The COM department really is a well oiled machine. I have so much respect for the administration and how they run such a organized and beneficial department. I have developed friendships with professors that will undoubtedly last well into my adult years. COM studies has helped further my knowledge and passion for ministry as well. I am a Worship Pastor currently at a church and many skills I use every week, I learned from my professors. COM students are incredibly bright, and the things they learn throughout the major make them very well equipped to go into the adult world and perform with excellence.

I had transferred from 3 different schools. I wasn’t a bad student, but before UNCW and COM Studies I didn’t seem to fit in anywhere else for educational purposes. When I got to COM Studies, I knew that the eduction these professors would teach me would be the specific information that I wanted and needed to learn for life after college. I still wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do after college, but I had an idea. Throughout my two and half years at UNCW, most being in the COM Studies program, I grew a huge appreciation for marketing in general. The information I learned in those classrooms, with hands on experience in the later classes, taught me real life experience that I use and reference back to today. I am extremely thankful to all professors that I took classes from in COM studies, each played a pivotal part in my education, where I am today and the person I have become. Although I never thought that I would now be working for myself, I use the same core principles from the COM classes for my own company and my clients. Owning a marketing agency, local and non local business acquaintances respect that I have graduated from UNCW from the COM studies program. I am proud to have graduated from the UNCW Communication Studies Department. One quote I will always remember from Dr. Persuit is “Marketing isn’t about changing perception, it is about changing behavior”.

My overall experience in the COM department was great, the professors are interesting and engaging, the class selection is always hard to choose from, and I would say it prepares you pretty well for the job hunt. I remember not being able to decide what classes to take because there were so many options I was interested in and all my favorite professors were teaching them. Being involved with CSS was also a big part of what made my time in the COM department so memorable. I was able to meet COM alumni, network, be involved in the fashion show, and get one on one help with my resume. Going into COM, I had no idea what I wanted to do but thankfully with all the opportunities it afforded, I realized you can really do anything!

When I first came to UNCW I did not intend on being a COM major. I was taking COM 105 to fulfill a requirement for my minor, but in the process I realized the COM department was where I was meant to be. The courses were relevant and beneficial not only then, but now. I often recall what I learned as a COM major and apply it to my current situation. The COM major was well designed in its approach. The core classes were helpful and necessary, even if I did not see it at the time, the electives allowed plenty of room for me to explore my areas of interest, and the capstone course was the perfect way to wrap up all that I had learned throughout my time as a COM student. Capstone was by far one of the best courses I have ever taken. Professor Trimble afforded us the opportunity to assemble a professional portfolio and conduct a killer interview, all while building our confidence.  I owe a great deal to the COM department. The courses and the professors in the COM department provided me with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in any endeavor I pursue, and for that I am forever grateful

I wanted to seize opportunities to diversify myself and join groups and activities outside of Lutze Hall. With COM as my major at UNCW, I was able to excel in my course load while still having time to fulfill my roles as a TealTV reporter, Swim Club president, CSS publicity chair and National Anthem singer for all of the home baseball games. I was able to be a participant in project protégé. I was connected with an internship at WWAY Channel 3 News. I helped organize Rock for a Cure, COM studies day, and several other events both on and off campus. I was able to establish a professional relationship with professors who later become key sources in recommendation letters. I was constantly challenging myself both inside and outside of the classroom. The COM department at UNCW recognizes that you must not plateau. You must not limit yourself. You must carry yourself beyond any limitations that may stunt your professional and personal growth. I was able to poise myself with confidence in interviews even when my career path seemed trivial and, at times, non-existent. I was able believe in my education, talents and abilities. I was able to succeed.