 3 3
Gen Ed 9 COM Elective 4 3
    Gen Ed 6
Fourth Year
IDS-510 3 CST-515 3
COM/CST Elective 1 3 COM/CST Elective 3 3
COM/CST Elective 2 3 Grad Elective 1 3
Undergrad Electives 6 Undergrad Electives 6
Fifth Year
COM/CST Elective 4 3 COM/CST Elective 6 3
COM/CST Elective 5 3 Grad Elective 3 3
Grad Elective 2 3 Grad Elective 4 3
http://catalog.ndm.edu/

What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University

Small class sizes allow for personal attention while discussion-based seminars and studio-based production courses offer a well-rounded learning experience. Internships and portfolio development opportunities provide essential career preparation.

headshot of micah
Alum

Micah Castelo

A Library for Change

Alum, NDMU Class of 2018
English, Communication Arts, Women's Studies
Micah Castelo and Lorelie Elaine Soriano submitted one of the 120 winning projects under the Davis Projects for Peace foundation. They have been awarded $10,000 each for the construction of the first official library of the Caibiran Central School in the city of Caibiran located in the eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. “From the start,” Castelo says “we knew that we wanted to work on a project in the Philippines because we are both Filipina.” Castelo didn’t have to reach very far to find motivation, “when I was still in the Philippines, my parents enrolled me in a private school because the public schools did not have enough resources to ensure each child succeeds. I see this award as a privilege that I have been granted. I want to use this privilege to help those children in need…They deserve this just as much as anyone else.”
Read More

Research & Internship Opportunities

A capstone practicum course includes a semester-long professional internship, which greatly increases employability.

Examples of Internships

Communication Art Careers

  • Advertising
  • Public Relations
  • Digital Design
  • Video Production
  • Publication Editing
  • Social Media Coordination
  • Web Content Management

Where do NDMU Graduates Work?

Ou graduates are working in diverse fields for employers such as: