New music, communication majors added to WSU's College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts curriculum

Reflecting important changes in academic disciplines and the workplace, Wayne State University added four new degree programs in music and communication to further prepare Creative Warriors for future careers.

On Feb. 24, WSU's Board of Governors unanimously approved the Department of Music's new Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry and Society and three new Department of Communication majors. Existing students will have the option to complete their current degree and curriculum or move into the new major and curriculum.

"In the communication field, for example, modern practitioners are no longer solely specialists in speechwriting, public relations, crisis management, or social media marketing - they are expected to do all of that in one position," said College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts Interim Dean Kelly M. Young. "Our new communication degrees represent the merging of specializations, while teaching important knowledge and skillsets from those foundational areas that define the discipline."

And for years, Young continued, students in the Department of Music have asked for a degree that focuses on the music industry, which has "a renowned history in the Motor City and continues to thrive here," he said. "There is a robust market for students in areas of music production, promotion, and the sociological impact of music."

The new Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry and Society is intended for students interested in studying music but not performing professionally. Instead, it prepares them for music industry careers and post-graduate studies in arts administration, nonprofit management, music production, music promotion and audience building, arts economics, and other related areas.

"Detroit is the birthplace of Motown and numerous other record labels and musical genres, and it remains one of the world's most important music industry hubs," said Department of Music Chair Dr. Jeffrey Sposato. "This new degree, which begins in fall 2026, allows us to connect with that amazing heritage and to foster the next generation of music entrepreneurs."

In addition to training in music appreciation, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and economics, he said students will develop abilities to understand and work within diverse communities, allowing them to help arts organizations expand and better serve their audiences.

"And they will be able to put that training to work in real-world situations though our internship program," said Sposato, "which places students with music organizations throughout the Detroit-metro area."

The program does not require an audition, meaning "anyone who is passionate about music and being part of an industry clamoring for people well-trained in everything, from business to production, can receive the education and practical experience that will set them up for success," said Sposato. "It's a very exciting time at Wayne State University's Department of Music."

For Department of Communication Chair Pradeep Sopory, the excitement is shared as three new degrees - Communication and Media Studies, Public Relations and Strategic Communication, and Journalism and Media - were added to help students go from college to career.

"In the last decade, the communication and media industries have technologically and organizationally evolved," Sopory said. "And it's happened in a way where knowledge and skillsets that were, traditionally, siloed within communication, journalism, media, and public relations are now a requirement for most entry-level and mid-career positions."

The Communication and Media Studies major will prepare students to think critically and engage creatively in media and communication processes, helping navigate an increasingly complex world of traditional and digital messaging.

The Public Relations and Strategic Communication program equips students to be ethical, data-driven professionals who design effective messages, engage diverse stakeholders, and manage effective campaigns serving their organization's strategic goals.

Students taking the Journalism and Media major will report, produce, and share stories that inform and engage diverse audiences in a rapidly changing media environment. They will learn how to gather and verify information, interview effectively, and craft compelling narratives across digital, broadcast, and print platforms.

"These three will, respectively, replace the current Communication Studies, Journalism, and Public Relations majors, with the name changes reflecting the convergence of industry sectors that previously were separate," Sopory said. "Ultimately, all of these changes advance Wayne State's strategic goals related to teaching, learning and student success."

Shawn Wright, communications liaison, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.