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Program Overview

Public Communication (PCOM) is the practice of understanding, designing, implementing, and evaluating successful communication campaigns within a framework that serves the public interest. The PCOM program uses communication to inform and persuade, to build relationships, and to encourage open dialogue in organizations and communities toward resilient solutions. This is accomplished by crafting successful messages through the application of research, theory, technical knowledge, and sound design principles. Students majoring in Public Communication use an integrated, hands-on approach to communication in the public interest to critically analyze situations, manage information, and craft messages that work in an increasingly global society.

Public Communication majors focus on a range of topics and can focus their academic plan in one area or pursue an exploratory path within this program. Fields of focus in Public Communication cover applied media studies, journalism, documentary films for social change, community media, communication design through written, video, audio, graphic, and social media, socially responsible marketing, sustainable fashion, professional communication, and more.

Concentrations

Communication Design

Communication Design focuses on designing with the mission of communicating a message, brand, behavioral change, policy, and more.  Using design to communicate allows us to reach a broader audience, be more inclusive, and communicate across cultures.  Students can focus on graphic design, spatial design, publication design, and design innovation in this concentration.

Community Media and Journalism

Community Media and Journalism students jump into hands-on creation of content that will expand their portfolio before graduating.  Building on a strong foundation of media and journalism theory, students will write, photograph, shoot video, story board, learn interview skills, and more in order to be skilled, thoughtful practitioners telling the story of their community, whether local or global.

Strategic Communication

Strategic Communication can be any communication with a mission: marketing, public relations, organizational communication, social media, law, policy, and more.  Students can choose from a variety of topics to complete their Strategic Communication concentration from our faculty experts in behavioral change, socially responsible marketing, strategic communication, filmmaking, written journalism, oration, debate, and science communication.

Curriculum

View the in the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ catalogue.

Unique to PCOM

• Elevating the public interest through all of our work.
• Creating meaningful, positive contributions to progress societies, economies, and culture.
• PCOM's combination of classes helps to build a student's individual confidence and fine-tune their communication skills.
• Students incorporate knowledge and practice in teamwork, leadership and management, public service, and environmental responsibility into a framework for professional practice.
• Students can earn academic credit for internships and work on engaging social campaigns on ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s campus, within Vermont, or related to CDAE's international programs.

Areas of Focus

• Public Relations
• Applied Design
• News and Media Writing and Production
• Marketing and Advertising
• Communications Strategy and Implementation
• Visual Communication
• Applied Graphic Design
• Event Planning
• Communication Design​
• Community Media
• Journalism
• Documentary Film for Social Change
• Strategic Communication

Public Communication Minor 

Communication doesn't happen in a vacuum. Public Communication (PCOM) students learn and use an integrated approach to communication that includes critically analyzing situations, managing information, and crafting messages that work in an increasingly global society. By embedding real-world projects with classroom reflection, service-learning courses allow students to acquire the skills necessary to succeed in a professional environment. Whether they are creating press releases, analyzing case studies, or designing visual components, PCOM students leave ¶¶Òõ̽̽ with a competitive portfolio of work that allows them to jump right into the ever-evolving profession.

This minor requires 15 credits of coursework in communication, media, strategic writing, design, event planning or policy.

Admissions

Whether you are planning to attend college for the first time, transferring from another institution, we invite you to join our community. Learn more about undergraduate admission to ¶¶Òõ̽̽.

Outcomes

Careers in Public Communication

Our Public Communication graduates work in many fields, including as:

• Senior Manager, Growth Marketing at Adobe
• Social Media Director, WIRED Magazine
• Brand Manager, Seventh Generation, Burlington
• Booking and Promotions Coordinator, World Cafe Live, Philadelphia
• Communications and Special Projects Coordinator, Essex High School, VT
• Social Marketing and Communications Manager
• Head of Sustainability
• Public Relations
• Chief Communications Officer
• Editor in Chief

Where Our Alumni Work

• WIRED
• Adobe
• Paramount Pictures
• USA Today
• Ben & Jerry's Headquarters
• Eating Well
• People Making Good PR
• lululemon athletica
• Seventh Generation

More

Think CDAE is for you? Let's connect and find out. Connect with a member of our CDAE Success Team to discuss which program is right for you.