Studies lead to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication degree with available concentrations in advertising, applied journalism, communication education, communication studies, corporate communication, public relations and theatre.

Program Overview
The communication degree program at Robert Morris University provides opportunities for undergraduate students that are unequaled in many graduate communication programs. Students gain experience that prepares them for cutting-edge careers in media and business or for graduate studies. The curriculum builds specialized career skills based in the liberal arts and offers hands-on experience that leads to excellent jobs. With the assistance of a faculty advisor, students select sequences of courses to prepare for communication-related careers.

Concentrations
Advertising: This concentration prepares students for careers in advertising and public relations by emphasizing the role of creativity in all media. It includes specially tailored courses in communication as well as courses offered by the Marketing Department.

• Advertising Check Sheet - Required Courses

Applied Journalism: This concentration prepares students for careers in print and broadcast journalism. Students take foundational journalism courses and choose an area of specialization to focus their skills. Students are encouraged to actively participate on the school's student-run newspaper and/or television station.

• Applied Journalism Check Sheet - Required Courses

Communication Education: This concentration is designed for students seeking Pennsylvania state certification as a teacher at the secondary level (grades 7-12). The program provides students with foundational knowledge in communication theory, rhetoric, linguistics and technology integration with a focus on media and television production for public schools and preparing teachers to meet the demands of 21st century schools.

• Communication Education (Teacher Certification) Check Sheet - Required Courses

Communication Studies: This is designed as a generalist concentration, allowing students to explore course work in all aspects of communication. It is especially suited to transfer students in that it allows the maximum use of transfer credits.

• Communication Studies Check Sheet - Required Courses

Corporate Communication: Communication-focused careers in the corporate world include positions as corporate trainers, communication specialists trained in crisis management, document designers, writers and editors of in-house publications, speech writers and media relations professionals.

• Corporate Communication Check Sheet - Required Courses

Public Relations: This concentration prepares students for careers in public relations. Students take courses focusing on public relations foundations, strategies, writing, campaigns, management and technology, as well as media law.

• Public Relations Check Sheet - Required Courses

Theatre: This concentration prepares students for theatre-related careers. Students take foundation courses in areas such as acting and production, as well as specialty courses. Students are encouraged to actively participate in Colonial Theatre productions.

• Theatre Check Sheet - Required Courses

Academic Media Center
The Academic Media Center provides engaged learning opportunities for students interested in television, video, audio, multimedia, producing and writing. The Center houses exceptional facilities, including the second-largest television studio in Pittsburgh, a high definition television control room, and nonlinear editing suites, a radio station, computer labs and field production equipment. Students produce programming for RMU-TV, including original news, sports, comedy, talk shows and live remote broadcasting of RMU Athletic events. RMU-Radio provides a platform for students to produce original, signature shows with a variety of musical genres.

RMU-TV
The Academic Media Center produces programming for RMU-TV, a 24-hour cable television station broadcast throughout campus and to more than 200,000 homes in the surrounding community. Students participate in all phases of RMU-TV, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Student-produced programming includes news, sports, comedy and talk shows.

The Sentry
Launched in Spring 2006, this student-run newspaper allows students to gain hands-on journalism experience as members of the paper's writing and editorial staff, as well as build their portfolios. The Sentry’s companion website, RMU Sentry Media, encourages students to hone their journalistic and multimedia skills. As members of the RMU Sentry Media staff, students of all majors can shoot, write, edit, blog, take photos, upload videos, produce podcasts, and work in layout and design. RMU Sentry Media gives students the opportunity to work together across platforms, better preparing them for a career in today’s media. http://www.rmusentrymedia.com/.

Colonial Theatre
This student-focused company puts on professional-quality stage productions for the University and surrounding community at the 225 seat Colonial Theatre in Massey Hall on campus. Each academic year, the Colonial Theatre performs six large stage productions and in the past included the premiere of major works such as Rent, Spring Awakening, and Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson. Participation is open to all RMU students and required of Comm/Theatre majors and minors.

Lambda Pi Eta
This honor society of the National Communication Association recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement. It is open to undergraduates with a 3.0 GPA and 60 credit hours.

Society for College Journalists, Journalism Honor Society
This honor society recognizes leadership in student media and journalism and is focused on community service, in particular First Amendment education. Members are invited to participate in the national organization’s annual student media contests and conferences.

Public Relations Club
Robert Morris University's Public Relations Club has been recognized by the Student Government Association since 2009. The group meets weekly to plan fundraising activities, listen to guest speakers about careers in PR and explore professional development opportunities through presentations by industry professionals. The PR Club attends the Public Relations Student Society of America's national conference.

Alpha Psi Omega, National Theatre Honor Fraternity
Membership is open to all RMU students, sophomore and above who are in Colonial Theatre productions and enjoy working in areas including acting, technical theatre, design, and stage management. Alpha Psi Omega members must have a 3.25 GPA and members of Alpha Psi Omega participate in fund raising to sponsor member's trips to the American College Theatre Festival and other theatre events.

National Conferences
Students participate in national Regional Conferences including:

• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Conference, San Diego, CA
• College Media Advisers(CMS/ACP) National Conference, New York, NY

Internships
The following is a partial list of organizations where Communication majors intern: The Pittsburgh Quarterly; Pittsburgh Musical Theater; Pennsylvania Newspaper Association; 93.7 The Fan; palestra.net; ABC Radio Pittsburgh; America’s Promise; B94 Radio; Clear Channel Communications; Disney World; ESPN Radio; Froggy 98.3; Infinity Broadcasting; KDKA; Keymarket Communications; Krome Communications; Labwerks; Lee Shore Agency; Leukemia Society; Pittsburgh Pirates; Pittsburgh Steelers; Production Masters; Sterlinghouse Publishers; Talent Group; WPGH-Fox 53; WQED Pittsburgh; WTOV.

Employers
The following is a partial list of organizations that have hired our graduates: Algor; America’s Promise; Diabolic Studios; Food Circus Corp.;FW Dodge Publications/McGraw Hill; Gateway Star Publications; GlaxoSmithKline; Granny’s Attic Communications; KDKA-TV; Norwegian Cruise Lines; Observer Publishing; PaineWebber; Pittsburgh Public Schools; Rome Monument; SEIX Investment Advisors; United Jewish Federation; U.S. Steel; Western Pennsylvania Humane Society; WHTM-TV; WQED-TV; WTOV-TV.

Tuition
Tuition information can be found at Tuition Fees & Schedules.

Admission Criteria
The following are required for admission:

• Robert Morris University application for admission - Apply Now!
• Official transcripts from high school and any post-secondary instituitions attended

Salary Information
2006 national mean bachelor-level starting salaries by job function: