New Media - Major
For information, contact Steven Weitz, Chair of the Department of Communication, at steven.weitz@cedarcrest.edu or 610-606-4666, ext. 4483
Program Description
New Media is the convergence of all forms of media (audio, text, and imagery - both moving and static) serving as the backbone of all modern communication, including but not limited to news, social media, and entertainment. The New Media Major at Cedar Crest College offers an interdisciplinary study that combines both the practical skills it takes to create new media with the historical and theoretical understanding needed to be a successful communicator in the 21st century. Additionally, the New Media major is part of the Communication Department, which plays a crucial role in student life and campus culture through courses and activities related to journalism and the student newspaper, “The Crestiad,” the campus radio station (CCC Radio), and the New Media Lab.
A major in New Media enables a graduating student to find entry-level positions in a multitude of fields that encompass the production and study of modern communication. These positions may include journalism, public relations, marketing, personnel, advertising, video production and post-production, film, broadcasting, and a variety of careers in visual and interactive communication, including graphic design, animation, and game development. Many students also go on to graduate study in a variety of disciplines to strengthen their knowledge and training. The Communication Department also emphasizes the need to create a portfolio that represents a student’s best work during their time at Cedar Crest, and can be used to her advantage when applying for communication jobs upon graduation.
Program Requirements (40 credits minimum)
A grade of C- or better is needed for courses that fulfill major requirements, except for those courses that are used to fulfill college wide requirements (see below); these courses require a minimum of a grade of C. Courses transferred from other colleges may count towards the major only with the approval of the department. Students taking a major in New Media cannot declare Media Studies as an additional major.
Capstone Requirement
The New Media major provides students with the opportunity to choose between writing a senior research thesis and conducting a senior professional project in order to fulfill their capstone requirement. This latter option may be done in conjunction with an internship.
Students conducting a senior project are required to submit for pre-approval a proposal outlining their project, the project’s connection to a field of literature in communication, a schedule for the submission of progress reports, their internship responsibilities (if applicable), and a final analysis of their project. Students may work with an outside co-advisor in a related field for their senior capstone requirement. For instance, a student in public relations may want to work with a co-advisor in marketing, etc.
Internships
Students are not required to complete an internship for the major. However, it is highly recommended that students who do not plan on immediately continuing on to graduate school complete at least one, if not more, internships. Internships may fulfill up to 6 credits towards completion of the major (the completion of two internships of three credits each is specifically recommended).
Course Requirements for the New Media Major
A major in New Media requires 40 credits of coursework. All students are required to complete courses in three categories: Communication Core Curriculum (15 credits), Primary Requirements (6 credits), and Electives (19 credits). Below is also a list of recommended courses for New Media majors.
Communication Core Curriculum (15 credits)
The Communication Core is required of all majors in the Communication Department. The goal of the core curriculum is to introduce all students to the history, research and theory in Communication and to provide students with a general understanding of how research in Communication is conducted.
COM 100 Introduction to Communication 3 credits
COM 112 Media Industries 3 credits
COM 200 Communication Theory and Research 3 credits
COM 350 Senior Seminar I (taken in fall of senior year) 3 credits
COM 352 Senior Seminar II (taken in spring of senior year) 3 credits
New Media Major Primary Requirements: Concepts (6 credits)
COM 120 Introduction to New Media 3 credits
COM 285 Global Issues in New Media 3 credits
New Media Major Electives: Skills
19 credits minimum required; a minimum of 15 must be COM courses.
(Choose from List)
COM 107 Digital Imaging With Photoshop 3 credits
COM 108 Digital Design with Adobe Illustrator 3 credits
COM 150 Introduction to Journalism 3 credits
COM 152 The Crestiad 3 credits
COM 209 Motion Graphics 3 credits
COM 220 Computer 3-D modeling and animation 3 credits
COM 222 Audio and Sound Design 3 credits
COM 224 Intro to Video Production 3 credits
COM 225 Digital Photography 3 credits
COM 226 Time-based and Streaming Media for the Web 3 credits
COM 246 Women in Digital Culture 3 credits
COM 252 Digital Journalism 3 credits
COM 255 Media Law and Ethics 3 credits
COM 260-265 Special Topics in New Media 3 credits
COM 280 Social Media 3 credits
COM 282 Advertising Design 3 credits
COM 300 Readings in Communication and Culture 3 credits
COM 324 Video Production II 3 credits
COM 325 Advanced Digital Photography 3 credits
ART 110 Principles of Visual Organization 3 credits
ART 134 Photoshop Computer Software Workshop 1 credit
ART 132, 232 InDesign Computer Software Workshop 1 credit each
ART 238 Elements of Design 3 credits
ENG 235 Topics in Non-Fiction Writing 3 credits
COM 370 Internship up to 6 credits
Recommended Courses
The Communication Department recommends the following courses to all students interested in New Media:
ART 105/106 Art History 3-6 credits
ART 101 Beginning Drawing 3 credits
ART 113 and 213 Drawing, Illustration, and Graphics I & II 3-6 credits
College-wide Requirements
Students fulfill the Oral Presentation requirement with the satisfactory completion (C or better) of COM 100.
Students fulfill the Information Literacy requirement with the satisfactory completion (C or better) of COM 200.
Students fulfill the Technology requirement with the satisfactory completion (C or better) of either COM 350 or 352.
