Department of Communication and Fine Arts

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This department combines the study of communication, business communication, art, media studies, music, theatre and journalism.

The goal of the Department of Communication and Fine Arts is to provide an integrated study of the art and science of human communication. The majors include the study of communication at all levels of human interaction: intrapersonal,  interpersonal, small group, public, social, mediated, and artistic. The department offers majors in Communication, Strategic Communication, and Business Communication as listed below. The department also offers minors in Journalism, Art, Music, and Theatre, which are described in other sections of this catalog.

Art (AR)

The philosophy of the art program rests on the belief that art is not an ornament to education but an essential way of grounding knowledge in experience. The arts present the human rather than the theoretical implications of knowledge. In a complex and rapidly changing society the study of art introduces the student to a universal human activity and to a visual language which infuses forms with meaning and affirms our common membership in one human family. In art history and in studio Rockhurst offers courses which can provide a firm foundation for productive future study.

Business Communication

The Business Communication major is an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree that draws courses from the departments of Communication and English and the Helzberg School of Management. Through communication courses, students examine the theory and practice of  communication in a variety of contexts, including interpersonal interactions, organizations, small groups, and the mass media. Students also take courses in marketing, economics, accounting, and finance, as well as upper division English or journalism courses in business writing, technological writing, writing for the marketplace, and writing for the media.

The Business Communication major prepares students for a wide variety of careers as communication specialists in business, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations. For example, students may choose such diverse fields as media relations, investor relations, public relations and advertising, or employee communication. The curriculum is not designed to develop an expertise in any specific area, but rather to provide extensive coverage in a variety of pertinent areas.

The curriculum encompasses a number of core courses and electives, which are chosen in consultation with the major advisor.

The major in Business Communication consists of two tracks: Human Communication or Mass Communication (including journalism).

Communication (CT)

The Communication curriculum is designed to give a liberal understanding of human communication and media, and to prepare students for academic or professional fields including those in business, the arts, journalism, industry, education, health and public service, as well as graduate study. To receive the B.A. in Communication, the student must show an understanding of communication in historical, philosophical, ethical, social, political and cultural dimensions, and the student must demonstrate skill in the art of written and oral communication.

Students are encouraged to expand their education beyond the classroom through directed learning experiences. Internships and directed research are available to students with a 3.0 grade point average in their major and a 2.0 GPA in all subjects.

The department is guided by the belief that a careful study of the process of communication enables people 1) to integrate and exchange knowledge, 2) to achieve goals, 3) to effect social action, and 4) to analyze and evaluate the uses of oral and written communication in the conduct of human affairs. This requires a liberal education in arts, sciences and humanities.

Throughout the study of communication at Rockhurst, emphasis is placed upon the ethical responsibility of the communicator to develop intellectual and moral integrity.

Journalism (JN)

Journalism courses at Rockhurst University afford students the opportunity to acquire basic skills and a sound preparation for either direct entry into the fields of journalism or public relations or further work at the graduate level. Professional journalists teach many of our courses. Students interested in a career in journalism may complete the minor in journalism through the courses listed below. A description of the International Journalism Program may be found under the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literature. One-semester, part-time internships are recommended to give students introductory on-the-job experience.

Music (MS)

The music program at Rockhurst University offers a range of courses that provide opportunities for the study of music literature, and, in addition, various options for applied study in musical performance. Ensembles such as the University Chorus, Chamber Singers and Women’s Chorale provide additional opportunities for students to participate in musical activities on and off campus.

Music literature courses emphasize an interdisciplinary approach by exploring the effects of literature, visual arts, philosophy, history and social conditions upon the creation of musical art.

Courses in applied music at Rockhurst University (piano, voice and guitar) are based on a holistic approach in which the development of the requisite physical and mental disciplines is seen as a means of achieving direct artistic experience. While studies in music literature develop skills in music criticism, applied music study provides the opportunity to experience art as a participant.

Strategic Communication (SC)

The Strategic Communication major focuses on the critical and analytical thinking and practical skills required in contemporary communication. Courses are designed to help students understand how strategic communication can support personal, professional, and organizational objectives.

Students learn to engage in written and oral communication that is goal-oriented, mindful, and ethical. They develop the ability to critique and create effective messages for specific audiences and situations. Through real-world problem solving, Strategic Communication majors learn to apply communication tools across a variety of communication contexts. Our students gain the skills that are necessary to become effective, strategically oriented communication professionals, regardless of industry.

Theatre Arts (TA)

The mission of the Theatre Program at Rockhurst University is to nurture a student’s intellectual and aesthetic development, be it for personal enrichment, advanced study, or for preparation for a career in the profession or a related field. The Theatre Program is committed to a broad-based, liberal arts approach that combines knowledge and experiential learning in order to develop the student’s abilities to think creatively, critically, and collaboratively. The Theatre Program is committed to enhancing the cultural and intellectual life at Rockhurst University by providing a varied program of theatre offerings that are intellectually, artistically, and socially challenging and that acknowledge and celebrate the complexity and diversity of the human experience so that we may learn to live more meaningful lives in relation to one another.

Programs

• Business Communication, B.A., Human Communication Track
• Business Communication, B.A., Mass Communication Track
• Communication, B.A., Human Communication Track
• Communication, B.A., Mass Communication Track
• Strategic Communication, B.A.

• Art Minor
• Communication Minor
• Journalism Minor
• Music Minor
• Theatre Arts Minor

• Journalism Certificate

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