Westchester Community College, State University of New York

The A. A. (Associate in Arts) Degree in Communications and Media Arts is regularly among the college’s largest curriculums and many of our graduates transfer to a baccalaureate degree program in one of several communications specialties. These include, among others, concentrations in speech, mass media, television and radio production, journalism, and public relations. A number of these colleges have articulation agreements with us, which means that a graduate of the Communications and Media Arts program at WCC is automatically guaranteed acceptance into their communications program. You might be surprised to know that some of these agreements include the opportunity to receive a full scholarship. In addition, outstanding communications majors at WCC are often eligible for other financial incentives, including a “Women in Communications” and a PepsiCo scholarship.

Our program also offers opportunities for students to prepare for a variety of career options. Many of our courses are designed to prepare you for specialized jobs in the communication field. A small sample of these entry level jobs include television camera operator, broadcast technician, assistant producer, video editor, news writer, public relations specialist, and sales representative.

Students who have off-campus internships in communications field can earn college credit, as well as engage in various extracurricular activities such as the Student Media Association, the campus radio station, WARY-FM, our student newspaper, The Viking News, and our video club, WCCTV. All of these can provide valuable hands-on experience that is essential to successfully navigating the competitive world of communications careers.

It is also significant to note that, according to Pathways to Careers in Communication (6th edition) published by the National Communication Association, “…a national study indicates that the essential skills needed by a competent employee to get (any) job and to succeed and be promoted are primarily communication skills.” With that in mind, studying communications here at Westchester Community College is a great foundation, no matter what your future career and life may hold for you.

Eric Luther

Contact Information

Phone: 914-606-6136
Office location: HAAB – Room #133
Email: eric.luther@sunywcc.edu
Title(s): Associate Professor; Curriculum Chair (Communications and Media Arts); Department Co-Chair

Eric Luther, Curriculum Chair came to Westchester Community College in the fall of 2010 after several semesters of adjunct teaching in the area, as well as over a decade of journalism/media career experience, mostly television news. He received his Bachelor of Humanities from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) and his Masters of Arts and Humanities Education from NYU. Multimedia Journalism, Understanding Mass Media, Broadcast Journalism, and TV Production are just a few of the courses he’s taught here at Westchester Community College.

In addition to his teaching and chairing work, Eric has contributed greatly to various college committees including the Middle States Self-Study Faculty Subcommittee, as well as both the Strategic Planning and Academic Advising Self-Study Task Forces. Eric lives with his husband, Mike, and their lucky dogs in Carmel, NY.

Department/School:
Area of Arts & Communication/School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Degree Information:

BA, Liberal Arts, SMU, Dallas, TX
MA, Arts & Humanities Education, NY, NY

Courses Taught:

COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media
COMM 106: Multimedia Journalism
COMM 109: Speech Communication
COMM 119: Broadcast Production (online)

Financial Aid

Nearly 33% of Westchester Community College students receive some form of financial aid. Financial Aid is available to students who qualify. In addition, the Westchester Community College Foundation offers $1.6 million in scholarships annually.

Sports

The Westchester Community College Athletic Department sponsors thirteen different intercollegiate athletic teams in various sports. The roster of sports offered includes Men’s Baseball, Women's Softball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Bowling, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's and Women's Track and Field, Men’s Soccer, and Women’s Volleyball. Visit the Vikings Athletics website for schedules, reports, and more.

Locations

We’re accessible: Public transit-friendly main campus and extension locations. Online classes for wherever you are. Valhalla (main campus); extension sites in New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Yonkers, Shrub Oak, Mahopac, Ossining, Port Chester and Peekskill (Center for the Digital Arts) and White Plains (Center for the Arts).