Are you a writer, editor or social media junkie? UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Professional Communication & Emerging Media (PCEM) offers a variety of career paths for people who are interested in creating and delivering content that is tailored to specific audiences.
100% of Graduates Employed or Continuing Education
Career-Defining Curriculum
Professional communication and emerging media is a rapidly growing profession. Development of new technologies has increased the demand for professionals who can clearly explain policies, products and services to clients and customers. UW-Stout’s program integrates communication theory with coursework in a chosen applied field.
The core of our program includes courses in:
- Document Design
- Convergent Communication
- Usability Design and Testing
- Digital Storytelling
- Writing for the Internet
- Transnational Professional Communication
- Foreign Language/Global Experience
Program Overview
Degree Concentrations
- Applied Journalism: Prepare for the new age in journalism by exploring multimedia, interactivity and content repurposing.
- Digital Humanities: Develop the skills to recognize trends in technology and communicate how technology affects the way people communicate, interact and comprehend the world.
Examples of applied fields include biomedical engineering, packaging, international studies, quality management, telecommunications, tourism, training and development, art and design, and business and management. As a PCEM graduate, you will have the skills to research, visualize, design, develop and oversee publication of both print and electronic documents.
"I met some of the most important people in my life during my time on campus. UW-Stout has given me the opportunity to gain fantastic experience that I can put towards my career after graduation."
-- Kylie FrankB.S. Professional Communications & Emerging Media
Copy editing and preparation, multimedia or hypertext writing, and critical, technical and freelance writing courses prepare you to write clearly for specific audiences. In addition, courses in an applied field of your choice supply the strong technical background crucial to communicating complex ideas to different audiences. Elective courses give you the chance to explore other areas, such as photography or creative writing. All students will participate in a co-op, internship or practicum during their career.
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Communication and Emerging Media.
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Communication is everywhere. Whether you’re reading a website, texting your friends, speaking with your boss, sending an email or writing a paper, you are engaged in communication. It is one of the most important skills you can develop in the Information Age – and it can be a great career track. Do you want to be on the cutting edge?
Core Curriculum Objectives
- Correctly gauge audience concerns and attitudes
- Apply appropriate rhetorical principles
- Understand and apply concepts and strategies of global communication
- Understand interpersonal, organizational, and intercultural communication within discourse communities
- Understand and apply ethical concepts
- Apply visual communication strategies
- Apply information design strategies
- Apply research techniques
- Demonstrate use of audience-appropriate styles
- Use genres effectively
- Apply usability strategies
- Design and conduct usability tests, applying appropriate user research methodology
- Understand concepts of content management and use content management systems
- Gain experience with project management and collaborative work environments
Applied Journalism Concentration Objectives
- Write effectively for a variety of audiences within chosen industry fields
- Produce relevant, timely content in a production environment
- Understand mass communication concepts
Digital Humanities Concentration Objectives
- Plan, research, and write a major project in a humanities field using appropriate technology
- Articulate the social, cultural, and/or developmental impacts of technologically mediated communication
- Appreciate the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the study of technology, and adapt to unique methodologies
- Deploy both theoretical reflections on and technical uses of digital media in interpretive inquiry
Advisory Committee Members
| Paul | Anheier | Researcher | Target, Co. |
| Teena | Carnegie | Director Technical Communication | Eastern Washington University |
| Brian | Croxall | Assistant Research Professor of DH | Brigham Young University |
| Kevin | Drzakowski | Associate Dean, CAHS | UW-Stout |
| Matt | Gundrum | Producer | Audacy, Inc./Gleam Tower Media |
| Rachel | Hallgrimson | Social Media & Video Coordinator, Marketing Communications | UW–Stout |
| Catherine | Jacobs | Program Office Associate | UW-Stout |
| Maria | Jahn | Technical Communications Manager | Kohler Co. |
| David | Madden | Senior Manager of Digital Content | HealthPartners |
| Colin | Marklowitz | Team Leader, Technical Communications | Kohler Co. |
| Amy | Mittlestadt | Public Affairs Manager | Mayo Clinic Health System |
| Mitch | Ogden | Associate Professor; Director, Honors College | UW-Stout |
| Daisy | Pignetti | Professor | UW-Stout |
| Cody | Reimer | Associate Professor; Program Director, B.S. Game & Media Studies | UW-Stout |
| Kate | Roberts Edenborg | Professor; Program Director | UW-Stout |
| Alison | Saxton | Technical Writer | The Toro Company |
| Jason | Schmitt | Dean, CAHS | UW-Stout |
| Gregory | Schneider-Bateman | Professor | UW-Stout |
| Emi | Stuemke | Instructor | UW-Stout |
| Julie | Watts | Professor; Department Chair, English, Philosophy & Communication Studies Department | UW-Stout |
