Overview
Jeremy Sarachan, Chair
Our students develop a passion for creative work within the various media professions. While some students pursue careers as filmmakers and television producers, others study social media, public relations, advertising, or media analytics. Still others pursue journalism and non-fiction storytelling through documentary production, photography, and emerging media forms.
We offer small classes and personalized attention in a liberal arts setting. The college's proximity to downtown Rochester, NY allows student to participate in multiple internships, class partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits, and frequent networking opportunities.
Students may focus in one or more of these areas:
Strategic Communication – Students learn the techniques of public relations and advertising to prepare for careers as PR professionals, advertising strategists, designers, and copywriters. As an alternative to the B.A. in media and communication, some students choose our B.S. in media management, which combines public relations, advertising, marketing, social media, media economics, and analytics.
Narrative Film, Television, and Video – Students take courses in television production, filmmaking, cinematography and editing, and screenwriting to prepare themselves for careers as storytellers within production companies and television stations, or for further study in film and television.
Journalism and Documentary – Students enrolled in journalism and documentary filmmaking learn to tell non-fiction stories about social issues and develop their skills as writers, directors, researchers, and editors.
Communication and Media Studies – Students examine such areas as visual communication, media economics, health communication, media and politics, and film and television analysis to prepare for a variety of professions or to pursue graduate work in communication, law, or business.
Students can work on the campus television station (Cardinal Television) or online newspaper (Cardinal Courier—app available on the iOS and Android stores) as well as the student-run public relations and advertising firm (The PRIMA Group). The department also supports a chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America).