Dr. Knopf's Advising Info
COMMUNICATION & MEDIA STUDIES

The Programs
The Communication & Media Studies Department at SUNY Cortland offers degrees in communication studies, media production, and cinema studies that are supported by professional-level production facilities. These majors allow you to tailor your program of study to meet personal learning and employment objectives.
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BA Communication Studies - with optional concentrations in:
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Journalism
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Popular Culture
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Public Relations/Advertising
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BA New Communication Media
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BA Cinema Study
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BS Media Production
Minors are also available in Communication Studies and Cinema Study.

Examples of SUNY Cortland Courses
COM 100 - Human Communication
COM 110 - Introduction to Media Production
COM 203 - Introduction to Media Writing
COM 235 - Introduction to Media Literacy
COM 210 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking
COM 302 - Intercultural Communication
COM 335 - Issues in Digital Culture
COM 342 - Television Studio Production
COM 349 - Multimedia Production
COM 350 - New Communication Media
COM 360 - Sports Media
COM 371 - Advertising
COM 372 - Public Relations
COM 400 - Communication Law and Ethics
COM 446 - Advanced Filmmaking

Experiential Learning
SUNY Cortland is home to several well-equipped production facilities:
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Multimedia Studio: A networked editing facility offers mixed format editing & post-production capabilities, computer workstations with major software & field cameras
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Audio Studio: The sound studio & control room serves as home to WSUC-FM, SUNY Cortland’s NPR affiliate radio station.
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Television Studio: The three-camera TV studio includes a fully-equipped control room and fiber connection to the local cable system and campus television network.
Student media clubs include:
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20CSTV television station
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WSUC-FM radio station
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The Dragon Chronicle newspaper

Expert Faculty
The SUNY Cortland Communication & Media Studies Department boasts award-winning faculty, locally and internationally recognized for their achievements in teaching, journalism, film-making, advocacy, writing, and scholarship.
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The faculty are experienced in teaching, studying, and working across a variety of media and communication fields, including multi-media production, public relations, advertising, journalism, creative writing, interpersonal and intercultural communication, popular and digital culture, communication and media history, organizational communication, political and health communication, and sports journalism and broadcasting.

Nationally Recognized
Zippia.com ranked SUNY Cortland at No. 3 in New York State on its 2019 list of "Best Colleges for Communication Majors."
Communication and Media Studies programs were among the Top Ten Majors for SUNY Cortland's class of 2023, according to US News & World Report.

Earning Power
In 2020, the median income for careers in communication and media fields was $41,280 - $74,650.

Benefits & Outcomes
A graduate with a communication degree will possess knowledge, skills, and abilities that are desired in many career fields.
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Craft oral & written messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
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Identify & overcoming impediments to successful communication.
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Critically analyze messages.
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Apply ethical communication principles & practices to work.
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Influence public discourse.
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Utilize communication to meaningfully embrace difference

Many Paths
Graduates with degrees in communication or media have a wide variety of potential careers:
▪ Account Executive ▪ Accreditation Specialist ▪ Activist ▪ Activities Director ▪ Admissions Director ▪ Alumni Coordinator ▪ Announcer ▪ Brand Manager ▪ Broadcaster ▪ Business Manager ▪ Buyer ▪ Cameraperson ▪ Camp Director ▪ Campaign Director ▪ Career Adviser ▪ Child Welfare Worker ▪ Claims Adjuster ▪ Communications Director ▪ College Recruiter ▪ Communication Consultant ▪ Communication Director ▪ Community Advocate ▪ Community Affairs Liaison ▪ Community Relations Manager ▪ Conference Leader ▪ Content Creator ▪ Corporate Trainer ▪ Counselor ▪ Creative Director ▪ Crisis Manager ▪ Customer Service Specialist ▪ Data Analyst ▪ Debate Coach ▪ Digital Media Director ▪ Diversity Consultant ▪ Editor ▪ Event Planner ▪ Events Coordinator ▪ Filmmaker ▪ Fundraiser ▪ Graphic Designer ▪ Health Services Manager ▪ Hotel Manager ▪ Human Resources Manager ▪ Human Rights Officer ▪ Influencer ▪ International ▪ Program Coordinator ▪ Journalist ▪ Labor Negotiator ▪ Law Firm Recruiter ▪ Lawyer ▪ Leasing Consultant ▪ Lobbyist ▪ Management Trainer ▪ Market Researcher ▪ Marketing Coordinator ▪ Media Buyer ▪ Media Relations Representative ▪ Mediator ▪ Motivational Speaker ▪ Multicultural Specialist ▪ Museum Curator ▪ Negotiator ▪ Newscaster ▪ Paralegal ▪ Parliamentarian ▪ Patient Rights Advocate ▪ Pharmaceutical Representative ▪ Photographer ▪ Platform Manager ▪ Political Analyst ▪ Press Secretary ▪ Producer ▪ Product Manager ▪ Production Manager ▪ Property Manager ▪ Public Health Communicator ▪ Public Information Officer ▪ Public Relations Coordinator ▪ Quality Inspector ▪ Reporter ▪ Sales Representative ▪ Sales Strategist ▪ Social Media Strategist ▪ Sound Technician ▪ Student Activities Director ▪ Systems Administrator ▪ Teacher ▪ Tour Guide ▪ Travel Manager ▪ Videographer ▪ Webmaster ▪ Wedding Consultant ▪ Writer ▪ MUCH MORE!​

Famous Communication, Media, and Rhetoric Students throughout History
To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.










































































ADVISING RESOURCES
REGISTERING FOR CLASSES
How to use the online registration system, including adding and deleting classes.
PINs
PINs are "personal identification numbers" that allow you to register for classes. The university requires that all students meet with their advisor prior to registering for classes; your advisor will issue your PIN at your advising meeting.
TIME TICKETS
Time tickets are when you can begin registering for the following semester, They are issued about one month in advance of pre-registration and can be found in MyRedDragon in the Registrar channel. They are based on how many credit hours you have completed (not counting courses you are currently taking).
ACCOUNT HOLDS
How to find, understand, and address financial holds that can prevent you from registering for classes.
CHANGING PROGRAM:
"WHAT IF" ANALYSIS
If you're considering making any changes to your major(s) or minor(s), you can use DegreeWorks to explore what it means for your degree progress.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Using the Banner Course Schedule may offer you more options, and better information, than using just the Schedule Builder. For information on how to use it, see the link provided.
CREDIT LOADS & OVERLOADS
​12 credits per semester is full-time - which is often needed in order to receive financial aid and for certain scholarships. 15 credits per semester is a "normal" load to achieve the 120 credits needed for a BA in 4 years. 18 credits is the maximum allowed without receiving permission for an overload. To apply for an overload, you must have a GPA of at least 3.0 and apply for permission. Winter Session overloads are 6+ credits and Summer Sessions I & II are 9+ credits. The overload form is found at the provided link.
ELECTIVES
There are basically 3 types of electives you will take while completing your degree. 1) Electives that are part your major. These are any Communication courses that are not part of the core requirements.You can choose these courses based on what best fits your scheduling needs or based on what best fits your interests or career goals. 2) For the Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirement, most courses you take for your GEs, major(s), and any minor(s) will also count as LASR courses. But they won't necessarily fill all of the 90 "LASR" credits you need. So, you have the option to take any course designated LASR to fill the remaining credits. Activities courses (like internships, sports, and media participation) usually don't count in this category, nor do "special topics" classes (courses number 129, 229, 329, or 429). You can check to see if a course is LASR by looking at its Attributes in the course schedule on Banner/MyRedDragon. 3) General Electives. Every degree requires 120 total credits. It's possible to meet all the requirements -to check off all the boxes in your DegreeWorks - and still have not reached 120 credits. Every course you take and pass will count towards the 120, and if the course doesn't fall into any of the major requirements, minor requirements, GE requirements, or college requirements, it will count as an "elective."
FINANCIAL AID
How to understand, use, keep, and get financial assistance for your education.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT
How to identify where you should start in the required language sequence.
GRIEVANCES
Communicate your concerns to the instructor first. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, communicate with that faculty's department chair. If necessary, follow the procedures for filing a grievance.
TRANSFERRING CREDITS
How to transfer credits earned at another school toward your SUNY Cortland degree.Note:
SUNY Cortland grants the maximum number of transfer credits possible for courses completed from approved sources. Students may earn:
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30 credits maximum combined, from tests such as AP, IB, CLEP, OPI, A levels.
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64 credits maximum from two-year colleges. This maximum credit limit includes not only coursework but also credit by exam.
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90 credits maximum from four-year colleges
To earn a Cortland bachelor's degree, all students must complete in residency (at/through Cortland):
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Half the required coursework in majors and minors must be completed at SUNY Cortland
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30 credit hours minimum must be completed at SUNY Cortland
WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE
The first week of each semester is the "add/drop" period; during this time, you can make changes to your schedule in MyRedDragon. Between weeks 2 and 11, if you want to drop a course, you have to formally withdraw from it. Withdrawing from a course means that you will receive a W on your transcript; this is not a grade and has no impact on your GPA; it is just a marker that you did not complete the course and may opt to take it again. Before withdrawing from a class, you should talk to your advisor about the impact it will have on your degree progress and to financial aid about how it might impact your aid, scholarships, or other billing concerns. To withdraw, you must complete the form found at the link provided.
RETAKING A COURSE
If you are trying to register for a course that you have already taken, have transfer or other credit for, you must contact the department offering the course for permission to retake the class. When you retake a Cortland course, all grades received will remain on the official transcript, but only the last grade received will be included in the quality and GPA and hours toward graduation.
Things your advisor can do:
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Help you find resources and information you need.
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Help you identify the people or offices you need to contact to ask certain questions or resolve certain issues.
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Help you to understand your degree requirements.
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Help to make sure you're on the path you want to be on.
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Help you identify appropriate electives.
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Make suggestions about what courses to take & when.
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Discuss career options or graduate study options.
Things your advisor usually cannot do:
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Handle financial issues.
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Lift holds on your account.
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Reserve or open seats for you in classes.
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Get you into full classes.
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Change your registration date/time.
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Override course restrictions (like program requirements or prerequisites) that prevent you from taking a class.
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Create your schedule of classes for you (though I can and will help with that)
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Register for classes for you.
- Change the degree requirements for you.