Area of Study Overview
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The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in Communications prepares adults for career change, advancement, or graduate education, while providing personal enrichment. The program explores the various aspects of creating, transmitting, and analyzing messages which flow among individuals, groups, organizations, and societies. Students may focus on communications courses relating to oral communications and/or mass media communications. Students develop a broad general knowledge of the traditional liberal arts disciplines while developing a greater depth of knowledge in Communications.
Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 18 credits must be upper level, 300 level or above, within the area of study.
NOTE 1: Courses in speech needed to prepare students for college-level studies CANNOT be accepted toward Thomas Edison State University degree requirements.
NOTE 2: Courses in "Speaking English" for foreign students or students with disabilities may be free electives or remedial courses developmental. Course descriptions will need to be reviewed. If course is remedial developmental, it CANNOT be accepted toward Thomas Edison State University degree requirements.
NOTE 3: Degree candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications are advised to take Public Speaking (COM-209) to satisfy the General Education Oral Communications requirement.
Credit Distribution
I. General Education Featured Courses (45 Credits)
A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)
B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)
| SOC-101 | Our Changing World An Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| ETH-230 | Ethics in the Digital Age | 3 |
| POS-110 | American Government | 3 |
C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)
Select two featured courses from the list below
| SOC-291 | Criminology | 3 |
| HIS-114 | American History II | 3 |
| HIS-121 | Introduction to World History I | 3 |
| HUM-103 | Introduction to the Humanities III: Music | 3 |
| PHI-130 | Introduction to Critical Reasoning | 3 |
D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)
For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to
Scientific Knowledge.
II. Area of Study (45 Credits)
A. Required Courses (9 Credits)
| COM-100 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COM-120 | Introduction to Mass Communications I | 3 |
| COM-121 | Introduction to Mass Communications II | 3 |
B. Communications Electives* (21 Credits)
| COM-265 | Communication in the Digital Age | 3 |
| MAN-373 | Managerial Communications | 3 |
| MAN-376 | Leadership Communication | 3 |
| ENG-201 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| COM-210 | Public Relations Thought and Practice | 3 |
| COM-339 | The Story of Human Language | 3 |
Other communications courses may be appropriate for this area of study. For additional course options, please contact an Advisor.
C. Humanities Electives (12 Credits)
D. Capstone (3 credits)
III. Electives (30 Credits)
For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.
| TESU accepts credits in transfer from accredited institutions as well as non-collegiate providers. View information and resources on where you may find additional learning experiences. |
Total Credit Hours: 120