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Curriculum
Communication Studies at Gettysburg College requires ten courses, divided into the following components:
Core Courses (3)
These courses provide a grounding in the foundational concepts, research approaches, and critical frameworks of communication studies.
- Introduction to Communication
- Research Methods
- Senior Capstone Seminar
Analysis Courses (3)
Focus on understanding communication in various contexts—social, cultural, political, and institutional. Topics may include:
- Media studies
- Interpersonal communication
- Communication and identity
Praxis Courses (3)
Hands-on courses in which students create messages across multiple modalities, such as:
- Writing for media
- Public speaking
- Digital storytelling
- Visual communication
Practicum (1)
- A full-credit internship where students apply their skills in a professional setting, gaining valuable experience and networking opportunities.
Major
Core Courses (3)
Intro Course (recommended: first or sophomore year)
| COMM 110: Introduction to Communication Studies |
Methods Course (recommended: sophomore or junior year)
| Choose one: CIMS 226: Media and Culture Studies or ENG 299: History of the Book (offered alternate years) |
Capstone (senior year)
| CIMS 400: Senior Seminar |
Analysis Courses (3)
Choose two from the following (note that some courses have prerequisites):
| AFS 280: African American English |
| AFS/CIMS 215: Race, Language, and the American Media |
| CIMS/IDS 219: Global Media Industries |
| CIMS/IDS 230: The Social Network |
| COMM 241: Media Advertising & Sales |
| DS 220: Cultural Analytics |
| DS/SOC 245: Visual Sociology |
| ENG 309: Rhetorics of Online Writing |
| ES 225: Environmental Humanities |
| GER/IDS 259: Gaming: Why We Play |
| GER/CIMS 274: Nazi Cinema: Propaganda and Film |
| HIST 241: History of Protest in the US |
| HIST 201: Intro to Public History |
| IDS 243: Protest Music and Social Change |
| IDS 243: Linguistics: Perspectives on Language |
| IDS 252: Youth and New Media in the Middle East |
| MUS_CLAS 170: Video Game Music |
| MUS_Class 135: Musical Theatre and Identity |
| OMS 335: Negotiation and Conflict Management |
| POL 233: American Politics in Media Age |
| PHIL 351: Philosophy of Humor |
| SOC 237: Power, Politics, and New Media |
| SOC 204: Sociology of Mass Media and Popular Culture |
| WGS 210: Queer Perspectives in the Media |
Praxis Courses (3)
Choose three from the following; select at least one from the “written” column and one from the “audiovisual” column (note that some courses have prerequisites):
| Written Communication | Audiovisual Communication |
| ENG 203: Journalistic Writing | ARTS 160: Intro to Digital Media |
| ENG 201: Writing the Public Essay | CIMS 220: Video Production |
| ENG 307: Writing the Screenplay | DS 311: Visual Communication of Data |
| ES 241: Environmental Journalism | COMM 221: Social Media Strategy |
| ES 242: Writing Sustainability for Citizen Advocates | ENG 200: Writing Across Media |
| ENG 200: Remix and Remediation | |
| ENG 309: Writing with Sound | |
| ENG 309: Public Speaking | |
| ES 230: Intro to GIS | |
| MUS_CLAS 262: Music Technology and Media Production |
Practicum (1)
Full-credit internship arranged through your advisor.
| Register for COMM 399: Practicum |
Optional: Concentration
If you wish to pursue a concentration, 5 of your 10 courses should be affiliated with your concentration. In most cases, this will be 4 of your praxis/analysis courses and either your practicum or your capstone project.
Concentration: Public Communication
Analysis
| HIST 201: Intro to Public History |
| HIST 241: History of Protest in the US |
| ENG 309: Rhetorics of Documentary Film |
| CIMS/IDS 219: Global Media Industries |
| DS 311: Visual Communication of Data |
Praxis
| ENG 203: Journalistic Writing |
| ENG 201: Writing the Public Essay |
| ENG 309: Writing with Sound |
| ENG 309: Public Speaking |
| ES 241: Environmental Journalism |
Concentration: Digital Communication
Analysis
| CIMS 230: The Social Network |
| ENG 309: Rhetorics of Online Writing |
| IDS 252: Youth and New Media in the Middle East |
| GER 259: Gaming: Why We Play |
| PHIL 153: Internet, Data, and Society |
Praxis
| ARTS 160: Intro to Digital Media |
| CIMS 220: Video Production |
| COMM 221: Social Media Strategy |
| ENG 200: Writing Across Media |
Minor
Core Courses (2)
Intro Course (recommended: first or sophomore year)
| COMM 110: Introduction to Communication Studies |
Methods Course (recommended: sophomore or junior year)
| Choose one: CIMS 226: Media and Culture Studies or ENG 299: History of the Book (offered alternate years) |
Analysis Courses (2)
Choose two from the following (note that some courses have prerequisites):
| AFS 280: African American English |
| AFS/CIMS 215: Race, Language, and the American Media |
| CIMS/IDS 219: Global Media Industries |
| CIMS/IDS 230: The Social Network |
| COMM 241: Media Advertising & Sales |
| DS 220: Cultural Analytics |
| DS/SOC 245: Visual Sociology |
| ENG 309: Rhetorics of Documentary Film |
| ENG 309: Rhetorics of Online Writing |
| ENG 309: Rhetorics of Space and Place |
| ES 225: Environmental Humanities |
| GER/CIMS 274: Nazi Cinema: Propaganda and Film |
| GER/IDS 259: Gaming: Why We Play |
| HIST 201: Intro to Public History |
| HIST 241: History of Protest in the US |
| IDS 243: Linguistics: Perspectives on Language |
| IDS 243: Protest Music and Social Change |
| IDS 252: Youth and New Media in the Middle East |
| MUS_CLAS 170: Video Game Music |
| MUS_Class 135: Musical Theatre and Identity |
| OMS 335: Negotiation and Conflict Management |
| PHIL 351: Philosophy of Humor |
| POL 233: American Politics in Media Age |
| SOC 204: Sociology of Mass Media and Popular Culture |
| SOC 237: Power, Politics, and New Media |
| WGS 210: Queer Perspectives in the Media |
Praxis Courses (2)
Choose two from the following; select at one from the “written” column and one from the “audiovisual” column (note that some courses have prerequisites):
| Written Communication | Audiovisual Communication |
|---|---|
| ENG 203: Journalistic Writing | ARTS 160: Intro to Digital Media |
| ENG 201: Writing the Public Essay | CIMS 220: Video Production |
| ENG 307: Writing the Screenplay | DS 311: Visual Communication of Data |
| ES 241: Environmental Journalism | COMM 221: Social Media Strategy |
| ES 242: Writing Sustainability for Citizen Advocates | ENG 200: Writing Across Media |
| ENG 200: Remix and Remediation | |
| ENG 309: Writing with Sound | |
| ENG 309: Public Speaking | |
| ES 230: Intro to GIS | |
| MUS_CLAS 262: Music Technology and Media Production |
All Communication Studies Courses
Jump to level: 100
Communication Studies Courses Offered in Academic Year, 2025-26
Fall 2025
Core Courses
| Course | Schedule | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 110: Introduction to Communication Studies | MW 2:35-3:50 pm | Ted Carlin |
| CIMS/IDS 226: Media & Cultural Theory | R 1:10-3:40 pm | Aisha Mershani |
Analysis Courses
| Course | Schedule | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| AFS/CIMS 215: Race, Language & American Media | MWF 1:10-2:00 pm | Jennifer Bloomquist |
| CIMS/IDS/PP 219: Global Media Industries | MWF 10:00-10:50 am (& LAB M: 6:45-9:15) | James Udden |
| DS 220: Cultural Analytics | TR 2:35-3:50 pm | Junji Luo |
| ENG 309-A: Rhetorics of Online Writing | MW 10:00-11:15 am | Melissa Forbes |
| GER/IDS 259: Gaming: Why We Play | MW 2:35-3:50 pm | Henning Wrage |
| GER/CIMS 274: Nazi Cinema: Propaganda and Film | TR 1:10-2:25 pm | Richard Lambert |
| IDS 252: Youth and New Media in the Middle East | W 6:45-9:15 pm | Aisha Mershani |
| SOC 204: Sociology of Mass Media and Popular Culture | MW 2:35-3:50 pm | Alecea Standlee |
Praxis Courses
| Course | Schedule | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| CIMS 220: Video Production | TR 1:10-3:40 pm | TBA |
| COMM 221: Social Media Strategy | TR 11:30 am-12:45 pm | Ted Carlin |
| ENG 200-A: Writing Across Media | MW 1:10-2:25 pm | Melissa Forbes |
| ENG 309-C: Art of Public Speaking | TR 1:10-2:25 pm | Stefanie Sobelle |
| MUS_CLAS 262: Music Technology and Media Production | TR 1:10-2:25 pm | Russell McCutcheon |
Spring 2026
Core Courses
| Course | Schedule | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 110: Introduction to Communication Studies | TR 10:00-11:15 am | Ted Carlin |
Analysis Courses
| Course | Schedule | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| AFS 280: African American English | TR 1:10-2:25 pm | Jennifer Bloomquist |
| CIMS 230: The Social Network | R 1:10-3:40 pm | Aisha Mershani |
| COMM 241: Media Advertising & Sales | MW 1:10-2:25 pm | Ted Carlin |
| DS/SOC 245: Visual Sociology | TR 8:30-9:45 am | VoonChin Phua |
| ES 225: Environmental Humanities | TR 1:10-2:25 pm | Salma Monani |
| HIST 201: Intro to Public History | TR 11:30 am-12:45 pm | Jill Titus |
| WGS 210-A: Queer Representation in the Media | TR 1:10-2:25 pm | VoonChin Phua |
Praxis Courses
| Course | Schedule | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| CIMS 220-A: Video Production | TR 1:10-3:40 pm | TBA |
| CIMS 220-B: Video Production | TR 1:10-3:40 pm | TBA |
| ENG 201: Writing the Public Essay | MW 11:30 am-12:45 pm | Jack Ryan |
| ENG 203: Journalistic Writing | TR 1:10-2:25 pm | Thomas Barstow |
| ENG 307: Writing the Screenplay | TR 2:35-3:50 pm | Kathryn Rhett |
| ENG 309-A: Writing with Sound | MW 1:10-2:25 pm | Melissa Forbes |
| ES 230-A: Intro to Geographic Information Systems | MW 10:00-11:15 am & F 10:00-10:50 am | Rud Platt |
| ES 230-B: Intro to Geographic Information Systems | MW 1:10-2:25 pm & F 1:10-2:00 pm | Rud Platt |