Communication

Associate Professor Betsy Alderman, Head

UTC’s Department of Communication is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).

Mission Statement

The principal mission of the Communication Department is to provide a firm grounding in the liberal arts and sciences and strong professional preparation so that students are educated for satisfying lives and successful careers.

Goals of the curriculum help graduates to:

develop a realistic vision of the future so that they may adapt and grow as their professions evolve;
make responsible decisions based on their appreciation of the ethical imperatives of their professions;
manifest sensitivity to, and understanding of, the aspirations of women and men of different ethnic origins;
demonstrate problem-solving competencies that will equip them for positions of leadership;
pursue courses of study at the graduate and professional levels.

As a unit of a metropolitan university, the department is committed to serve the people and the communication professions of Chattanooga and Southeast Tennessee through the application of its collective knowledge, skills, and resources.

The Department of Communication offers the bachelor of arts degree requiring a combination of broad liberal learning and specialized study in communication.

In addition to completing the university’s general education curriculum , Communication majors complete a 21-hour core of seven courses and select 12 hours in communication electives that allow for focused learning in specific professional areas. Faculty members strive to incorporate relevant ACEJMC Values and Competencies* into every course in the curriculum.

Communication majors are required to complete an internship of 150 hours, which is designed to give students practical experience in a professional setting. Faculty members assist in the placement and oversight of interns. Students may intern in local and regional settings including Web and multi-media development, print and broadcast journalism, magazine journalism, television and radio production, corporate communications and agency, corporate and non-profit public relations, advertising agencies and sales.

Graduates work professional fields including print and broadcast journalism, magazine production, public relations, advertising, broadcast production, Web development and design, multi-media production and presentation, corporate communications, media relations, television and film industries, and many, many others.

The communication degree at UTC also provides a solid foundation for further study in graduate or professional schools. Graduates have entered the University of Florida, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of South Florida, University of Texas, University of Mississippi Law Schools and others.

Learning outcomes

UTC’s Communication Department provides a curriculum and instruction that enable students to learn the knowledge, competencies and values the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication defines for preparing students to work in a diverse global and domestic society.

^*Professional Values and Competencies

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications requires that, irrespective of their particular specialization, all graduates should be aware of certain core values and competencies and be able to:

understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and
petition for redress of grievances;
demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications;
understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
think critically, creatively and independently;
conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve;
critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

Diversity Statement

UTC’s Department of Communication is committed to achieving and maintaining diversity in its curriculum, educational environment, and faculty and student populations. This includes creating a supportive climate for the underrepresented and disadvantaged, encouraging the free expression of diverse intellectual and cultural perspectives, and regularly evaluating progress towards diversity goals.

Faculty believe that diversity advances social equality in the communication fields and in society as a whole, empowers individuals to explore and appreciate their unique attributes and life experiences, challenges stereotypes and promotes critical thinking skills, prepares our graduates to communicate effectively to increasingly multicultural audiences, and enriches the experiences of everyone in the academic community. The faculty work to create a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment for underrepresented faculty and students, including ethnic, religious, and racial minorities, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals, the economically disadvantaged, and nontraditional and international students.