2020-2021 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies
Requirements for a Major in Communication Studies
1. Core Courses
All students majoring in the School of Communications must complete the following core courses, for a total of 12 credits:
- COM 101 - Concepts of Communication (3 credits)
- COM 295 - Communication Theory (3 credits)
- COM 201 - Speech (3 credits)
Capstone requirement:
All students majoring in communication studies must take COM 495 (three credits) during their senior year. This Capstone course offers a synthesis of ideas and theories about one or more current critical issues in communication.
B.A. and B.S. Degree
All undergraduate programs in the School of Communications offer both the B.A. degree and the B.S. degree. All students selecting majors in the School of Communications must choose either the B.A. degree requirement or the B.S. degree requirement intended for a particular undergraduate program.
B.A. Degree Requirement
The B.A. degree requires a third-semester proficiency in a foreign language of the student's choice.
B.S. Degree Requirement
The B.S. degree requirement for communication studies:
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- COM 275 - Foundations of Communication Research (3 credits)
- COM 375 - Communication Research (3 credits)
2. Communication Studies Core
Students must complete the following core courses, for a total of 24 credits:
Choose at least three credits from the following:
Choose at least 18 unduplicated credits from the following communication studies courses (courses with the COM prefix), at least 12 credits of which must be at the 300-level or above:
- COM 202 - Critical Interpretation (3 credits)
- COM 203 - Argument and Analysis (3 credits)
- COM 209 - Health Communication Systems (3 credits)
- COM 210 - Nonverbal Communication (3 credits)
- COM 215 - Story Making (3 credits)
- COM 220 - Media Literacy (3 credits)
- COM 301 - Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
- COM 302 - Small Group Communication (3 credits)
- COM 303 - Debate (3 credits)
- COM 320 - Vision and Culture (3 credits)
- COM 371 - Media and Society (3 credits)
- COM 372 - Global Communications (3 credits)
- COM 376 - Communications Policy and Law (3 credits)
- COM 378 - Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
- COM 380 - Special Topics in Communications (1 to 6 credits)
- COM 399 - Independent Study (1 to 6 credits)
- COM 438 - Communication Ethics (3 credits)
- COM 477 - History of Communications Technologies (3 credits)
Note: Students can include more than one COM 380, no more than three credits in COM 399, and up to six COM 490 credits are allowed in the core/major.
3. Elective Credits*
Students must complete at least nine elective credits. Choose from any of the following courses or other advisor-approved course(s) from across the university:
Advertising and Public Relations
- CAP 209 - Advertising Basics (3 credits)
- CAP 219 - Public Relations Basics (3 credits)
- CAP 310 - Advertising Management and Cases (3 credits)
- CAP 315 - Advertising Copywriting (3 credits)
- CAP 320 - Public Relations Management and Cases (3 credits)
- CAP 321 - Media Relations Writing (3 credits)
Multimedia Journalism
- CMJ 184 - Television Media Production (3 credits)
- CMJ 236 - News in Society (3 credits)
- CMJ 256 - News Reporting (3 credits)
- CMJ 284 - Broadcast News I (3 credits)
- CMJ 290 - Media History (3 credits)
- CMJ 316 - News Editing and Graphics (3 credits)
Film and Video Production
- FVP 123 - Survey of Media Production Modes (3 credits)
- FVP 125 - Media Production I (3 credits)
- FVP 225 - Film Culture (3 credits)
- FVP 373 - Issues of Representation (3 credits)
- FVP 376 - Latin American Cinema (3 credits)
Photography
- PHO 171 - Photography I (4 credits)
- PHO 172 - Photography II (3 credits)
- PHO 175 - Understanding Still Photography (3 credits)
- PHO 266 - History of Photography I (3 credits)
- PHO 272 - Digital Photography 1 (3 credits)
- PHO 279 - Color Photography 1 (3 credits)
Theatre
- THE 151 - Acting Process (3 credits)
- THE 161 - Theatre Production (3 credits)
- THE 162 - Play Analysis (3 credits)
- THE 261 - Stagecraft I (3 credits)
- THE 362 - Production Dramaturgy (3 credits)
- THE 371 - Theatre History I (3 credits)
- THE 372 - Theatre History II (3 credits)
Health Communication
- COM 209 - Health Communication Systems (3 credits)
- CAP 220 - Fundamentals of Public Relations (3 credits)
- COM 410 - Senior Seminar in Health Communication (3 credits)
*Courses cannot count for both elective credits and communication studies core credits. COM prefix courses not otherwise applied to the major may be eligible for substitution as elective course credits, pending advisor approval. Other courses may qualify for application to the major but may not be listed; see your advisor.
Suggested Order of Coursework
This option assumes students will complete the required skills, general education, and cognate courses.
Year One
Year Two
- COM 202 - Critical Interpretation (3 credits) OR COM 203 - Argument and Analysis (3 credits) Both are SWS.
- COM 295 - Communication Theory (3 credits)
- COM 2XX
- One class elective credit area
- One class elective credit area
Year Three
- COM 3/4XX
- COM 3/4XX
- COM 3/4XX
- One class elective credit area
Year Four
- COM 3/4XX
- COM 495 - Issues in Communication (Capstone) (3 credits)
- COM 498 - Senior Thesis/Project (1 to 6 credits) OR COM 490 - Internship (1 to 6 credits)