The Record Online

Fall 2001

Media Promotions Part of Communication Department

Classrooms and offices aren’t the only things new to the Communication Department at Greenville College. A Media Promotions major has found a home with other majors such as Public Relations, Mass Communication, Speech Communication and Theatre.

The Media Promotions major, according to a mission statement from the Communication Department, “will prepare students to enter the evolving world of media business that is being shaped by technology.”

In addition to the other skills cultivated in all Greenville College students, Media Promotions majors will “learn to integrate their Christian world view as they develop and enhance specific strategies for promotion, publicity, management, writing, and delivery of digital media while exemplifying moral and responsible Christian professionalism,” according to the mission statement.

The new major places emphasis on “broad-based, theoretical understanding while offering technical skills necessary to enter the work force as media promotion specialists.”

Some of the courses taught to students of Media Promotions are: Persuasion and Argumentation, Small Group Communication, Communication Theory, Introduction to Public Relations, Applied Public Relations and Advanced Interpersonal Communication. Students will also take Introduction to Marketing, Management, Sales, Advertising, Graphic Design, Computer Fundamentals and Music Business Survey.

Even though the major falls under the auspices of the Communication Department, “It still feels multi-discipline in many ways,” said Professor Veronica Ross, Communication Department head.

She said the college’s Academic Affairs Committee wanted Media Promotions and Digital Media to be housed in a specific department. It was felt that the Communication Department was appropriate for Media Promotions, but the major contains courses from several departments, including Communication, Management, Music, Art and Computer Science.

Over the course of a year, the major and its classes were discussed and revised by department heads and other interested faculty, before being approved by the Academic Affairs Committee, the Communication Department and the Humanities Division.

Ross noted that the new major fits in with the overall goals of her department, and is to some degree a more formal approach to efforts already undertaken by the Communication Department.

“The Communication Department has had a Public Relations emphasis with the Communication major since 1993,” said Ross. “We have been preparing students for the media promotions field since that time.

“We have sent over two dozen students to Nashville to work for record labels and other associated companies. We continue to have that major (Public Relations) for those who may not want to work in the media industry, but all of these students and those in the Media Promotions major will be extremely well-prepared to work in special events planning, as publicists, community affairs, public relations, promotions, and much more.”

Last updated: November 1, 2001