Sterling College

The Communication and Theatre Arts major provides a course of study and experiences designed to give students foundational knowledge and skills through core courses in public and mass communication and theatre arts with more specialized emphases in Communication Arts, Theatre Arts, or Education Licensure in Communication and Theatre arts. Students completing the major will be able to effectively communicate in a variety of settings; understand the basic theory, methods, and critical tools that undergird the field; be able to creatively integrate and synthesize their knowledge and skills within the discipline; understand and apply the tools of effective leadership; be conversant with ethical, moral, and Christian faith issues relating to the field; and be aware of serving opportunities, career options, and strategies for entry into the professions of the field.

The Communication Arts Emphasis explores a range of communication interests including theory, principles and practices in mass media communications and speech communication. From interpersonal and group to public and mass media, the emphasis balances theory with “hands on” practice through the media laboratory and the forensics laboratory and program. Students receive valuable intercollegiate competition in speaking, debate, and oral interpretation and may participate in Pi Kappa Delta, a national forensics society and the oldest honorary society on campus. The curriculum emphasizes matters of faith and ethics along with creative stewardship and servant leadership, recognizing that human communication may be better understood in light of Christ’s revelation of God’s divine communication to humanity. The communication arts practicum places students in observation/work programs with professionals in fields such as advertising, broadcasting, journalism, public relations, and related areas.

Students may also participate for a semester at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center studying film, interning at a significant Hollywood company, interacting with Christian leaders in the film community, and learning and practicing a variety of filmmaking skills. Another significant program available is the Summer Institute of Journalism in Washington, DC, where students spend four weeks interacting with journalists, writing news stories, and enhancing portfolios and résumés. Both of these programs are offered through Sterling’s membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Communication Arts career possibilities include work in news media, public relations, personnel, advertising, marketing, training and development, management, sales, or any career that requires skills in public presentation; conference, groups, and organizational skills; public relations skills; influencing, persuading skills; educational/ instructional skills; intercultural skills; language skills; helping and human services skills; research, investigation, and idea generation skills. Other careers include editing and writing, education, law, and ministry. Some of these career areas require advanced study beyond the baccalaureate degree.

The Theatre Arts Emphasis provides the student with focused study in theatre history, criticism, literature, design, and advanced performance & production including acting, stagecrafts, and directing. Theatre laboratories give students acting and production experience through an annual season of plays including musicals, classics, and modern drama via settings including mainstage, intimate dinner theatre, touring children’s theatre, and alternative spaces. Plays are chosen to cover a representative range of styles, genre, topics, and periods in any four-year course of study. Work and practicum opportunities are also available in professional theatres, summer stock, theme parks, and other related settings. Theatre Arts graduates have obtained professional work as actors, advertising executives, scene builders, costumers, announcers, stage property managers, arts agency promoters, theme park entertainers, and professional entertainers, while others have used their skills and perspectives in teaching, small business, public relations, the ministry, law, and human service occupations. The program has an excellent record of students being admitted to graduate programs. Skills and qualities developed by the program include organization, artistic design, self-expression, leadership, human relations, self-awareness, critical judgment, and creativity.

COMMUNICATION AND THEATRE ARTS MAJOR (BA)

* These are one-hour courses. State licensure requirements mandate experience in both areas, but the student may choose to take each class twice or to take either class once and the other three times. One of the four lab credits must be service related (CT150S or CT155S.) Communication emphasis majors seeking education licensure must take at least one Theatre Lab where they work in the production areas of both costuming and make-up.

In addition to the required core courses, the student must choose one of the following emphasis areas:

COMMUNICATION ARTS EMPHASIS

THEATRE ARTS EMPHASIS

Note: Courses required for licensure in Speech and Theatre Education do fulfill the requirements for a major in Communication and Theatre Arts.

All professional education and major coursework must be completed before Clinical Teaching Experience. Refer to Education section – Secondary & PreK- 12 Teacher Licensure Programs for professional education courses required.

The candidate for second field endorsement in Speech and Theatre Education must be certified in English..