Undergraduate Degree

Communication

Program:
Communication
Plan Code:
COMMUN_BA1
Program Level:
Undergraduate
Award Type:
Bachelor of Arts
College:
College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Department:
Communication


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Department of Communication

Undergraduate Program
Communication

The goal of the major in communication is to prepare students to synthesize, analyze, and criticize major functions, structures, and processes of communication within interpersonal, organizational, and mediated communication contexts. The major is designed to equip its graduates:  (a) to understand the processes involved in human interaction especially as these processes relate to a variety of cultural perspectives, (b) to assess the role and function of new and social media, (c) to identify and critically analyze the major theoretical perspectives in the field of communication, (d) to write and speak clearly using communication concepts, and (e) to develop transferable skills in problem solving in interpersonal interactions, in small group settings, and with diverse populations.

Undergraduate work in communication creates greater awareness of the intricate networks that shape human interaction.  Communication study is designed to prepare students to become human relations specialists in industry, the media, and government as well as for graduate study and further professional education.  Majors most commonly pursue careers in sales, corporate project management, fund raising, corporate recruiting and training, customer relations, public relations, and government.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication
  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of the catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Communication major is met by completing any one of the following courses:  Communication 401, 425, 440, 475.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. Complete a minimum of 30 credits in Communication courses with a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher achieved across COM 100, COM 225, COM 240, COM 275, and COM 300:
    1. All of the following courses (17 credits):
    COM 100 Human Communication 3
    COM 225 An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication 3
    COM 240 Introduction to Organizational Communication 4
    COM 275 Effects of Mass Communication 3
    COM 300 Methods of Communication Inquiry 4
    2. One of the following capstone courses (4 credits):
    COM 401 Advanced Topics in Communication (W) 4
    COM 425 Communication in Close Relationships (W) 4
    COM 440 Organizational Communication Structure (W) 4
    COM 475 Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) 4
    3. Complete a minimum of 9 elective credits:
    COM 301 Special Topics in Communication Sciences, Analytics and Research Methods 3
    COM 302 Special Topics in Health Communication 3
    COM 303 Special Topics in Intercultural Communication 3
    COM 304 Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication 3
    COM 305 Special Topics in Mediated Communication 3
    COM 306 Special Topics in Organizational Communication 3
    COM 307 Special Topics in Social Influence 3
    COM 310 Intercultural Communication 3
    COM 320 Diversity and Communication 3
    COM 325 Interpersonal Influence and Conflict 3
    COM 330 Health Communication 3
    COM 340 Leadership and Group Communication 3
    COM 360 Advanced Sales Communication 3
    COM 375 Audience Response to Media Entertainment 3
    COM 399 Special Topics in Communication 1 to 3
    COM 402 Public Relations Topics in Communication 1
    COM 490 Independent Study 1 to 3
    COM 493 Internship 1 to 12
    COM 494 Practicum in Communication Research and Instruction 1 to 4
    A maximum of 3 credits across any combination of COM 490, 493, and 494 may be used to satisfy this requirement.
    4. Complete one of the following options:
    (a) A cognate in the behavioral/social sciences that is comprised of six courses outside the Department of Communication chosen from at least three of the following departments: Anthropology, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Economics, Human Development and Family Studies, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. The courses must be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. (18 to 24 credits)
    (b) A concentration from the following that focuses on a specific application area in the discipline. Courses used to satisfy requirements for the major may also be used to satisfy the requirements of a concentration. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript. (minimum of 18 credits)
    Communication Science, Analytics and Research Methods
    1. Both of the following courses (6 or 7 credits):
    COM 301 Special Topics in Communication Sciences, Analytics and Research Methods  3
    COM 494 Practicum in Communication Research and Instruction 3
    The topic taken in COM 301 must be different than the topic taken in COM 301 in item 2. if COM 301 is used to fulfill the requirement in item 2.
    2. Four courses from the following (12 to 16 credits):
    COM 301 Special Topics in Communication Sciences, Analytics and Research Methods 3
    MI 220 Methods for Understanding Users 3
    MI 355 Media and Information Research 3
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    PSY 295 Data Analysis in Psychological Research 3
    SOC 281 Social Research Methods 4
    SOC 282 Quantitative Analysis for Social Research 4
    STT 201 Statistical Methods 4
    WRA 202 Introduction to Professional and Public Writing 3
    WRA 330 Writing Research in Communities and Cultures 3
    WS 203 Introduction to Methods for Women’s and Gender Studies Research 3
    Students who use COM 301 to fulfill this requirement must take a different topic than the topic taken in requirement 1. COM 301 may be taken two times to fulfill this requirement with different topics.
    Health Communication
    1. All of the following courses (10 credits):
    COM 325 Interpersonal Influence and Conflict 3
    COM 330 Health Communication 3
    COM 475 Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) 4
    2. Three courses from the following (9 to 11 credits):
    ANP 201 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3
    Or
    ANP 204 Introduction to Medical Anthropology 3
    ANP 370 Culture, Health, and Illness 3
    COM 302 Special Topics in Health Communication 3
    EPI 390 Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public  Health 4
    GEO 435 Geography of Health and Disease  3
    HNF 150 Introduction to Human Nutrition 3
    HNF 406 Global Foods and Culture 3
    HST 425 American and European Health Care since 1800 4
    PH 101 Introduction to Public Health 3
    PHL 344 Ethical Issues in Health Care 4
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    PSY 320 Health Psychology 3
    SOC 475 Health and Society 3
    Note: COM 302 may be taken up to 3 times under different topics.
    Intercultural Communication
    1. All of the following courses (10 credits):
    COM 310 Intercultural Communication 3
    or
    COM 320 Diversity and Communication 3
    COM 325 Interpersonal Influence and Conflict 3
    COM 475 Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) 4
    2. Three courses from the following (8 to 11 credits):
    ANP 200 Navigating Another Culture 3
    COM 303 Special Topics in Intercultural Communication 3
    COM 310 Intercultural Communication 3
    COM 320 Diversity and Communication 3
    CSUS 200 Introduction to Sustainability 3
    ENG 478B Literature and Visual Culture 3
    MC 230 Cultures and Politics in Comparative Perspective 4
    MI 480 Information and Communication Technologies and Development 3
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    PSY 342 Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination 3
    SOC 161 International Development and Change 3
    SOC 215 Race and Ethnicity 3
    SOC 310 Global Migration 3
    SOC 362 Developing Societies 3
    TE 352 Migration and Education 3
    Note: COM 303 may be taken up to 3 times under different topics.
    Up to 6 credits of a foreign language or educational study abroad program may also serve as an elective in this concentration with advisor approval. Students who select COM 310 or COM 320 in item 1. may not use those courses to fulfill the requirement in item 2.
    Interpersonal Communication
    1. All of the following courses (7 credits):
    COM 325 Interpersonal Influence and Conflict 3
    COM 425 Communication in Close Relationships (W) 4
    2. Four courses from the following (12 or 13 credits):
    ATD 430 Dress, Culture and Human Behavior 3
    COM 304 Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication 3
    HDFS 145 The Individual, Couples and Families 3
    HDFS 225 Lifespan Human Development in the Family 3
    HDFS 414 Parenting 3
    HDFS 442 Ethnic Families in America 3
    HDFS 444 Interpersonal Relationships in the Family 3
    HDFS 445 Human Sexuality 3
    HST 313 Women in the United States to 1869 3
    HST 314 Women in the United States since 1869 3
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    PSY 235 Social Psychology 3
    PSY 236 Personality 3
    PSY 339 Psychology of Women 3
    PSY 342 Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination 3
    WS 201 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies 3
    WS 304 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and Sexuality Studies 3
    WS 403 Women and Change in Developing Countries 3
    Note: COM 304 may be taken up to 3 times under different topics.
    Mediated Communication
    1. Both of the following courses (7 credits):
    COM 375 Audience Response to Media Entertainment 3
    COM 475 Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W)  4
    2. Four of the following courses (12 to 14 credits):
    ADV 375 Consumer Behavior 3
    ADV 431 Monitoring and Measuring Social Media of Brands 3
    CAS 110 Creative Thinking 3
    CAS 112 Story, Sound and Motion 3
    CAS 116 Media Sketching and Graphics 3
    CAS 117 Games and Interactivity 3
    COM 305 Special Topics in Mediated Communication 3
    DH 285 Introduction to Digital Studies in the Arts and Humanities 3
    ENG 142 Introduction to Popular Literary Genres 4
    FLM 230 Introduction to Film 4
    FLM 380 Classical Film and Media Theory 3
    FLM 381 Contemporary Film and Media Theory 3
    JRN 108 The World of Media 3
    JRN 213 Animation, Comics, Culture and Graphic Novels in Media 3
    JRN 218 Sports in Contemporary Media 3
    MI 101 Understanding Media and Information 3
    MI 201 Introduction to Information Science 3
    MI 220 Methods for Understanding Users 3
    MI 239 Digital Footprints: Privacy and Online Behavior  3
    MI 302 Networks, Markets and Society 3
    MI 305 Media and Information Policy 3
    MI 355 Media and Information Research 3
    MI 480 Information and Communication Technologies and Development 3
    PLS 170 Introduction to Political Philosophy 3
    PLS 333 Public Opinion and Political Behavior 3
    PLS 334 Campaigns and Elections 3
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 3
    PSY 200 Cognitive Psychology 3
    PSY 235 Social Psychology 3
    PSY 270 Community Psychology 3
    PSY 463 Introduction to Cognitive Science 3
    REL 175 Religion in Film 3
    WRA 202 Introduction to Professional and Public Writing 3
    WRA 225 Introduction to Composing Digital for Video 3
    Note: COM 305 may be taken up to 3 times under different topics.
    Organizational Communication
    1. All of the following courses (10 credits):
    COM 340 Leadership and Group Communication 3
    COM 440 Organizational Communication Structure (W) 4
    COM 493 Internship 3
    2. Three of the following courses (9 or 10 credits):
    ACC 230 Survey of Accounting Concepts 3
    ANP 321 Anthropology of Social Movements 3
    COM 306 Special Topics in Organizational Communication 3
    GBL 323 Introduction to Business Law 3
    HST 213 U.S. Business and Economic History 3
    MGT 325 Management Skills and Processes 3
    MKT 327 Introduction to Marketing 3
    PR 325 Intermediate Social Media and Public Relations Techniques 3
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    PSY 255 Industrial and Organizational Psychology 3
    SOC 481 Social Movements and Collective Identities 3
    Note: COM 306 may be taken up to 3 times under different topics.
    Social Influence
    1. Both of the following courses (7 courses):
    COM 325 Interpersonal Influence and Conflict 3
    COM 475 Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) 4
    2. Four of the following courses (12 to 15 credits):
    ANP 321 Anthropology of Social Movements  3
    COM 307 Special Topics in Social Influence 3
    HST 316 United States Intellectual History since 1860 3
    IBIO 446 Environmental Issues and Public Policy 3
    PHL 330 Formal Deductive Reasoning 4
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    PSY 270 Community Psychology 3
    SOC 241 Social Psychology 3
    SOC 368 Science, Technology and Society 4
    SOC 481 Social Movements and Collective Identities 3
    SOC 499 Social Issues and Change in Contemporary Society (W) 3
    Note: COM 307 may be taken up to 3 times under different topics.
    Students should meet with their academic advisors concerning the minimum and maximum numbers of elective credits available to them at various stages in their programs.
    Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship or experiential learning experience approved by the Department of Communication whether for university credit based on academic eligibility standards or on a voluntary, non–credit basis.  The department will make every effort to assist communication majors in finding appropriate internship placements.