Communication Studies

I Want to Do THAT!

Share Your Story in Our Global, Digital World

Express your creativity

You are creative and have a flair for expressing yourself.  Now, you want to take it to the next level.  You want a degree and a University that can build your skills to communicate effectively in a global, digital world.  By majoring in Communication Studies, you will have the versatility to communicate across multiple platforms that are in high demand by today's employers.

Follow your passion

If you like public speaking or podcasting, writing and reporting, creating a documentary film, hosting your own radio show or learning how to be an indispensable public relations professional, your Communication Studies major can take you far. And your professional portfolio of print, broadcast and digital communication work will help cut through the clutter of the entry-level job market.

We are proud of our alumni

Whether you are planning to work in TV news, like Nina Carter (’13) at Fox 23 in Tulsa, working for a major daily newspaper, like Michael Martinez (’12) at the Detroit News, or working for an online news source, like Ian Thibodeau (’14) at MLive.com, you will develop strong communication skills that allow you to share your ideas across all of today’s media platforms.  And even if you don’t want to work directly in these fields, the skills you learn with your  degree in communication studies at University of Detroit Mercy are applicable to any business.  Just ask people like Alice Arutoff (’11) at Ford Motor Company, Scheherazode Burton (’12) at Quicken Loans, or Cody Grant (’12) at Strategic Staffing Solutions.

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    Major

    Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Communication Studies The communications studies curriculum deepens your understanding and effectivess of communication and communication channels through theory, ethics and direct learning opportunities.

    You can tailor your major to fit your interests by choosing a concentration in electronic media, journalism, public relations/advertising or general speech.  In each concentration, you will work on directed projects that enhance your skills and interests. 

    Degree Requirements

    To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University core curriculum, the requirements for the program major and have completed a minimum of 126 credit hours.

    Requirements of the Major
    36 credit hours

    Required Courses 
    CST 1110 Mass Communication 3 credits
    CST 1120 Visual Communication 3 credits
    CST 3000 Mass Media Ethics 3 credits
    CST 4990 Capstone Seminar: Media Social Responsibility 3 credits
    One Research Elective 3 credits
    One Theory Elective 3 credits
    One Writing Elective 3 credits
    Five electives 15 credits

    Please view the University of Detroit Mercy catalog for more detailed information about requirements for a major in communication studies.

    Jumpstart a career you're passionate about!

    TV/Radio/Film

    Journalism

    Public Relations

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    Sports comm minor

    The Sports Communication minor gives students a solid foundation for succeeding in the growing field of multimedia sports journalism and sports information/media relations. The minor produces graduates who are prepared for entry-level sports positions with media outlets and with the media relations departments of professional teams and collegiate athletic departments. It also offers expertise to students who hope to pursue sports-related careers in other disciplines, such as business, law, English, history and education. The minor requires 18 credits and the submission of a portfolio at the completion of the courses.

    Minor Requirements
    18 credit hours

    Required Courses
    CST 2030 News Writing and Reporting I 3 credits
    CST 2100 Video Production 3 credits
    CST 3300 Sports Writing 3 credits
    CST 3305 Sports Broadcasting 3 credits
    One Course from the Following 
    CST 2400 Principles of Public Relations 3 credits
    CST 2410 Principles of Advertising 3 credits
    BUS 3120 Principles of Marketing 3 credits
    BUS 3880 Sports and Entertainment Marketing 3 credits
    One Course from the Following
    CST 3307 Sports Information and Public Relations 3 credits
    CST 3315 Detroit Sports History and Journalism 3 credits

    Please view the catalog for more detailed information about requirements for a Minor in Sports Journalism Communication.

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    multimedia journalism

    The Multimedia Journalism minor gives students a solid foundation for succeeding in the field of journalism. The minor produces graduates who are multifaceted in their skills and prepared for entry-level positions with media outlets. It also offers expertise to students who hope to pursue careers in other disciplines that intersect with the media, such as business, law, English, history, political science and education. The minor requires 18 credits and the submission of a portfolio at the completion of the courses.

    Minor Requirements
    18 credit hours

    Required Courses 
    CST 2030 News Writing and Reporting I 3 credits
    CST 2100 Video Production 3 credits
    CST 3033 News Writing and Reporting II 3 credits
    One Course from the Following 
    CST 2110 Audio Production 3 credits
    CST 2150 Multi-Media I 3 credits
    CST 2200 Photography 3 credits
    Two courses from the Following 
    CST 3100 Audio Production and Direction 3 credits
    CST 3110 Single Camera Video Production 3 credits
    CST 3120 Multi-Camera Video Production and Direction 3 credits
    CST 4210 News Editing, Design and Management 3 credits

    Please view the catalog for more detailed information about requirements for a Minor in Multimedia Journalism.

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    Internships

    While internships, externships and other opportunities vary each year, you will have plenty of opportunities to apply what you have learned in class in real-world settings.

    Detroit is a great American city on the rise.  Frequently projects include organizations involved with the rebirth of the city.

    Our students have gained experience working at:

    The Detroit News

    Crain's Detroit Business

    Strategic Staffing Solutions

    Local TV stations

    and much more.

    All of our alumni have the potential to do great things.  You may have heard of a few of them:

    • Michael Martinez '13, reporter, The Detroit News
    • Nina Carter '13, reporter, Fox 23, Tulsa, Oklahoma
    • Ian Thibodeau '14, reporter, M.Live.com
    • Curtis Pulliam'14, sports reporter, Ashland (Ohio) Times-Gazette.
    • China Sellers Haley, reporter and anchor, Automotive News.
    • Alice Riley, U.S. recruiting communication coordinator, Ford Motor Company
    • Vito Chirco, social media moderator, Top Cat Sales, a for sports apparel company 
    • Elysia (Khalil) Christine,market research analyst, Oakland County government
    • Joseph MacLean, owner, Click Getter (social media consulting firm)
    • Demitrius Watts, program administrator, FirstMerit Bank
    • Woody Payne, '10, Google Adwords consultant, Arvato, an international digital media support company/consulting firm
    • Keontaye Harris '10, social media coordinator/marketing, Uvalle law firm, PLLC, Dallas, Texas
    • Laura Hawatmeh, '13, student, UDM Law School
    • ReShawn Wilder, '13, customer service agent, Spirit Airlines
    • Michelle Renaud '13, assistant, John F. Martin Photography, Grosse Pointe, Michigan
    • Felicia Safford '15, branch manager - Southgate, Huntington Bank

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Varsity News

Write for our award-winning student newspaper.

UDM Radio

Host or produce your own radio show!

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CST Radio

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