Academics

Department of Communication > Requirements

The major and minor include Communication and interdisciplinary courses.  The major requires nine courses.  The minor requires six courses.  No more than two courses from a single department outside Communication may count toward the major or the minor.  The list of optional courses on the 200 and 300 level changes over time.  The prerequisite for all 300-level Communication courses is Communication 110.  Each major and minor requires approval of Department Chairperson. 
Declaring the major or minor requires:

• Completion of Communication 110  

Declaring the major also requires:

• Cumulative grade point average of 2.3 or higher
• Note:  There is no minimum GPA requirement to declare the minor.

Eligibility to become an official advisee of Communication faculty requires:

• Status as major or minor

Minimum grade for each class (with the exception of internships) to count toward the major is “C” [2.0]

• Note:  Courses taken Credit-D-Fail may not count toward the major or minor.

Course Requirements for the Major

A. Com 110: Introduction to Communication I

B. Two courses from the following courses:

• Com 120: Introduction to Communication II
• Com 235:  Rhetoric and Speech
• Com 245: Interpersonal Communication in a Multi-Cultural Society
• Com 250: The Western Rhetorical Tradition
• Com 255: Rhetorical Criticism
• Com 275: Introduction to Film Studies
• Com 280: African-American Communication  (cross-listed as African American Studies 280).
• Com 281 Theories of Mass Communication
• Com 285: Modern Media History
• Eng 231: Journalism
• Eng 235: Introduction to Creative Writing
• Eng 242 or Thr 270: Creative Writing – Playwriting and Screenplays
• Thr 210: From Page to Stage: Communicating through Design
• Thr 260: Voice and Diction

C. Two courses from the following courses or from ‘B’ above:

• Art 112: Introduction to Visual Communication
• Art 224: History of Prints
• Art 232: Studio Art:  Photography
• Art 242: Introduction to Computer Imaging
• Educ 215: Instructional Communication Theory and Practice
• His 240: History and Film
• His 275: Popular Music and American Society
• Mus 227: History of Jazz
• Mus 264: History of Rock and Roll
• Phl 248: Philosophical Issues in Documentary Film
• Phl 255: Philosophy and Film
• Phl 260: Aesthetics: Reflections on Art and Beauty
• Pol 224: Mass Media and American Politics
• S&A 285: Social Structure and Culture through Film

D. One course from the following 300-level Communication courses:

• Com 300:  Mass Media and Marketing Research
• Com 310:  Communication Ethics
• Com 320: Argumentative Writing and Speaking
• Com 330: Advanced Journalism: Magazine Writing
• Com 350:  Topics in Communication
• Com 381:  History and Theory of Freedom of Expression
• Com 382: Women’s Rhetoric and the Feminist Critique
• Com 383: New Media and Society
• Com 384: The Rhetorical Presidency
• Com 386: Reading Popular Culture

E. One course from the following 300-level Interdisciplinary courses or another course from ‘D’ above:

• Art 342: Advanced Computer Imaging
• Art 343: Digital Media: Video, Photography and Sound
• Bus 336: Marketing Theory: Multinational Enterprises
• Eng 330: Advanced Non-Fiction Writing
• Eng 391: Advanced Journalism
• Fre 310: Topics in Linguistics
• Fre 333: Exploring French Culture through Film
• Fre 334: French Literature through Film
• Ger 333: Modern German Film
• Psy 325: Persuasion and Truth in Sales Communication
• Spa 333: Film and History in Spain
• Spa 336: Latin American Film
• Spa 380: Fiction, Film, and Society in Latin America

F. Com 390:  Internship.  Two credits preferred.

G. Com 420 (Senior Seminar) OR a Senior Thesis OR an Independent Study

Course Requirements for the Minor

A.  Com 110
B.  Three courses from ‘B’ (preferred) or ‘C’ above
C.  Two courses from ‘D’ (preferred) or ‘E’ above