This program is designed for students interested in the mass media, broadcast journalism, video and audio production, public relations, corporate communications, visual effects, screenwriting and documentary and narrative film production. Through an organized program of study, students are provided with media theory, techniques and practices in service of creative expression and career development. Graduates will be prepared for positions in television production, video and film production facilities, radio, audio recording studios and news media or to transfer to four-year colleges. The COM program currently has articulation agreements with SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Plattsburgh, Brooklyn College and other COM and Film programs.
The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is awarded upon completion of the requirements for this program.
Graduates of the COM program will:
• Produce a body of work suitable for transfer to a four-year institution and/or professional opportunities in their chosen field of communications and media arts.
• Solve creative problems within their field of communications and media arts, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
• Effectively communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
• Effectively execute technical, aesthetic and conceptual decisions based upon an understanding of communications and media arts.
• Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
• Explain the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on communications and media arts venues.
• List and execute the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the local, national and/or global marketplace for the communications and media arts industry.
First Semester
| Course No. | Descriptive Title | Credit Hours |
| COM 100 | Communications Introductory Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| Math (a) | 3 | |
| COM 101 | Introduction to Communications Media | 3 |
| COM 103 | The Art and Craft of Editing | 3 |
| ART 110, ART 112, ART 150, ART 157 (c) | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 16 | |
Second Semester
| Course No. | Descriptive Title | Credit Hours |
| ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
| GOV 121, HIS 104, HIS 108 | 3 | |
| COM 110 | Basic Video Production | 3 |
| COM 120 | Intro to Media Writing | 3 |
| COM 140 | Media and Society | 3 |
| SPE 100 or SPE 101 (b) | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 18 | |
Third Semester
| Course No. | Descriptive Title | Credit Hours |
| BHS 103 | Social Problems in Today's World | 3 |
| COM 210 OR | Visual Effects for the Moving Image I | |
| COM 233 OR | Sound Design and Technology for Media | |
| COM 249 OR | TV Production/TV News | |
| COM 221 OR | Media Strategies for Public Relations | |
| COM 262 | Documentary Production I | 4 |
| Interest Area Course (d) | 3 | |
| Science (e) | 4 | |
| TOTAL | 14 | |
Fourth Semester
| Course No. | Descriptive Title | Credit Hours |
| COM 211 OR | Visual Effects for the Moving Image II | |
| COM 234 OR | Basic Music Production | |
| COM 250 OR | Advanced Video Production | |
| COM 263 | Documentary Production II | 4 |
| WFE 101 | Lifetime Wellness and Fitness | 3 |
| Interest Area Course (d) | 3 | |
| Science (e) | 4 | |
| Free elective (f) | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 17 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 65 | |
a. Mathematics course: MAT 109 or higher. Students planning to pursue a B.A. degree at SUNY institutions should take MAT 110.
b. Students may choose between SPE 100 or SPE 101.
c. Students interested in Visual Effects should take ART 110 for their art course.
d. Interest Area Courses: Students must select two courses from the list below to complement their concentration. Substitutions may be made with approval of the department head.
Audio Production and Music:
COM233, MUS101, MUS104, MUS115, MUS116, MUS135, MUS201, MUS202, MUS219, SPE212
Documentary Production:
ART150, ART151, ART153, ART155, ART157, ART254, ART255, ART257, BHS206, COM233, COM280, GOV211
Television and Video Production:
ART150, ART151, ART153, ART155, ART157, ART254, ART255, ART257, BHS206, COM/THE220, COM243, COM244, COM280, ENG226, ENG227, SPE100, SPE101, SPE102, SPE211, SPE219, THE109, THE201, THE209
Journalism and Public Relations:
ART157, ART254, BUS102, BUS105, BUS107, BUS208, BUS210, COM280, ENG211, ENG214, GOV211, GOV219, GOV222, SPE100, SPE101, SPE115, SPE201, SPE210, SPE211, SPE219
Visual Effects and Digital Filmmaking:
ART110, ART140, ART141, ART142, ART145, ART147, ART161, ART209, COM243, COM244, ENG226, ENG227
Students also may take a 3 credit internship as an Interest Area Course: COM261.
e. Science courses: Applicable four-credit courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physical sciences, physics.
f. See a full discussion of the free elective requirement.