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    Undergrad | Bachelors |

Communication Studies

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in communication studies.

Major in Communication Studies

The major in communication studies provides students with an appropriate balance of theoretical knowledge and sophisticated, practical communication skills. Students learn how people create and use messages to generate meaning within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. The multidisciplinary curriculum covers speech communication, mass communication and new media, journalism, public relations, business writing, and technical writing. It encourages students to develop written, oral, and visual communication skills; to apply communication theories to both personal and professional situations; and to increase their understanding of human interaction. Students with a major in communication studies are prepared for a wide variety of careers in areas such as journalism, public relations, marketing, communication, and professional writing.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in communication studies will be able to

• Apply communication theories—including both speech communication and mass communication theories—to various situations and contexts.
• Identify and apply effective strategies for creating, editing, and presenting effective written messages to different audiences and within different contexts.
• Explain the role media and mass communication play in society.
• Describe and use effective interaction styles in communication with others across a variety of contexts.
• Analyze any communication situation and be able to apply appropriate oral and/or written communication skills as needed.
• Use tools and technology to gather information, as well as to develop and deliver messages.
• Critically analyze information for creating effective oral or written messages and for evaluating messages.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in communication studies requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework including 30 credits for the major (indicated by ); 41 credits in general education requirements (GERs); and 49 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all of the requirements for the BA in communication studies. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an academic advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements (in communications, arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary issues) may be found in the General Education Requirements.

Communication Studies Major Courses

First Courses

(to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)

WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)

MATH 103 College Mathematics (3)
or a higher-level math course

Introductory Courses

(to be taken within the first 30 credits)

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)
or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865
or other ARTH
or HIST course to fulfill the general education requirement in arts and humanities for the historical perspective
(discipline must differ from other humanities course)

BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3)
and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1)
or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology
or other course(s) to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences with related laboratory

WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3)
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/writing

SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
or GVPT 170 American Government (3)
or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY,
or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO,
or WMST course to fulfill the first general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences

IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3)
or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software

Foundation Courses

(to be taken within the first 60 credits)

PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
or BEHS 210 Introduction to Social and Behavioral Sciences
or other course to fulfill the second general education requirement in behavioral and social sciences
(discipline must differ from first)

NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3)
or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in biological and physical sciences

PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues 3
or a foreign language course
or other course to fulfill the second general education requirement in arts and humanities
(discipline must differ from first)

SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3)
or SPCH 101 Introduction to Public Speaking
or other course to fulfill the general education requirement in communications/writing
or speech

IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3)
or other course to fulfill the second general education requirement in interdisciplinary issues/computing

COMM 300 Communication Theory (3)

COMM 302 Critical Perspectives in Mass Communication (3)

Additional Required Courses

(to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

WRTG 393/393X Technical Writing (3)
or WRTG 394/394X Advanced Business Writing
or other course to fulfill the upper-level advanced writing requirement

COMM 380 Language in Social Contexts (3)
or other writing
or language arts course for the major
(see Requirements for the Major)

COMM 400 Communication and the Law (3)
or JOUR 330 Public Relations Theory
or other mass communication course for the major
(see Requirements for the Major)

SPCH 470 Listening (3)
or other speech communication course for the major
(see Requirements for the Major)

COMM 493 Strategies for Visual Communications (3)
or other course to fulfill the requirement for supplemental major coursework
(see Requirements for the Major)

SPCH 482 Intercultural Communication (3)
or other course to fulfill the requirement for supplemental major coursework
(see Requirements for the Major)

SPCH 324 Communication and Gender (3)
or other supplemental major course
(see Requirements for the Major)

SPCH 426 Negotiation and Conflict Management (3)
or HRMN 302 Organizational Communication
or other supplemental major course
(see Requirements for the Major)

Capstone Course for Major

(to be taken in the last 15 credits) (3)

COMM 495 Seminar in Workplace Communication
or SPCH 397 Organizational Presentations
or WRTG 493 Seminar in Advanced Technical Communication

Minor and/or Elective Courses

(to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) 49

Total credits for BA in communication studies 120

Required for the major

Minor in Communication Studies

The communication studies minor complements the skills the student gains in his or her major discipline by providing specialized skills in workplace communication, including the development of written and oral communication skills and a greater understanding of human interaction.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a minor in communication studies will be able to

• Apply communication theories—including both speech communication and mass communication theories—to various situations and contexts.
• Identify and apply effective strategies for creating, editing and presenting effective written messages to different audiences and within different contexts.
• Use tools and technology to gather information, as well as to develop and deliver messages.
• Critically analyze information for creating effective oral or written messages and for evaluating messages.

Requirements for the Minor

A minor in communication studies requires the completion of 15 credits in communication studies. All courses in COMM, JOUR, SPCH, and WRTG apply.

Students are recommended to take COMM 300 early in the minor if not already applied elsewhere in the degree. Courses may not duplicate those used to meet the requirements for the major. At least 9 credits must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above). Prerequisites apply for all courses.

For a listing of all the requirements for the bachelor’s degree, students should refer to their major and and the General Education Requirements.

Last updated: 10 August 2009