2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies
Requirements
1. School of Communications Core Courses (9 credits)
- COM 101 - Concepts of Communication (3 credits)
- COM 201 - Speech (3 credits)
- COM 295 - Communication Theory (3 credits)
2. Communication Studies Major Courses (33 credits)
i. Communication Studies Core Courses (6 credits minimum)
Choose at least three credits from the following:
ii. Communication Courses (18 credits minimum)
18 unduplicated credits are required. At least 12 credits must be at the 300-level or above (limit of 6 credits of COM 490 total in the major). Select from the following list:
- 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.
iii. Elective Courses (9 credits)
Nine unduplicated elective credits are required. Unduplicated means courses cannot count for both Elective Courses (iii) and Communication Courses (ii above). With advisor-approval, courses from other departments and schools from across the university may be considered for substitution as electives. For help with selecting electives, contact your faculty academic advisor.
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)
Communication Studies
- COM 202 - Critical Interpretation (3 credits)
- COM 203 - Argument and Analysis (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)
Journalism, Broadcasting, and Digital Media
- JBM 184 - Introduction to Broadcasting (3 credits)
- JBM 236 - News in Society (3 credits)
- JBM 256 - News Reporting (3 credits)
- JBM 284 - Broadcast News (3 credits)
- JBM 290 - Media History (3 credits)
- JBM 316 - News Design and Layout (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)
3. Capstone (3 credits)
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)
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)