Program Learning Outcomes

Academic Mission

The core mission of the Department of Communication & Media is to foster communication and media literacies in the service of global citizenship, community participation and ethical leadership.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Program Learning Outcomes are the threshold concepts derived in our program design process. For each PLO, four levels of student learning outcomes (or student learning attainment) have been identified. These act as our program learning outcomes and demonstrate the different levels of learning for students for each outcome. The PLOs and levels (1 =lowest to 4 = highest) appear below.

PLO 1) Recognize and understand that as a symbolic, representational process, communication facilitates the construction of individual and social realities. So, by completing the B.A. in Communication you will be able to ...

1.1. identify the symbolic, representational processes within a text;

1.2. explain how the resulting text communicates information and ideas;

1.3. assess/critique the implications of that text for individual and social realities;

1.4. produce a text that portrays/shapes individual and social realities differently

PLO 2) Recognize and understand that political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, and ethical processes and contexts all shape communication. So, by completing the B.A. in Communication you will be able to ...

2.1. investigate an unfamiliar communication situation;

2.2. compare communication processes in that situation to others;

2.3. evaluate how context has shaped communication in each situation;

2.4. reflect on the impact of that investigation on your own perspective

PLO 3) Recognize and understand that communicators co-construct meanings, which are intersubjective and multiple. So, by completing the B.A. in Communication you will be able to ...

3.1. examine a communication exchange,

3.2. identify the meanings that each communicator has constructed,

3.3. explain how the meanings are subjective and different from each other,

3.4. analyze whether and how the communicators could make different choices to yield clearer or more fair communicative meanings

PLO 4) Recognize and understand that communication tends to reinforce power asymmetries, but it can also challenge them. So, by completing the B.A. in Communication you will be able to ...

4.1. identify communication stakeholders, relationships, and interests

4.2. analyze the information, beliefs, norms, and values conveyed in communication;

4.3. assess/critique how communication reinforces/challenges stakeholders’ interests

4.4. produce a text that challenges power asymmetries

PLO 5) Recognize and understand that​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ effective communicators create well-crafted communication appropriate to the audience, purpose, context, and medium. So, by completing the B.A. in Communication you will be able to ...

5.1. appraise information relevant to the goals, audiences, purposes and contexts of a communication situation

5.2. select/use creative modalities and technologies to accomplish communicative goals

5.3. produce communication content adapted to the diverse needs of individuals, groups and contexts

5.4. reflect on/critique one’s own (or another’s) communicative messages in terms appropriateness for the audience, purpose, context, and medium

Department Assessment Plan

 The department has adopted these plans to assess the undergraduate and graduate program outcomes.

Each course in the degree programs plays a role in uniquely delivering the required learning opportunities for our students. Together, in any of our concentrations in the program, in concert they deliver all five of the PLOs (Program Learning Outcomes above). By completing our degree program, student will graduate will all of the abilities (aka 'outcomes' or 'attainment') listed above.

The table below shows which program learning outcomes, and at what level, each course that our department offers should deliver for our students.