Resources & Opportunities

The third floor Wallace Hall is home to the Communication Studies Department, including the MC-TV studio and WPFS-FM (105.9).

Department facilities and equipment

A professional television studio in Wallace Hall is home to MC-TV, a series program featuring news, entertainment and original student films. The studios have been converted to all-digital production. The studio is a versatile, professional-quality space with resources for producing newscasts and variety shows.

Radio station WPFS-FM (105.9) is a student-operated FM station that broadcasts from our studios on the third floor of Wallace Hall. Students have access to one on-air studio and one for production and laboratory work. The studio equipment used similar to that found at a commercial station.

We operate a newly constructed computer and media laboratory in Wallace Hall with Windows-based design and editing stations, including computers equipped with software for audio and video editing, multi-media production, graphic design, web authoring and other applications.

Internship and independent study

Internships are an integral part of the communication studies major. All communication studies majors are required to complete an internship experience or an independent study project. Internships can be taken in a wide variety of job settings – radio, television, journalism and public relations.

The internship experience usually occurs in the junior or senior year or in the summer between. Communication studies faculty advise and assist students in identifying valuable internship opportunities. Typically, students spend eight to 10 hours per week on the internship (120-150 hours total for the semester).

Some students pursue an independent study as an alternative to an internship or in addition to it. Through the independent study option, communication studies majors work closely with a faculty member to conduct research, prepare for graduate work or explore in-depth a topic relevant to their career interests.

Communication and media tutoring

The department trains and supports a substantial group of communication and media tutors who assist beginning students in public communication and students across a multiplicity of communication and media settings. Communication assistants develop valuable professional skills and are at an advantage in seeking assistantships for graduate school.

Graduate school opportunities

Graduates may work in business and organizational leadership, public relations, journalism or radio and television, corporate training, education, web production and design, event planning, human resources or the law. All of those areas involve understanding and executing effective communication strategies, adapting messages to audiences and developing well-honed communication skills. Many communication studies majors go to graduate study at high-quality programs.

Career opportunities

Human Resources
Corporate Communication
Advertising
Corporate Public Affairs
Investor Relations
Media Planning
Program Coordinator
Legislative Assistance