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Ready to turn your passion for digital media, journalism and film into a career in which you can impact the world and make a difference in your communities? Communication studies may be the best major for you.

Why Saint Martin's University

Communication studies at Saint Martin's is an interdisciplinary program that uses critical and cultural studies to understand the central role of communication in society, with a focus on social justice. Shaped by the Benedictine values of stewardship, community, and listening, the program utilizes accessible media technologies to encourage creativity and build a solid foundation for a wide array of professional endeavors.

  • P​roximity to to Washington state capital allows for access to quality internship opportunities with government agencies, nonprofits, arts organizations, and businesses.
  • Shaped by the Benedictine values of stewardship, community and listening with the ear of the heart, the program utilizes accessible media technologies such as cloud computing, mobile devices and social media, citizen journalism and digital media production to encourage creativity.
  • While designed to provide a well-rounded understanding of the field of communication, students can choose to pursue a production-focused or more theoretically oriented course of study.

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  • Career paths

    Communication studies prepares students for careers in a wide range of fields:

    • Public relations
    • Advertising
    • Media arts production
    • Journalism
    • Nonprofit advocacy
    • Filmmaking

    For a complete list of professional applications, visit "What Can I Do With This Major?". For additional information about how Saint Martin’s can help you find the career for you, visit our Career Center.

Communication studies program requirements

Major

  • University core requirements
  • Nine semester hours of lower division courses
  • 34 semester hours of upper division courses

Minor

  • Six semester hours of lower division courses
  • 19 semester hours of upper division and elective courses

2020-2021 academic catalog

Popular communication studies courses

  • Copy editing and design
  • Digital journalism
  • International communication
  • Professional and academic writing
  • Studies in film

Pursue a Native voices concentration

Photo of student speaking at Indigenous Peoples Day

Native voices is a 16 semester credit concentration within the communication studies major. It explores local and global Indigenous perspectives, with the goal of studying media and creating stories with a multidisciplinary lens and a focus on social justice.

Students achieving a  Native voices concentration will:

  • Use critical, decolonial and post-colonial theory to examine existing knowledge, values and assumptions about the Indigenous experience
  • Obtain a diverse knowledge of human experience that centers on Indigenous perspectives, narratives and voices
  • Unpack identities, intersectionality, privilege and power
  • Develop the knowledge and skills to understand, integrate and utilize knowledge across disciplines to critique and challenge dominant colonial narratives in media
  • Cultivate a voice to create new narratives and representation of the Indigenous experience

What can I do with this concentration?

The Native voices concentration prepares students for careers in a wide range of fields, from public relations and advertising to media arts production to work in the public sector and more. Gradutes are also prepared to continue their studies in graduate school, specializing in the humanities, social sciences, public relations, digital media or filmmaking.

  • Native voices concentration requirements

    Please note: Students wishing to have a study concentration or minor appear on their official transcripts are required to declare this concentration or minor with the Office of the Registrar at least one semester prior to degree completion. This concentration is for communication studies majors only.

    Required courses include:

    COM300Media production (4 credits)
    WGES200Foundations of Race and Ethnic Studies (3 credits)

    Plus any three approved electives listed below.
    Students may take an elective that is not listed below if, in the judgment of the program director, it will significantly enhance their learning experience in the concentration.

    COM385Conflict and Peace Studies
    COM396/SOC396Intercultural Communication
    COM398Media History: Native Film
    ENG395Indigenous Literature
    ENG345Literature, Race and Ethnicity
    ED395Indigenous Education
    ENV395The History of Elwha River
    HIS435History of Struggle for Justice
    PLS395Justice and Native American Experience (GIS395/CJ395)
    PLS363Race and American Politics
    PSY375Multicultural Psychology
    SOC395Settler Colonial Theory
    SJ370/SOC370Social Action: Activism

Learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences

Arts and Sciences at Saint Martin's University

Who to Contact

Irina Gendelman

Irina Gendelman, Ph.D.

Faculty Senate President
Professor, communication studies,
College of Arts and Sciences
360-486-8826

Saint stories

Communication Studies students at Saint Martin's

Hearing what isn't said

"The goal of communication studies at Saint Martin’s is to encourage students to become responsible leaders, engaged citizens [who seek] ... social justice on a scale beyond themselves."

Irina Gendelman College of Arts and Sciences Professor of Communications

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Faculty