Academic Programs Catalog

College of Communication Arts and Sciences

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.

Communication Leadership and Strategy

The goal of the major in Communication Leadership and Strategy is to train students in the communication principles, strategies, and initiatives used to further an organization’s goals, mission, or values. It is a multidisciplinary professional communication field, drawing upon communication practices found in related disciplines, including interpersonal, organization, and mass communication and research analytics. The major is designed to equip students to: engage in comprehensive audience and information-environment analysis, use excellent interpersonal, organizational and leadership skills with diverse audiences, conduct formative and post-campaign research, understand social media analytics, engage in rapid response crisis communication for organizations, and create strategic plans that leverage multiple communication competencies to inform, influence, and motivate internal and external stakeholders. Undergraduate work in strategic communication creates greater awareness of large-scale organizational goals and how to use communication, leadership, and strategy to achieve them. Students will learn how to integrate various vertical communication functions such as public relations, information operations, analytics, and advertising into overall grand strategy. Majors will commonly pursue careers in strategic communication, information operations, political strategy, or corporate communication.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Leadership and Strategy

  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 Leadership and Strategy.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Communication Leadership and Strategy major is met by completing one of the following courses: Communication 475 or 480.  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. All of the following courses (38 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 280 Principles, Practices and Ethics of Strategic Communication 4
    COM 300 Methods of Communication Inquiry 4
    COM 325 Interpersonal Influence and Conflict 3
    COM 340 Leadership and Group Communication 3
    COM 380 Crisis Communication and Rapid Response 3
    COM 475 Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) 4
    COM 480 Capstone in Communication Leadership and Strategy 4
    b. One course from each of the following areas (a minimum of 8 credits):
    Research Methods and Analytics
    ADV 442 Digital Analytics 3
    COM 301 Special Topics in Communication Science, Analytics and Research Methods 3
    MI 220 Methods for Understanding Users 3
    MI 350 Evaluating Human-Centered Technology 3
    MI 355 Media and Information Research 3
    PLS 202 Introduction to Data Analytics and the Social Sciences 3
    PSY 295 Data Analysis in Psychological Research 3
    PSY 342 Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination 3
    SOC 281 Social Research Methods 4
    SOC 282 Quantitative Analysis for Social Research 4
    STT 200 Statistical Methods 3
    Computer-Mediated Communication and Social Media
    ADV 420 New Media Driver’s License 3
    ADV 431 Monitoring and Measuring Social Media of Brands 3
    COM 302 Special Topics in Health Communication 3
    COM 304 Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication 3
    COM 305 Special Topics in Mediated Communication 3
    JRN 203 Visual Storytelling 3
    MI 101 Understanding Media and Information 3
    MI 201 Introduction to Information Science 3
    MI 305 Media and Information Policy 3
    MI 462 Social Media and Social Computing 3
    Culture and Diversity
    ANP 200 Navigating Another Culture 2
    COM 310 Intercultural Communication 3
    COM 320 Diversity and Communication 3
    COM 440 Organizational Communication Structure (W) 4
    JRN 475 International News and Government Dynamics 3
    MI 480 Information and Communication Technologies and Development 3
    PR 310 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Relations and Advertising 3
    PSY 342 Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination 3
    SOC 161 International Development and Change 3
    SOC 215 Race and Ethnicity 3

 

Minor in Sales Leadership

The Minor in Sales Leadership provides students with the set of educational experiences, courses, and training they need to become successful sales agents and leaders in a sales-intensive corporate setting.  The minor prepares students to be successful in any sales setting and provides the management skills necessary to expand their careers in a manner consistent with their goals.

The Minor in Sales Leadership is administered by the Department of Communication in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences in cooperation with the Department of Marketing in the Eli Broad College of Business and is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. Preference will be given to students in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences  and The Eli Broad College of Business. As space permits, students from other colleges desiring the minor will be considered on an individual basis. Admission is competitive. With the approval of the department or school and college that administers the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor for the minor.

Admission

To be considered for admission, a student must have been formally admitted to a bachelor’s degree program at Michigan State University. Students must be enrolled in or have completed Marketing  313, Consultative Selling, and have demonstrated mastery of course content. Other admission criteria include an application with a statement of purpose, a sales aptitude test, and work experience. Each applicant will be interviewed by a faculty program administrator and each student’s application will be rank ordered. Admission decisions will be made after reviewing the student application materials, a personal interview including a 5 to 7 minute sales role play based on content delivered in MKT 313, and a review of students’ final grades in MKT 313.

To apply to the program, students should complete an application found on the minor Web site at www.salesleader.msu.edu by the deadline indicated.

Students must:

  1. apply at mid-semester by the published deadline while enrolled in MKT 313 or after  completing the course;
  2. provide their overall grade-point average in their major;
  3. provide a statement of purpose indicating why they want to enter the minor;
  4. provide their score on a sales aptitude test that measures values, behaviors, and skills;
  5. participate in a personal interview to determine their interest in and readiness for the minor in which performance in the interview will be assessed and used as a criterion for admission.
Requirements for the Minor in Sales Leadership

Students must complete 16 credits from the following courses:
1. All of the following courses (16 credits):
COM 325 Interpersonal Influence and Conflict 3
or
CAS 492 Special Topics (Made in Italy Study Abroad only) 3
COM 360 Advanced Sales Communication 3
COM 483 Practicum in Sales Communication 1
MKT 313 Personal Selling and Buying Processes 3
MKT 383 Sales Management 3
MKT 430 Key Account and Customer Relationship Management 3
2. Completion of a minimum of 500 hours of experiential learning outside of course work that must be preapproved by the managing director.  Required hours include a professional sales internship (300 hours completed while enrolled in COM 483), active membership in Global Sales Leadership Society (50 hours), working with a mentor for a semester (15 hours), participation in the All-MSU Sales Competition (spring, 10 hours), participation in the Professional Development Conference (fall, 10 hours), participation in at least one job shadow of a sales person or sales manager (8 hours), and at least one GSLS Boot Camp (5 hours).  Optional hours to get to 500 may include a part-time sales job (150 hours maximum), participating in a national sales competition (60 hours). Holding an executive office in a registered student organization (50 hours), and other experiences as appropriate.

Minor in Public Relations

Students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts degree program with a major in communication may apply for admission to the Minor in Public Relations. For additional information, refer to the Minor in Public Relations statement.