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Integrated Media

Simmons students in the radio studio

Uplift, educate, and create change through storytelling

Through Simmons University’s integrated media minor and concentration, you’ll gain confidence in your vision. 

You’ll learn the tools to communicate across multiple media, including drawing, digital media, video, animation, digital imaging, web, photography, and radio. You'll also learn to harness this knowledge to develop media strategy and marketing campaigns to target audiences.

Our state-of-the-art facilities offer opportunities to create, collaborate, and connect. You'll hone your advanced aesthetic abilities and apply them to real-world projects. You may:

  • Develop communications strategies for real non-profit clients at Studio 5.
  • Gain journalism experience at our student-run newspaper, The Simmons Voice.
  • Make your voice heard and gain experience in broadcasting at Simmons Radio.

Our location in Boston means you will be ample sources of inspiration. We're close to art and cultural institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts and the Institute of Contemporary Art. You will also be close to filmmakers, multimedia artists, and comic creators.

Why pursue a minor in integrated media at Simmons?

By studying integrated media, you'll develop a keen understanding of all communications disciplines. You'll gain knowledge in design, journalism, public relations, and integrated marketing communications — instrumental to any creative workplace.

Boston ranks in the top 5 US media markets. You'll have countless exciting and rigorous internship and career opportunities at your fingertips. Our students thrive in careers in television, multimedia, content production, digital marketing, and social media management.

We offer integrated media as a stand-alone minor and as a concentration within the communications major.

Required Courses (8 credits, choose two):

COMM121 Visual Communication 4
COMM122 Media Writing and Editing 4
COMM124 Media, Messages and Society 4

Tech Courses (2 credits, choose two)

COMM110 Introduction to 2D Design Technology 1 1
COMM112 Introduction to Animation & Motion Graphics Technology 1 1
COMM114 Introduction to Audio and Video Editing 1

Electives (select two):

COMM120 Communications Media 4
COMM163 Radio Operations and Podcasting 4
COMM220 Video Production 4
COMM222 Animation 4
COMM 224 Storytelling 4
COMM262 Media Convergence 4
COMM323 Digital Cultures 4

The communications department offers a program in Communications with concentrations in Design, Journalism, and Integrated Media, a joint program between Communications and the Business in Public Relations and Marketing Communications, a joint program between Communications and Computer Science in Web Design and Development, an Interdisciplinary major in Arts Administration, and three Complete Degree programs, which are entirely on-line and geared toward adult learners. The course requirements for these programs follow.

BA in Communications

Communications majors complete 42 credits in Communications, including 3 required core courses, 2 1-credit technology courses, 4 courses in their concentration, 2 courses outside their concentration, and an independent learning Capstone experience.

Step One: Core Requirements

All Communications students take a three-course introductory core:

COMM121 Visual Communication 4
COMM122 Media Writing and Editing 4
COMM124 Media, Messages and Society 4
 

Step Two: Technology Courses

All students complete at least two-credits of technology skill-based courses:

COMM110 Introduction to 2D Design Technology 1 1
COMM112 Introduction to Animation & Motion Graphics Technology 1 1
COMM114 Introduction to Audio and Video Editing 1

Step Three: Concentration Courses

Courses are broadly organized around the concentrations of Design, Integrated Media, and Journalism.

Students take 4 courses in one of the concentrations below, and 2 courses distributed among the other two concentrations. At least two of these six courses should be at the 300 level.

Design Integrated Media Journalism
COMM 210 Introduction to Graphic Design COMM 120 Communications Media COMM 181 Public Speaking and Presentation
COMM 241 Design Thinking COMM 163 Radio Operations and Podcasting
COMM 215 Blogging and Op/Ed Writing
COMM 240 Typography COMM 186 Introduction to Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications COMM 260 Journalism
COMM 244 Web Design COMM 224 Storytelling COMM 263 Social Media Journalism
COMM 246 Digital Imaging for Design
 COMM 220 Video Production
 COMM 310 In-Depth Storytelling
COMM 248 Type and Image COMM 222 Animation COMM 312 Health Communications
COMM 286 Advertising Practice and Branding COMM 262 Media Convergence COMM 320 Media and the First Amendment
COMM 333 Responsive Design
 COMM 269 Globalization and Intercultural Communications (periodic travel course)  COMM 322 Video Journalism
COMM 340 Advanced Design COMM 281 Content Creation and Strategies
 COMM 327 Culture of the News
  COMM 323 Digital Cultures
  
  COMM 324 Social Media: Social Listening and Analytics  

Step Four: Capstone

Students take at least 4 credits of an independent learning Capstone in the senior year:

COMM370 Internship 4
COMM380 Capstone Internship 0
COMM390 Studio 5: A Communication Workplace 4

Integrated Media Concentration

Students in Integrated Media complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Integrated Media concentration, 2 courses in Design and/or Journalism, and a Capstone.

Integrated Media Courses:

COMM120 Communications Media 4
COMM163 Radio Operations and Podcasting 4
COMM186 Introduction to Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications 4
COMM220 Video Production 4
COMM222 Animation 4
COMM 224 Storytelling 4
COMM262 Media Convergence 4
COMM269 Globalization and Intercultural Communication 4
COMM281 Content Creation and Strategy 4
COMM323 Digital Cultures 4
COMM324 Social Media: Social Listening and Analytics 4

Journalism Concentration

Students in the Journalism Concentration complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Journalism concentration, 2 courses in Design and/or Integrated Media, and a Capstone.

Journalism Courses:

COMM181 Public Speaking and Presentation 4
COMM 215 Blogging & Opinion and Editorial Writing 4
COMM260 Journalism 4
COMM263 Social Media Journalism 4
COMM310 In-Depth Storytelling 4
COMM312 Health Communications 4
COMM320 Media and the First Amendment 4
COMM322 Video Journalism 4
COMM327 Culture of the News 4

Design Concentration

Students in the Design Concentration complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Design concentration, 2 courses in Journalism and/or Integrated Media, and a Capstone.

Design Concentration Courses:

COMM210 Introduction to Graphic Design 4
COMM240 Typography 4
COMM241 Design Thinking 4
COMM244 Web Design 4
COMM246 Digital Imaging for Design 4
COMM248 Type and Image 4
COMM286 Intro to Advertising Practice and Branding 4
COMM333 Responsive Design 4
COMM340 Advanced Design 4

Take advantage of internships at arts and cultural organizations in Boston and beyond, building your skills and resumes and learning from mentors in your fields.

You'll fulfill their independent learning and internship requirements in a variety of ways, including recent placements at Mullen, Harvard Medical School, and the Boston Ballet.

Our Faculty

Bob White photo

Bob White

Professor

Briana Martino

Briana Martino

Associate Professor and Department Chair

Erica Moura photo

Erica Moura

Associate Professor of Practice

Headshot of Kat Lombard-Cook

Kat Lombard-Cook

Assistant Professor & the Design Track Director and the Integrated Media Track Director

Luke Romanak

Luke Romanak

Associate Director, Student Driven Media and Academic Technology

Julia Barber

Assistant Teaching Professor

Stacy Clougherty

Adjunct Faculty

Ren Deacon

Adjunct Faculty

Ellen Grabiner photo

Ellen Grabiner

Professor Emerita

Kristina Markos headshot

Kristina Markos

Adjunct Faculty

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