What does four years of studying communications look like when it all comes together; and how do students turn everything they’ve learned into something real? For seniors in the School of Communication, Media & the Arts (SCMA), that answer takes shape through the senior project, where students turn their ideas into professional level work that reflects both their interests and future career goals.
Projects vary widely in focus, giving students the flexibility to explore topics that align with their passions, interests and even future career paths that they hope to pursue after graduation. Through the two semester sequence, CM 397 Senior Project l and CM 398 Senior Project ll, students create work that highlights the skills they have developed throughout their time in the program.
“To bring this all together, I decided to create a podcast discussing how public relations heavily influenced how celebrities, movies, and influencers become famous,” said senior Alexis Barada.
Students can choose different approaches for their project, including creative production, research or multimedia based work. Some develop podcasts or websites, while others focus on analyzing media or producing visual content.
Faculty members say the structure is designed to give students flexibility while still maintaining expectations for a meaningful final product.
“We let the students decide,” said Prof. Todd Barnes, associate director of the School of Communication, Media & the Arts (SCMA). “The faculty are there to guide the process and make sure that everyone is doing a significant project.”
Senior Isabella Generazo focused her project on theatre production, working to understand how different roles contribute to a final performance.
“I have interviewed 12 different people that have been involved in different areas of production and gotten their input,” said Generazo.
As students continue developing their projects, many say the process becomes increasingly independent, requiring them to stay organized, motivated and responsible for their own progress. Without constant deadlines, staying on track and managing time effectively can become one of the most difficult parts of the experience.
Senior Madeline Mangione is creating a beauty-based blog that focuses on maintaining creativity while developing content that stays aligned with a clear purpose and message.
“The most challenging part has been making the blog and keeping creativity throughout while making sure it all connects back to the purpose,” said Mangione.
Despite these challenges, students say the project has helped them better understand their abilities and interests. It gives them the chance to create something they are proud of while reflecting on how much they have grown.
For many, the final product becomes more than just an assignment, serving as a portfolio piece they can carry into their future careers and potentially share with employers or graduate programs.
“Looking back on everything, I’m most proud of the hard work, commitment and the skills that I’ve learned to develop this project,” said Barada.
Students also emphasized the importance of starting early and allowing ideas to evolve throughout the process. Many said that flexibility is key to successfully completing the project.
“My advice would be to start earlier than you think and give yourself time to make mistakes,” said Barada.
Barnes said the course is intended to help students transition from learning about communications to actively applying those skills in a real world context that reflects professional expectations. The experience reflects the type of work students may encounter after graduation.
“It’s a chance for the student to conceive and execute something significant in their own vision,” said Barnes. “They get to show off and test themselves at the same time.”
