The department encourages students to seek out internships to further develop their skills and prepare them for a career in media. Each concentration requires the successful completion of an internship to complete the degree.
The department has added new digital cameras and video equipment along with the upgrading of our digital editing bays. The new bays include Mac dual G5 processors and are equipped with Final Cut Pro software. The digital cameras have enhanced our photography and photojournalism program. The new additions allow students to have access to professional cameras and lens.
Majors are encouraged to write for and participate in the design of the student newspaper. WGWG-FM and the campus-wide cable system, Web-Net, are also available for those interested in gaining practical experience in radio and television broadcasting.
Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree or a minor in Communication Studies, Journalism, or Theatre Arts.
NOTE: The Department of Communication Studies uses the Apple Mac platform in the computer lab and for teaching production-based courses. All department coursework will be taught using software designed for the Mac. In the communication industry, it is the standard computer platform, especially in graphics, photography and video. Students, who major in Communication Studies, are encouraged to consider purchasing a Mac for their personal computer use. Here's some reasons to switch. FCheck here for our computer recommendations.
Additionally, all students must purchase a 80GB or larger, firewire hard drive for production coursework. This allows students to protect their work from accidental loss in the computer lab and will allow them to accumulate work that can be used in their portfolio.
Sports Photographer Dave Black teaches seminar for students
Dave Black, internationally known sports photographer was on campus teaching Gardner-Webb University students about sports photography Aug. 31 - Sept. 3. He evaluated portfolios, taught arena lighting, and shot volleyball and footbal with the students. To see their images click here. On Thursday evening he did a presentation of his work. For more information about Black visit his website.
Computer Reccomendations
Students who are Communication Studies or Journalism majors are strongly encouraged to consider purchasing a Mac computer for their work during college. Macs are the industry standard in video, photography and graphics. We as a department utiize Macs in our teaching labs and it makes it much easier for students to have the same platform. We have developed a list of recomended computers, for students to choose from
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New Curriculum
Students entering Gardner-Webb University under the Fall 2005 catalog who desire to major in Communication Studies or Journalism will have a new curriculum and several changes in the concentrations. All new majors will be required to complete a core of five course which include: COMM 220 - Digital Media Convergence, COMM 310 - Scriptwring, COMM 320 - Media Operations and Management, COMM 380 - Communication Theory, and COMM 480 - Mass Media Law. Majors will then choose a concentration and the requirements to complete the degree. For more information, contact a Communication Studies professor.
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Legacy Featured
on Big Screen
The Legacy: A Ghost Story written and directed by GWU professor Jim Lawrence, filmed and edited by GWU students, premeired Thursday, November 18, 2004 and opened to the public the next day at the Shelby Carmike Cinema. DVDs of the film are available at the Communication Studies office. Call (704) 406-4372.
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McNally Seminars
a Big Success
National Geographic photographer Joe McNally led three days of seminars on location lighting the last weekend of October on the Gardner-Webb campus and at various locations in Boiling Springs. The seminar drew people from Chicago, Dallas, Florida, and Maryland. McNally and the students lit local residents in their place of business and then shot environmental portraits. The portraits should be online soon and a display of the work will be hung in Communication Studies Hall.
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GWU Student Document NASCAR Race
Six Gardner-Webb students and Professors Bob Carey and Denise McGill spent the week of the UAW-GM 500 NASCAR race at Lowe's Motor Speedway documenting the race from a fans perspective. Lowe's approached the department about the project and provided the team with access throughout the speedway complex and surrounding campgrounds. The students involved include: Joel Fluty, Scott Holstein,Kaylin Bowers, Christina O'Grady, Amy Hipskind, and Amy Mayo. We want to thank Tom Young and Rodney Brown of Young RV Sales for their gracious help during the race.
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FOX 18 Home to
five GWU Grads
The Department of Communication Studies currently has four graduates working at Charlotte's FOX 18. Kelli Bartick (F'02) is a Sunday-Wednesday Night Sports Anchor; Crystal Garrett (F'03) is a morning Assistant Producer; Erica Greene (02) is an editor; and Holly Hamrick ('03) and Wendy Shockley ('03) are both production assistants.
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Students and faculty documented the UAW-GM 500 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway October 13-17, 2004. The team focused on the fan's perspective of the race. The team included left to right: Prof. Bob Carey, Scott Holstein, Kaylin Bowers, Joel Fluty, Christina O'Grady, and Prof. Denise McGill in front of a motorhome which served as their base of operations during the coverage. The motorhome was donated by Young RV Sales. Not pictured are Amy Hipskind and Amy Mayo.
