Professional Communications

Bachelor of Science Degree

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Professional Communications prepares its graduates for employment with companies and organizations in all of those fields that rely on effective communication, including mass media (newspapers, radio, television), website and social media, health delivery systems, the biopharmaceutical industry, marketing and public relations firms, colleges and universities, sports organizations, and non-profits.  Employees in these positions are responsible for creating proposals, articles, presentations, marketing materials, educational materials, grant applications, legal documents, and financial reports, drawing on skill in conducting background research and the ability to write well.

The curriculum in this program reinforces the ability of its students to write effectively while providing the opportunity for hands-on practice in the use of all forms of communication in this rapidly evolving field.  Core courses in the major range from advanced writing and editing, research techniques, and communications theory to digital media and methods, media in communications, and writing for electronic media. This preparation is supplemented with elective courses in various specialties of professional communications.

Students in this curriculum gain a broad academic background through the completion of both General Education requirements and various Arts & Sciences electives. Additional breadth of preparation is achieved through the completion 24 Free Elective credits.

The capstone of the program is an internship placement OR a senior project. The internship option provides students with direct experience and the opportunity to apply the skills gained in the program in a professional environment. For the senior project option, students work closely with a faculty to create a professional communications creative work or thesis.

Professional Communications (BS) Program Mission:

The mission of this program supports the mission of the college by encouraging its graduates to be imaginative, critical thinkers and successful problem solvers.  Its inclusion of a broad preparation in the arts & sciences is intended to provide its students with an appreciation of culture, ethics, aesthetics, citizenship, cultural diversity, and the interrelationships among the applied arts and sciences, technologies, and society. The curriculum is designed to produce graduates who meet the needs of regional employers, thereby promoting the economic, social and cultural development of the region.

Professional Communications (BS) Program Outcomes:

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Communications will have -

• Mastery of a full range of communications skills which are needed in every company and organization and that can lead to successful career paths in a wide range of businesses, industries, and organizations.
• A foundation in the liberal arts and sciences that will encourage them to aspire to be exemplary citizens, scholars, professionals, and leaders in society, consistent with the mission of the College.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify, gather, synthesize, and cite information and sources to support the preparation of professional documents and presentations of all types.
• Students will be able to organize and produce written documents and oral presentations in a variety of professional formats using language that is lucid, concise, precise, grammatically correct, and appropriate to the topic, audience, and occasion.
• Students will be able to effectively revise and edit documents for both content and organization based on the application of standards of grammar, mechanics and syntax.
• Students will be able to deliver effective oral presentations following appropriate practices, including the utilization of audio-visual materials or technology to enhance their presentations.
• Students will be able to create and update web-based media for optimum effect, making use of the technology associated with electronic media.

Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.