Purposes

• To instruct students in the philosophy, content, methodology, skills, and responsibilities of communication;
• To provide specialized training for those entering communication-centered professions including: management, sales, public relations, training; broadcasting and electronic media; and theatre and the performing arts;
• To provide background courses for those desiring to enter communication related fields including ministry, law, education, government, social services, journalism, and graduate studies;
• To help students develop skills through involvement in a nationally competitive forensics program, internships in major corporations, law firms, radio and television stations, and professional theatre companies.

Tradition of Excellence

The Department of Communication and Theatre is a comprehensive and dynamic department that prepares students for leadership in a variety of communication-intensive careers. Classroom instruction is enhanced by the smaller class sizes and individual attention from faculty who are committed to the academic and personal success of each student. There are five programs of study to choose from: Communication (general), Managerial and Organizational Communication, Theatre, Media Communication and an interdepartmental major in Broadcast Journalism. As a part of the curriculum, a 120 hour internship must be completed; many internships result in full-time jobs upon graduation.

Career Opportunities

Experiences in the classroom are greatly enhanced by the department’s co-curricular and professional opportunities. Point Loma Nazarene University has one of the most respected and award-wining speech and debate teams in the nation. The Theatre program has been the home for more than 100 stage productions in the last 29 years including The Glass Menagerie, The Boys Next Door, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music.

The department also supervises an on campus cable television channel – CCTV-3 and an Internet-based radio station, KPLR. Both stations are student-managed, creating original productions for on-campus audiences. The stations are based in well equipped facilities which include a multi-camera studio, digital audio and video editing, field production cameras and radio broadcast booths. Recent showcase productions include independent films, a game show and an all day Christmas music request show raising money for local charities. Students also have opportunities to work in PLNU publications such as the student newspaper, yearbook, and literary magazine.

Communication students seeking further academic opportunities have presented original research atprofessional conferences and gained successful admission into graduate schools.

A degree in Communication and Theatre canprepare a student for a career inmedia,communication and business, public relations,theatre and performing arts and other relatedcareers in politics and government, lay, social and human services, journalism, and ministry.

Majors and Minors

Majors
    Broadcast Journalism
    Communication
    Managerial and Organizational Communication
    Media Communication
    Theatre

Minors

    Communication
    Media Communication
    Public Relations
    Theatre

Courses

Faculty