Communication Studies Major

Offers a liberal arts study of human communication designed to increase your understanding of how communication works and to improve your effectiveness as communicators in your community or in business. You take courses in public speaking, persuasion, and mass communication, as well as interpersonal and organizational communication. Special emphasis is placed on communication as a means of community-building and creating social change. Graduates go to careers in a variety of fields where thoughtful communication is required, or to graduate study in law, public administration, or communication itself.

Requirements

In order to earn the bachelor of arts degree with a major in communication studies, students must complete a minimum of 180 credits with a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 2.00, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

ENGL 110 - College Writing: Inquiry and Argument 5
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking 5
HIST 120 - Origins of Western Civilization 5
ENGL 120 - Introduction to Literature 5
MATH 107 - Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications 5 or
MATH 110 - Functions and Algebraic Methods 5 or above
Lab Science (5)
Fine Arts (one approved 5 credit course; see course descriptions ) (5)
PHIL 220 - Philosophy of the Human Person 5
Social Science I (5)
Social Science II (different discipline from Social Science I) (5)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase II (200-299) (see course offerings ) (5)
Ethics (PHIL 358 recommended) (5)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase III (300-399) (see course offerings ) (5)
Interdisciplinary Course (CMJR 480 recommended) (3 to 5)
Senior Synthesis (CMJR 494 required for major) (*5)

NOTE:

*Included in major GPA.

II. College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

Modern Language 115, 125, 135 or equivalent (15)

NOTE:

All students with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency through the level of 135 in a language other than English. This competency is ordinarily achieved by successful completion of the three-course sequence: 115, 125, and 135. Because these courses are a college requirement, no courses in the sequence may be taken on a pass/fail, correspondence, or audit basis. Placement into other than the beginning course of the sequence is achieved by acceptable performance on the Modern Language Competency Examination. See the Modern Languages Department for details on the examinations. Courses used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences language requirement may not be used to fulfill communication major requirements.

Choose one of the following courses:

III. Major Requirements

60 credits in communication courses, including:

Area I: Communication Foundation

Area II: Studies in Rhetoric, Social Interaction and Digital Communication

Area III: Advanced Communication Studies Electives

Complete two 300-400 level courses (see course offerings ) designated CMST or approved by your advisor (10)

Area IV: Communication Leadership

CMJR 460 - Communication Leadership 1 to 5

Area V: Communication Research Seminar

Complete one of the following:

Area VI: CMJR electives (5)

Any 300-400 level CMJR course (see course offerings ).

NOTE:

1. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) must be graded C (2.00) or better to count toward the major or to count as prerequisites for appropriate advanced courses. 2. Courses taken to fulfill major requirements may not simultaneously be used to fulfill core or college requirements. For example, a single course cannot count as both a core interdisciplinary course and a major elective.