Communication, B.A.

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120 Credit Hours

*Must include a minor from outside the department

General Education Requirements - 43 Credit Hours

Required School of Communicationand Media Courses - 9 Credit Hours

COM 1033 - Introduction to Mass Media 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 2133 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3513 - Communication Ethics 3 Credit Hour(s)

Required Communication Courses - 12 Credit Hours

COM 3023 - Group Dynamics 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3033 - Persuasion 3 Credit Hour(s) or
COM 3343 - Argumentation & Debate 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4023 - Human Communication Theory 3 Credit Hour(s)
COMV 4713 - Internship in Communication 3 Credit Hours

Communication Electives - 12 Credit Hours

Students must choose 12 credit hours of communication electives from any of the courses below:

COM 3013 - Advanced Rhetorical Studies 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3033 - Persuasion 3 Credit Hour(s) (if not taken as a required course above)
COM 3123 - Writing for Public Relations 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3163 - Non-Verbal Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3173 - Interviewing Studies 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3203 - Intercultural Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3223 - Rhetoric in Western Thought 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3253 - Gender Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3343 - Argumentation & Debate 3 Credit Hour(s) (if not taken as a required course above)
COM 3363 - Professional Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3543 - History and Philosophy of American Media 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 3563 - Introduction to Communication Research 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4053 - Public Relations Campaigns 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4103 - Selected Topics in Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4123 - Parliamentary Procedure Studies 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4133 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4153 - Political Communication 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4603 - Christian Popular Music Debates: A Seminar 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4743 - Church in the Age of Entertainment 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4783 - Social Issues in Mass Media 3 Credit Hour(s)
COM 4813 - Independent Project 3 Credit Hour(s)

Note:

Students may choose to emphasize a particular area of study within the field of Communication. Working with his or her academic advisor, students may craft optional emphases in Communication Studies, Media Studies, Organizational Communication, Rhetoric and Culture, or Speech Communication.

Communication Program Liberal Arts Requirement

The faculty of the Communication Program believes that a strong foundation in the liberal arts tradition is essential for a robust education in the field of Communication. Therefore, students majoring in Communication must complete an additional 4 credit hours in one of the following options:

Option A:

One of the following natural science courses and its accompanying lab:

BIO 1023 - Introduction to Life in the Sea 3 Credit Hour(s) and
BIO 1021 - Introduction to Life in the Sea Laboratory 1 Credit Hour(s)
BIO 1043 - Introductory Biology 3 Credit Hour(s) and
BIO 1041 - Introductory Biology Laboratory 1 Credit Hour(s)
ESC 1043 - Introductory Earth Science 3 Credit Hour(s) and
ESC 1041 - Introductory Earth Science Laboratory 1 Credit Hour(s)
OCY 1043 - Oceans 3 Credit Hour(s) and
OCY 1041 - Oceans Laboratory 1 Credit Hour(s)
PHY 1043 - Introductory Physical Science 3 Credit Hour(s) and
PHY 1041 - Introductory Physical Science Laboratory 1 Credit Hour(s)

Note:

(The natural science course taken as part of the student’s General Education Requirement cannot also fulfill this requirement).

Option B:

FRN 1113 - Elementary French I 3 Credit Hour(s) and
FRN 1111 - Elementary French I Laboratory 1 Credit Hour(s)

Option C:

SPN 1113 - Elementary Spanish I 3 Credit Hour(s) and
SPN 1111 - Elementary Spanish I Laboratory 1 Credit Hour(s)

General Education Recommendations

In light of the unique interdisciplinary approach in the School of Communication and Media towards studying all manifestations of human communication, the faculty strongly recommends that students majoring in Communication take JEM 3123 - International Cinema to fulfill the Global Studies requirement of the General Education curriculum. Likewise, majors are well-advised to take THE 2212 - Theatre Appreciation in order to fulfill the Fine Arts requirement of the General Education program. Communication majors should carefully consider taking COM 3563 - Introduction to Communication Research to fulfill the Social Science requirement of the program.

*A minor and 40-41 additional credit hours are required to meet the 120 total and the 42 upper-level credit hour requirements.

Graduation Showcase

Students majoring in Communication are required to participate in a Graduation Showcase in the spring of their senior year of study. This Showcase will highlight a particular project that the student has previously prepared for a Communication class. It may consist of a paper presentation in poster format, a debate, a speech, or other appropriate project as approved by the faculty, but must include evidence that the student’s work has advanced beyond the initial assignment to expand the project and display it as capstone work. We advise students to maintain a portfolio of papers, debates, and presentations from all of their Communication classes to have a ready source of work from which to draw for the Showcase. The Communication faculty will assess the student work entered into the Graduation Showcase. Failure to meet a passing grade by the majority of the faculty committee may result in a postponement of graduation.

Sample Degree Plan

Major in Communication 2012-2013