Communication Minor
The Minor in Communication is open to all baccalaureate students outside the Professional Communications program, and consists of five courses for a total of 15 credits. Of the five courses, three are required and two are electives to be selected from any other available PCM courses at the 300-level. Students taking this minor will gain a solid foundation in Professional Communication, including an introduction to the various communication industries, the application of various methods and technologies for effective communication in organizations, and the ability to write, edit and produce various types of communications.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will improve their ability to create professional communication documents and presentations using Microsoft Office applications, designed according to the purpose, function, and venue for which these are intended.
- Students will develop skill in writing for electronic media making use of industry-standard software programs in computer laboratories equipped with individual student stations.
- Students will become proficient in the process of executing a communication project, from the development of the concept to the presentation of the final product.
- Students will become familiar with a range of practical applications within the field of communication so that they are able to recognize the potential of each, and to select appropriate methods for accomplishing tasks as future employees of companies and organizations.
About Academic Minors
Farmingdale State College students are invited to enhance their studies with an "Academic Minor." A minor is a cluster of thematically related courses drawn from one or more departments. In addition to department based minors (e.g. computer programming & info systems), interdisciplinary minors are also available (e.g. legal studies).
Academic minors are approved by the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the Provost. Students must make application for an academic minor through the department offering the minor in conjunction with the Registrar's Office Specific course work must be determined in consultation with a faculty member in the department offering the minor. A statement of successful completion of the academic minor will appear on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.
- A minor is considered to be an optional supplement to a student's major program of study.
- Completion of a minor is not a graduation requirement and is subject to the availability of the courses selected. However, if the requirements for a minor are not completed prior to certification of graduation in the major, it will be assumed that the minor has been dropped. Consequently, the student will only be certified for graduation in their primary major.
- Only students in 4 year baccalaureate programs can apply for a minor.
- A minor should consist of 15 to 21 credits.
- At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 200 level or higher.
- At least 9 credits must be residency credits.
- Specific requirements for each minor are determined by the department granting the minor.
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in their minor. Some minors may require a higher GPA.
- Students are prohibited from declaring a minor in the same discipline as their major (e.g. one cannot combine an applied math minor with an applied math major). Academic minors may not apply to all curricula.
- Students are permitted to double-count courses.
- Students are only permitted to take more than one minor with appropriate written approval of their department chair or curriculum Dean.
Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.
Contact Information
Professional Communications
Dr. Charles Adair
Knapp Hall, Room 30
934-420-2321
pcm@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Fall 2026
Subject to revision
| Required Courses | (9 credits) |
|---|---|
| PCM 120 Human Communication | 3 |
| PCM 201 Foundations of Professional Communication OR | 3 |
| PCM 203 Media Literacy | |
| PCM 313W Communications Theory | 3 |
Curriculum Summary
Total Required Credits: 15
PCM 120 Human Communication
This foundational course introduces students to the interaction of the individual & society in context of communication. Students will examine written & oral communication principles, common communication practices, & a selection of theories that underpin this interaction. An emphasis is put on recognizing the value of diversity & authenticity in communication competence. Students also conduct a critical analysis of the impact of historical societal structures on communication outcomes. Through this broad examination of human communication students learn to evaluate written & oral communication for substance, bias, & intended effect.
PCM 201 Foundations of Professional Communications
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of Professional Communication. Students will learn about various areas of study including clear writing, effective oral presentations, as well as the role communication technologies play in today's workplace. Students will also be asked to consider the ethics of communicating in the workplace. The course will give students the opportunity to discuss and apply important concepts and theories within the field of Professional Communication. Prerequisite: PCM 120
PCM 203 Media Literacy
In an era of complex technology developments, rapid changes in digital communications have led to the spread of misinformation and the public's distrust of the media. The wide availability of digital multimedia holds implications for many aspects of society such as culture and politics. This Media Literacy course uses conceptual and sociological approaches to analyze and illuminate the shifts in media roles, audience roles, financial models, and digital platforms. In addition, discussions on post-truth and cognitive biases provide helpful tools to become a more perceptive and thoughtful consumer of media content. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102 with a grade of C or higher.
PCM 313W Communication Theory (Writing Intensive)
This course is designed to provide an overview of the complete process of professional communication from clarification of the problem to the presentation to the final product. The elements of communication theory are covered, as well as the criteria by which to judge the adequacies of existing theories and the techniques for developing new ones. Students will have the opportunity to work with actual communications issues within industry and present their findings in a written, oral, or visual format. This is a writing-intensive course. Prerequisite(s): EGL 101 and EGL 102 with a grade of C or higher.
PCM 305 Media in Communications
Students will apply the Microsoft Office skills which they have acquired to the creation of a number of real world professional communication documents and presentations. Students in the Professional Communications program must use Office applications effectively, carefully considering the purpose, function, audience, and venue of individual projects. This upper division course provides a range of assignments that reflect real world writing and speaking projects. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102 and junior level status
PCM 315 Research Techniques
In this course students are introduced to information science, bibliographic practices, and research methods appropriate to finding, evaluating, and incorporating into documents both online and hard copy data and graphics. Students complete several research projects. Prerequisite(s): Upper division standing or permission of department chair.
PCM 320 Communications in Business
In this course students learn to compose business documents including correspondence, directives, proposals, persuasive and informative memos, and researched, analytical reports. The course emphasizes electronic research as well as professional prose style, oral presentation, and page formatting. Prerequisite(s): Junior level status or permission of department chair.
PCM 323 Strategic Writing & Editing
In this course, students develop clean, concise, and precise prose style and master the use of professional symbols and techniques of editing in both hard copy and electronic formats. Students develop these skills in their own writing projects, those of fellow students, and those of other amateur and professional writers. This course includes the study of research, citation, and bibliographic formats for print and electronic sources. This course is equivalent to PCM 328. You cannot get credit for PCM 323 if you have taken PCM 328. Prerequisite(s): PCM 201 with a grade of C or higher.
PCM 326 Sport Writing
In this course students will learn skills in the identification of legitimate angles for sport stories, how to report sport events, develop sport feature stories, and write sport opinion pieces, both for print publication and the web. Students will submit written articles, be required to write on deadline, and develop skills on interviewing. Students will deconstruct published stories and acquire an understanding of the process of assembling a well researched and expertly crafted sport story. Note: Students completing this course may not receive credit for SMT 326. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102
PCM 327 Rhetoric and Persuasion
This course familiarizes students with the theory and practice of rhetoric with a focus on utilizing rhetorical principles in contemporary professional communications settings. Students will construct and defend different types of arguments by determining opportune contexts, styles, and types of proof. They will also analyze arguments made via various media. Prerequisite(s): PCM 201 with a grade of C or higher.
PCM 333 Organizational Communication
This course provides an overview of theories and practices of management and communication. The focus is on how communication operates in organizations, the effects of communication on organizational life, and how communication can be made more efficient and effective in meeting personal as well as organizational goals. Students will apply their knowledge to real-world Professional Communication phenomena utilizing a case-study approach. This combination of theory and application develops knowledge and skills necessary for success in corporate communication environments. Prerequisite(s): PCM 201 with a grade of C or higher
PCM 334 Culture and Communication
During this course, students explore and analyze the various ways culture and communications are interrelated. Specifically, the course is designed to help students become more effective communicators in the multi-cultural world in which they live and work. To achieve this goal, students will study various theories about the relationship between culture and communication and apply these theories to solving real world problems that they may confront in communicating with people from other cultures. This course is equivalent to PCM 426. You cannot credit for PCM 334 if you have taken PCM 426. Prerequisite(s): PCM 201 with a grade of C or higher
PCM 410 Digital Media Production
This course introduces students to advanced concepts in producing content for various digital media. Emphasis will be placed on the adoption and application of cutting-edge production applications to create customer-facing digital assets. Assignments include TV commercials, videos for social media, and photo essays. Prerequisite(s): Junior level status
PCM 411 Social Media Management
Social Media has permeated every aspect of organizational life, from HR management, to virtual meetings, to customer support. In this course, students will learn the implementation and management of social media strategies in organizations. Students will examine the most important social media platforms and the various uses of these· platforms. Through case studies, assignments, and lectures, students will learn to make strategic decisions-based research grounded in the needs of the organization and its stakeholders. Prerequisite(s): PCM 202 and PCM 323 with a grade of C or higher
PCM 416 Writing for Health and Disease
In this course students will become acquainted with a variety of health and science writing genres. The course will cover the principles of creating effective written content for lay and specialist audiences. Students will learn to produce engaging and clear health and science stories, blog posts, press releases, social media posts, and job application materials. Students will also be required to write a medical case report using AMA citation style. This course is equivalent to PCM 325. You cannot credit for PCM 416 if you have taken PCM 325. Prerequisite(s): Junior level Status or PCM 201 with a grade of C or higher
PCM 417 Communication Campaign Development
The goal of this course is to examine the practice of strategic communication through traditional and new media for the purpose of benefitting both profit and non-profit organizations or bringing about social change. In the process, students will apply this knowledge for the benefit of a real-world client. Throughout the semester, each student will work with a team and use research to answer their client's questions and provide recommendations. The final product will be presented to their clients. Students taking this course cannot receive credit for VIS 346. Prerequisite(s): PCM 201 with a grade of C or higher.
PCM 418 Communications and Conflict Management
This course provides the tools, techniques, and skills needed to build your influence and communication capacities in order to connect and resonate with teams and stakeholders. This course is designed for individuals interested in learning more about the art and science of influence in organizations. The class materials also cover important topics for successful conflict management: effects of culture and subculture, as well as application of diverse reconciliation methods to conflict resolution. The objectives of this course include: a) to have you see the world differently - to change what you notice and think about and how you apprehend the world around you - and b) to also change what you do as you navigate through that world. You will examine the context of the individual, team, organization, and society as a whole, enabling you to identify where effective communication can be applied to achieve high impact and influence. Prerequisite(s): Any 200 or 300 level PCM course with a grade of C or higher