The BA in communication provides a broad-based liberal arts degree designed to foster students’ abilities to understand, analyze and effectively engage in a wide range of communication practices. It encourages critical thinking about the ways that symbols and interactions contribute to social problems and solutions.
The major provides instruction and practice in the skills of effective communication and collaborative problem-solving that employers are looking for—speaking, writing, reading, listening, asking good questions, utilizing media and working in groups. Students learn how to design innovative messages, build quality personal and professional relationships, elevate their critical thinking skills and are prepared to thrive in a variety of professions.
Requirements
Required Courses and Credits
Majors must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework in communication, at least 18 of which must be upper division (3000 level or higher). Only courses with grades of C- or better count toward the major, and the overall major GPA must be 2.000 (a C- is 1.700).
Note: In addition to major requirements, communication majors must complete CMCI Core Curriculum requirements. The Core Curriculum requirements for the College of Media, Communication and Information can be found in Policies & Requirements.
Students who wish to major in communication should meet with a department advisor, where they will be advised of any changes to this list of requirements.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COMM 1210 | Perspectives on Human Communication | 3 |
| COMM 1300 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 1600 | Group Interaction | 3 |
| COMM 3210 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 3300 | Rhetorical Thinking | 3 |
| Lower-Division COMM Electives | ||
| Select at least two of the following: | 6 | |
| The Craft of Argument | ||
| Discourse, Culture and Identities | ||
| The Practice of Intercultural Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Methods Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Quantitative Research Methods | ||
| Rhetorical Research Methods | ||
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar: Functions of Communication | ||
| Senior Seminar: Rhetoric | ||
| Senior Seminar: Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Senior Seminar: Organizational Communication | ||
| Senior Seminar: Communication Studies of Science and Technology | ||
| Upper-Division Electives | ||
| Two additional upper-division electives (3000- or 4000-level courses); 4000-level courses may be taken twice (only twice) with different topics | 6 | |
| Issues in Communication | ||
| Persuasion in Society | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Political Communication | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Advanced Topics in Storytelling, Culture, & Climate Justice | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Gender and Communication | ||
| Communication, Culture and Sport | ||
| Family Communication | ||
| Communication, Technology, and Society | ||
| Advanced Teamwork and Collaboration | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| COMM Elective | ||
| One additional COMM elective, any level. | 3 | |
| Independent Study/Internships | ||
| Up to 8 credit hours of independent study and 6 credit hours of internships may be taken. These are upper-division elective hours but do not count toward major requirements. Eligible students interested in graduating with department honors should contact the department's honors coordinator as soon as possible. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Secondary Area of Study
In addition to coursework required for the major, all students in COMM must complete a secondary area of study outside of COMM. This secondary area of study can be met by any of the following: a minor, a second major within CMCI, a double degree, or any credit-based certificate program of at least 12 credit hours. Secondary areas of study typically require 15-21 credit hours.
Additional Information
The department encourages its majors to take related courses in other departments in CMCI as well as anthropology; business; English; ethnic studies; history; linguistics; philosophy; political science; sociology; speech, language and hearing sciences; and theatre and dance.
The department also encourages participation in optional programs such as study abroad, internships and graduating with honors.
Sample Four-Year Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| COMM 1210 | Perspectives on Human Communication | 3 |
| CMCI 1040:Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) | 4 | |
| CMCI Core or elective (P & S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) | 3 | |
| Lower-division Writing Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 1300 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| CMCI 1040:Foundational Concepts and Creativity in Media, Communication and Information (4) or CMCI Core or Elective (3) | 3 | |
| COMM 1600 | Group Interaction | 3 |
| CMCI Core Computing Course | 3 | |
| Quantitative Thinking Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| At least one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Craft of Argument or Discourse, Culture and Identities or The Practice of Intercultural Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Business and Professional Communication | ||
| CMCI Core: Natural World | 3 | |
| CMCI CORE or elective (P & S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) | 7 | |
| Secondary Area of Study | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| At least one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Craft of Argument or Discourse, Culture and Identities or The Practice of Intercultural Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Business and Professional Communication | ||
| CMCI Core: Natural World with Lab | 4 | |
| CMCI CORE or elective (P & S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) | 3 | |
| Secondary Area of Study | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM Elective, any level | 3 | |
| COMM 3210 or COMM 3300 | Communication Theory or Rhetorical Thinking | 3 |
| CMCI CORE or elective (P & S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) | 6 | |
| Secondary Area of Study | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 3210 or COMM 3300 | Communication Theory or Rhetorical Thinking | 3 |
| One of the following methods courses: | 3 | |
| Qualitative Research Methods or Quantitative Research Methods or Rhetorical Research Methods | ||
| CMCI CORE or elective (P & S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) | 6 | |
| Secondary Area of Study | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| One Senior Seminar: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar: Functions of Communication or Senior Seminar: Rhetoric or Senior Seminar: Interpersonal Communication or Senior Seminar: Organizational Communication or Senior Seminar: Communication Studies of Science and Technology | ||
| COMM Upper-division Elective 1 | 3 | |
| CMCI CORE or elective (P & S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) | 6 | |
| Secondary Area of Study | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM Upper-division Elective 1 | 3 | |
| CMCI CORE or elective (P & S; H & A; Hist V; Div & Global) | 9 | |
| Secondary Area of Study | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Detailed list available in major requirements section of catalog. |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the program, students will be able to:
- Critically reflect on one's own role within social interactions.
- Develop creative messages to solve problems.
- Utilize communication theories to analyze intersectional differences as they relate to power in society.
- Strategize how to engage with communities to create social change through communication practices.
- Understand communication research processes.
- Practice effective group communication to work together toward a collective outcome.