Communication Studies Major

Total minimum number of credits required for a major in Communication Studies leading to the B.A. degree — 120.

Total minimum number of credits required for a minor — 18.

The major in Communication Studies has concentrations in Rhetoric and Public Communication; Organizational Communication (Public Relations); Broadcast Media (Radio/Television); and Journalism. Each concentration offers a wide choice of career options as well as graduate school preparation. While each concentration has its own unique curricular aspects, the goals are the same — a graduate who is able to write, speak, and think both analytically and creatively. Each concentration offers skills and performance courses and co-curricular activities that can be applied to everyday situations. In addition, the theory, writing and analysis courses enable students to advance beyond the entry level in their chosen fields or even to change fields entirely. We believe the curriculum also affords ample opportunity for the student to explore other disciplines. It is recommended that students who major in Communication Studies take a foreign language.

Departmental Requirements:

All students choosing to major in Communication Studies must fulfill specific department requirements. These courses contain skills, theory, analysis, performance, writing, and research. They are as follows:

The Department also has a six-hour writing requirement for all Communication Studies majors.

Concentration Requirements:

Each concentration is described and outlined on the following pages.

Organizational Communication

This concentration introduces students to the theory, skills, and application of face-to-face communication in interpersonal, small group, organizational, and public settings. Its theoretical foundation is primarily in the behavioral sciences. Communication is viewed as an ongoing process, knowledge of which permits the student to apply his or her skills to a variety of contexts.

All students concentrating in Organizational Communication will take the following three courses (9 credits):

In addition, Organizational concentrators will complete 9 credits selected from the following courses:

Writing Requirement (6 credits):