Communication Arts / Sociology, Bachelor of Science/ Master of Arts

Welcome to the Department of Rhetoric, Communication and Theatre!

The Communication Studies program in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences provides students with the theories and practices to communicate effectively.

The unique focus of international relations, communication as diplomacy, and political economy of media makes this program attractive to those who want to apply communicative dimension to their professional field in an increasingly multi-sector global systems.

Journalists who report on political affairs need both a thorough knowledge of government and politics and the skills to collect, analyze, and communicate relevant information. The dual B.S./M.A. program in Journalism and Government and Politics will allow you to complete both degrees in just five years of full-time study.

Journalists who report on culture and society need to understand social movements, cultural practices that influence human behavior, and the structures that make up our society, They also need the research skills to collect, analyze, and communicate relevant information. 

The Bachelor of Science in Journalism prepares students for careers in all aspects of modern journalism — print, online and broadcast — with skills in writing and reporting in multiple media.

The Ph.D. in Multi-Sector Communication prepares you to explore new pathways to information sharing and communication, chart the agenda of this tech-driven evolution, and explore the new theoretical framework inherent in our digital native society.

The Minor in Photojournalism enables students to develop their knowledge and creative techniques in photographic styles of fashion, art, photo illustration, experimental, commercial, documentary, photojournalism, sports, and editorial.  By combining the intellectual, artistic, experimental and cultural diversity the visual arts offer, students receive vigorous training in the history, practices and methodologies of photography, and the visual arts in general in order to advance their artistic abilities, while also receiving extensive theoretical instruction on how photography has influenced cultural perceptions, political movements, and social attitudes to remain as the most persuasive force of visual communication.  Endorsed by Magnum Photos, the renowned photo agency founded by Masters, Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson, as well as the New York Daily News, the Minor in Photojournalism offers students the training to break new artistic barriers, discover their individual artistic voices, and compete in the highly competitive world of the photography and the visuals arts.

The B.S. degree program in Television and Film offers over 50 different Television and Film courses - in writing, production, post-production, animation, special effects, sound design, acting, theory of film and television, film studies, and the business of television and film.

Through this modern curriculum, students will be exposed to the creative workflows and advanced technologies that work in the development of playable media. By pushing the boundaries of storytelling genres, crafting unique interactive experiences, and engaging audiences through play, students who embark on this production track become inventive media-makers and story crafters. In keeping with the Vincentian ethos of St. John’s, students will additionally explore the ethical considerations of gameplay development. When can simulated experiences promote healthy attitudes and empathy? Conversely, when do virtual scenarios enable inappropriate behaviors and maladaptive tendencies? Students will work to discover the potential impact in cultivating a socially responsible practice in game development.