Liberal Arts & Sciences—Liberal Studies Degree Communications Option (LAC)

Become exposed to the field of communications and a variety of mass media subject areas. Courses such as Mass Media, Digital Photography, Journalism, Film Appreciation, and Electronic Page Layout provide an excellent overview of the communications field and a solid foundation for transfer to more specialized communications programs at four-year colleges and universities. Students will benefit from hands-on involvement in the college’s newspaper, learning communities within the concentration, and service learning/civic engagement opportunities that provide direct experience.

Campus/format: This program can be completed day or evening at the Gardner Campus. Ninety percent of this program can be completed online.

Helpful hints: Frequent academic and career advising sessions with faculty in the communications field are highly recommended. Cooperative education, volunteer, and service learning experiences will improve student portfolios for transfer.

Transfer options: This program fulfills all requirements for the Commonwealth Transfer Compact (see pages 45-46). Joint Admissions agreements exist with state colleges and universities including: Bridgewater, Fitchburg, Salem, and Worcester State, Mass College of Liberal Arts, and UMASS Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell. Articulation agreements exist with Charter Oak State College and the University of Phoenix. A partnership exists with Amherst College.

This communications concentration closely parallels the general education curricula of the first two years required by most four-year colleges and universities. Visit MWCC’s transfer services website: http://transfer.mwcc.edu

Career options: After earning a bachelor’s degree, students can pursue communications careers in journalism, electronic media, advertising, and graphic design fields.

Special requirements: Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

*Note: PER130 is recommended for transfer

Elective courses by abbreviation

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Program Competencies

Upon graduation from these programs, students shall have the ability to:

1. Demonstrate competence in written and oral communication in English.
2. Demonstrate competence in problem solving, scientific modes of inquiry, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking.
3. Demonstrate competence in understanding historic and social processes.
4. Demonstrate competence in the use of modern technology to access, evaluate, and apply information.
5. Demonstrate competence in assessment of aesthetic and ethical standards in a diverse local and global environment.
6. Demonstrate competence in career planning, health management, and lifelong learning.

Technical Standards*

*general information about technical standards and accommodation.

Students entering these programs must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Comprehend textbook material at the 11th grade level.
2. Communicate and assimilate information either in spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
3. Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.