Communication Studies, B.A.

Major in Communication Studies

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Consists of ten courses.  No more than 2 courses (including 11100) at the 100-level may be taken to fulfill the minimum requirements of the major:

 

• COMM 11100 - Introduction to Communication Studies
• COMM 31100 - Theories of Human Communication

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• Any 4 courses from the subareas of Rhetoric and Politics, Communication and Culture, Relational Communication, and Media Studies.  Majors must take courses from at least 2 areas and may take no more than 3 classes from any subarea to fulfill the 4-course requirement:

• Rhetoric and Politics

• COMM 23700 - Visual Rhetoric
• COMM 25000 - Rhetoric & Civic Engagement
• COMM 25100 - Communication & Social Protest
• COMM 25200 - Argumentation
• COMM 25400 - Political Rhetoric
• COMM 25600 - Asian Political Rhetoric
• COMM 25900 - Communicating Public Policy

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• Communication and Culture

• COMM 22300 - Communication, Gender, & Sexuality
• COMM 22400 - Globalization & Identity
• COMM 22700 - Intercultural Communication
• COMM 22800 - Communication & Queer Studies
• COMM 25700 - Communication & Collective Memory
• COMM 26000 - Environmental Communication

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• Relational Communication

• COMM 22100 - Interpersonal Communication
• COMM 22200 - Family Communication
• COMM 22500 - Small Group Communication
• COMM 22600 - Organizational Communication
• COMM 26200 - Communication & Conflict
• COMM 26300 - Health Communication

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• Media Studies

• COMM 23300 - Mediated Gender, Race, and Sexuality
• COMM 23500 - Media, Culture and Society
• COMM 26400 - Communication and Technology
• COMM 33200 - Visual Communication & Culture

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• Any of the following courses cross-listed by GMDS also fulfill the Media Studies requirement, but students may take a maximum of no more than 2 GMDS courses for the entire COMM major.

• GMDS 21000 - Global Media
• GMDS 21100 - Political Economy of Media
• GMDS 21200 - Cultural Studies and Power
• GMDS 23100 - Visualizing Information
• GMDS 23200 - An Introduction to Digital Humanities
• GMDS 25000 - Transnational Approaches on Media & Film
• GMDS 35000 - Special Topics in Global Media
• GMDS 35100 - Special Topics in Film Studies
• GMDS 35200 - Special Topices in Digital Studies

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• One course credit as a COMM elective.  Majors may take any of the previously-listed COMM courses or GMDS courses as an elective, along with any of the following COMM courses or cross-listed classes.  However, a course taken in the above categories cannot fulfill both the sub-area requirement and the elective requirement.  Again, no more than 2 GMDS courses  may be taken to fulfill the Media Studies and/or elective requirements for the COMM major and no more than 2 courses at the 100-level (including 11100) can fulfill the minimum requirements for the entire major.

• COMM 15200 - Public Speaking

• COMM-299xx
  COMM-350xx
  COMM-399xx

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• Majors may take one of the following cross-listed courses as part of the elective requirement

• AFST 24200 - Martin, Malcolm, and Mandela
• AFST 24600 - Africana Popular Culture
• ENGL 29901 - Serials and Social Justice in the Digital Age
• HIST 20101 - Craft of History: History of News
• PSCI 21200 - Presidential Leadership in American Politics
• PSCI 21800 - Political Psychology and Socialization
• PSCI 21900 - Public Opinion & Survey Design
• PSYC 21500 - Psychology of Women and Gender
• PSYC 22000 - Sterotypes and Prejudice
• SOCI 20700 - Sociology of Gender
• SOCI 20900 - Inequality in America
• SOCI 21400 - Racial and Ethnic Groups in American Society
• WGSS 20400 - Transnational Feminisms
• WGSS 20600 - Queer Lives (See below for more details.)

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• Two of the following methods courses:

• COMM 35100 - Critical/Cultural Research Methods

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• COMM 35200 - Rhetorical Criticism

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• COMM 35300 - Quantitative Methods

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• GMDS 30000 - Research Methods in Global Media & Digital Studies

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• COMM 45100 - Independent Study Thesis
• COMM 45200 - Independent Study Thesis

Special Notes

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• Majors in the Communication Studies track must complete the first of their two methods courses (COMM 35100 , COMM 35200 , COMM 35300  or GMDS 30000) no later than the spring of their junior year. Majors should also ideally complete the theory course (COMM 31100 ) prior to the first semester of Senior Independent Study (COMM 45100 ); normally, this will entail registration in COMM 31100  in the fall of the junior year.
• In addition to demonstrating proficiency in research and writing through Independent Study, a major in Communication Studies must demonstrate proficiency in public speaking, as certified by all faculty members in the Department, based upon the student’s oral presentation of their Senior Independent Study proposal. This requirement can be fulfilled by participation in the Senior Research Symposium or through a presentation to the Communications Studies faculty.
• No more than two Communication Studies courses can be applied toward the general education requirements.
• No courses may be taken for the major on a S/NC basis.
• Only grades of C- or better are accepted for the major or minor.

Cross-listed Courses Accepted for Communication Studies Credit

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Africana Studies

AFST 24200. Martin, Malcolm & Mandela [C, HSS, AH, D, SJ]

AFST 24600.  Africana Popular Culture [AH, C, D]

English

ENGL 29901.  Serials and Social Justice/ Digital Age [AH, C]

History

HIST 20101.  History of the News [HSS, W]

Political Science

PSCI 21200.  Presidential Leadership in Am Politics [HSS]

PSCI 21501.  Topics in Constitutional Law and Appellate Advocacy [W]

PSCI 21900. Voice of the People, Pbl Opn & Voting [HSS, QL]

Psychology

PSYC 21500. Psychology of Women & Gender [HSS]

PSYC 22000. Stereotypes & Prejudice [C, HSS, D] 

Sociology and Anthropology

SOCI 20700.  Sociology of Gender [HSS]

SOCI 20900.  Inequality in America [HSS]

SOCI 21400.  Racial & Ethnic Groups in Amer Society [HSS, C]

Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

WGSS 20400.  Transnational Feminisms [HSS, C]

WGSS 20600.  Queer Lives HSS, C]