Requirements for a Major in Communication Studies
Bachelor of Arts
The major will have five components:
- an introduction to the discipline,
- coursework in communication skills,
- introductory theory and research courses,
- advanced coursework in the three major areas of the discipline (i.e. rhetorical, mass communication (or media), and human), and
- a capstone course.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
First Component | ||
COMM 201 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
Second Component | ||
COMM 210 | Public Speaking | 3 |
COMM 215 | Interpersonal and Small Group Communication | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Speechwriting | ||
Media Writing | ||
Advanced Expository Writing | ||
Creative Writing | ||
Creative Nonfiction | ||
News Writing I | ||
Feature Writing | ||
Writing for Film | ||
Filmmaking | ||
Third Component 1 | ||
COMM 301 | Human Comm Theory & Method | 3 |
COMM 311 | Rhetorical Theory & Methods | 3 |
COMM 321 | Mass Communication Theory & Methods | 3 |
Fourth Component | ||
Mass Communication/Media | ||
Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
Communication Law and Ethics | ||
Health Communication | ||
American Campaigns and Elections | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Media Diversity | ||
Public Relations | ||
Broadcasting | ||
New Media | ||
Rhetoric | ||
Select one of the following: 3 | 3 | |
Presidential Rhetoric | ||
American Public Address | ||
Rhetoric of Place and Space | ||
Visual Rhetorics | ||
Rhetoric of the Body | ||
Argumentation | ||
Human Communication | ||
Select one of the following: 4 | 3 | |
Organizational Communication | ||
Health Communication | ||
Communicating in our Relationships | ||
Conflict Communication | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
COMM 333 | ||
Leadership Communication | ||
Gender Issues in Communication | ||
Select three additional hours from the Fourth Component not already taken | 3 | |
Fifth Component | ||
Select one of the following: 5 | 3 | |
Seminar in Communication Studies | ||
Communication Discipline | ||
Total Hours | 36 |
- 1
The successful completion of COMM 301, COMM 311, and COMM 321 is a prerequisite for COMM 490 and COMM 495. Therefore, students should ideally complete this component in their junior year so that they may enroll in COMM 490 or COMM 495 in either of the semesters of their senior year.
- 2
COMM 450 may fulfill this requirement with the approval of the chair, and COMM 381-COMM 382 may fulfill this requirement if an offering of that courses is designated “mass communication/media”.
- 3
COMM 450 may fulfill this requirement with the approval of the chair, and COMM 381-COMM 382 may fulfill this requirement if an offering of that course is designated “rhetoric”.
- 4
COMM 450 may fulfill this requirement with the permission of the chair, and COMM 381-COMM 382 may fulfill this requirement if an offering of that course is designated “human”.
- 5
Students double majoring in COMM as well as another major may elect to substitute, with department chair approval, an upper division elective for the Capstone requirement if they are completing a capstone in their other major.
Note: A student may request by email to the department chair for one 300- or 400-level course in a related area outside of COMM to count as an elective on the COMM major or minor. The outside course should add to the student's study of communication studies and the connection should be articulated in the request to the department chair. An unpaid, academic internship in a related program may be included among the options for an outside elective on the COMM major or minor. For COMM majors, this course would not replace the required courses in the mass communication, human communication, or rhetoric communication areas, but could count for the student's fourth upper division elective.