Department of Communication > Requirements

Requirements for the Major and Minor Beginning in Fall, 2009

The Major in Communication requires a minimum of nine courses: five courses on the 100/200 level and four courses on the 300/400 level. No more than two courses from outside of the Department of Communication count toward the major in Communication.  Minimum grade for each class (with the exception of internships) to count toward the major is "C" [2.0]  Courses taken Credit-D-Fail may not count toward the major or minor.

Five courses are required on the 100 and 200 level:  one course each from A, B, and C; a fourth course from B or C; and a fifth course from B, C, or D. 

A. Praxis Courses
   a. Art 112: Visual Communication
   b. Comm 120: Introduction to Journalism
   c. Comm 135: Rhetoric and Speech
   d. Phil 156: Logic and Styles of Argument

B. Rhetoric Courses
   a. Comm 250: The Classical Rhetorical Tradition
   b. Comm 251: History of Public Address
   c. Comm 253: Argumentation and Advocacy
   d. Comm 255: Rhetorical Criticism

C. Media Studies Courses
   a. Comm 275: Film Studies
   b. Comm 281: Theories of Mass Communication
   c. Comm 283: Race, Culture and Media
   d. Comm 285: Modern Media History

D. Communication Across the College Courses
   a. Art 242: Introduction to Computer Imaging
   b. Educ 215: Instructional Communication Theory and Practice
   c. His 275: Popular Music and American Society
   d. Phil 255: Philosophy and Film
   e. Phil 294: Philosophy of Language 
   f. Pol 224: Mass Media and American Politics
   g. S&A 246: Anthropology of Communication 

Four courses are required on the 300/400 level: two courses from E; and both F and G.

E. Two courses from the following 300 level courses
   a. Comm 301: Communication Research Methods
   b. Phil 310: Communication Ethics
   c. Psyc 325: Persuasion and Truth in Sales Communication
   d. Comm 350:  Topics in Communication
   e. Comm 380: African-American Communication
   f. Comm 381:  History and Theory of Freedom of Expression
   g. Comm 382: Women’s Rhetoric and the Feminist Critique
   h. Comm 383: New Media and Society
   i. Comm 384: The Rhetorical Presidency
   j. Comm 385: Public Sphere
   k. Comm 386: Reading Popular Culture
   l. Comm 391: Advanced Journalism

F. Comm 390:  Internship.  Two credits preferred (Junior status required).  In exceptional circumstances, students may substitute a third course from E instead of the internship. This option requires written permission in advance from the Department chair.

G. Comm 420: Senior Seminar OR a Senior Thesis OR an Independent Study  (Senior status required)

The Minor in Communication requires six courses: one course each from A, B, and C; a fourth course from B or C; and two courses from E, F, and G.  No more than one course from outside Communication may count toward the minor.

 

Requirements for the Major and Minor previous to Fall, 2009

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