Millsaps College announced today that a new communications major will debut next fall.
The new major will combine practical skills in fields like journalism and public relations, while allowing students to explore communications in a liberal arts environment stressing critical thinking, global awareness, and historical consciousness.
The new major reflects the college’s long-standing goal of combining a liberal arts education with practical skills that prepare students for successful careers in the twenty-first century.
“Millsaps College has a history of offering exceptional academic programs,” said Dr. Richard A. Smith, senior vice-president and dean of the college. “This new program builds on our existing strength of interdisciplinary programs by using the college’s resources in a way to react to changing student interests and to new needs in the marketplace.”
The communications major will be added to Millsaps’ 32 existing bachelor’s degree offerings. In the last five years new majors at Millsaps have included: religious studies-sociology/anthropology, biochemistry, art history, studio art, public management, and the option of a self-designed major.
Communications is consistently one of the top 10 majors among college students and provides for multiple career opportunities upon graduation. The field has changed drastically in the last century as radio, television and then the internet joined newspapers and other print media in changing the way people communicate and absorb news.
“We’ve always had a number of English students interested in careers in journalism, public relations, and advertising and we’ve done a good job getting them internships and jobs,” said Dr. Laura Franey, associate professor of English and chair of the new communications department.
Dr. Curtis Coats has been hired to oversee the new major, teach a range of communications courses as well as Millsaps Core courses, and create a strong slate of internships. His M.A. and Ph.D. degrees were earned within the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
“Curtis is great because he has education in journalism and mass media and so he knows the practical side of the field and how to analyze what motivates people when they see an advertisement or watch the news,” Franey said. “He’s excited about building this program and collaborating with other departments.”
Beginning this fall, freshman and sophomores will be able to declare a major in communications and other students may opt for a minor. In addition to the Millsaps core courses, a major in communications will require 10 courses including Introduction to Interpretation, Introduction to Communications, Public Speaking, courses in written and visual communications, and electives. Internships will also be an essential part of the major.
