March 29, 2019
NORTH ADAMS, MA—MCLA announces that it is adding a new bachelor’s degree program in
communications, plus a concentration in digital media innovation, to be offered starting
Fall 2019. Current MCLA students will also be able to transition into this major if
they so desire. This new degree will be offered through the MCLA Department of English/Communications.
The Communications major and its Digital Media Innovation concentration will prepare
students within the English/Communications Department who want to pursue careers in
the communications professions, including (but not limited to) journalism, public
relations (PR) and corporate communications, broadcast, radio, film, and digital media.
The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved the new program in March.
The curriculum in this major incorporates courses in communications research, a range
of media production skills, writing, English, and media and cultural studies. It will
allow students to seek jobs in a number of communications fields that are increasingly
in demand, and it will give them the necessary overall communication skills that are
highly sought after by companies. Students will have the ability to adapt to and thrive
in a rapidly changing technological environment. Furthermore, it will prepare those
wishing to continue with graduate study in media and cultural studies, journalism,
or related fields within the context of a liberal arts education.
“Communications skills are in high demand,” said MCLA President James F. Birge, Ph.D.
“A Harvard Business Review study of 22 million job postings from 2014-15 identified
communications as one of the skills employers look for in potential new hires. This
new program, with its expanded course offerings, will prepare our students to work
in a variety of related fields, and give them the digital media literacy skills needed
in today’s workplace.”
The Communications major will build upon resources that are unique to the Berkshire
region, including but not limited to the growing creative economy and the relatively
underserved media market in the county, especially in the northern part of the county.
Partly because of Berkshire County’s location “on the edges” of the bigger media markets
of Albany and Springfield, there is a paucity of locally produced media outlets, especially
digital, video, and audio media organizations. Students have been starting to fill
this void with independent study projects and internships, local election coverage
on public access television, and expanding their coverage in student media to include
the towns of North Adams, Adams, Cheshire, and Williamstown. This presents a unique
opportunity for students to interact with the local community in developing stories
that also helps local citizens stay informed of relevant happenings.
Furthermore, the growing creative economy has created a need for public relations
expertise in order to promote the many events and opportunities for tourists and local
residents alike. Everything from website development to printed brochures, newsletters,
and press releases are needed by the new organizations being created throughout the
county. This need, in turn, encourages students to remain in the county after graduation,
something many graduates have said they wish to do, which could be a factor in slowing
the general population decline in Berkshire County.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is the Commonwealth's public liberal
arts college and a campus of the Massachusetts state university system. MCLA promotes
excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity,
public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship. MCLA graduates
are prepared to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.
For more information, go to www.mcla.edu.
