Communication B.A. Degree

The communication program is an interdisciplinary major based in the liberal arts. It emphasizes the development of career-level skills in written, oral, interpersonal, electronic, and visual communication. Theoretical, historical, societal, and pragmatic perspectives of communication are explored. The curriculum includes a core curriculum that focuses on the theory, law, ethics, principles, procedures, and practices of mass, public, and interpersonal communication. Students can choose areas of specialization in multimedia journalism, strategic communication, and communication studies. Pre-professional experiences gained on student-run media, communication student organizations, on-campus practica, and off-campus internships provide an essential component to the curriculum.

The curriculum includes the integration of classroom instruction with pre-professional work experience on the Navigator, the weekly University newspaper; the Aquarian, the annual University literary and arts magazine; Dolphin News; the University television channel, and Dolphin Radio, the student-run online radio station. Students also have the opportunity to participate in several extra-curricular activities including intercollegiate forensics, communication professional organizations and Lambda Pi Eta, the national communications honor society.

Graduates may enter many fields including journalism, public relations, advertising, radio, television news, television production, graphic design, management, marketing, education, social services, and the arts. The communication program also provides a fine foundation for graduate study not only in journalism and mass communication but also in business, law, social work, and library science.

Major Requirements

The student majoring in communication must complete the 30-credit hour communication core and nine credit hours in a selected area of specialization. A total of 39 credit hours is required for the communications major although students may take additional hours in communication as electives to a maximum of 45 credit hours.

The communication major is offered as a Bachelor of Arts degree: that is communication majors must complete a foreign language through the 202 level.

University Core

Core University Core Requirements

37

The following communication core courses must be taken:

COMM 101Introduction to Mass Communication and

3

COMM 201SIPrinciples of Speech Communication

3

COMM 205Introduction to Advertising

3

COMM 207WINewswriting

3

COMM 209History of Communication

3

COMM 215Public Relations Practices & Procedures

3

COMM 217Introduction to Multimedia Journalism

3

COMM 365Communication Theory

3

COMM 455Communication Law

3

COMM 475Communication Ethics

3

Total Credit Hours:30

COMM 455: See Note 1

COMM 475: See Note 2

Required Area of Specialization

Students must take nine credit hours from one of the following specializations listed below and COMM 485 must be one of the three credit hour courses chosen in the specialization area:

I.Multimedia Journalism

COMM 307WIAdvanced Reporting//Literary Journalism

3

COMM 310Online Journalism

3

COMM 317Multimedia Journalism

3

COMM 331Visual Communication

3

COMM 332WIWriting Multimedia Journalism

3

COMM 417Advanced Broadcast Journalism

3

COMM 485Senior Communication Seminar

3

I.Multimedia Journalism: See Note 3

COMM 485: See Asterisk(*) in Notes

II.Strategic Communication (Advertising and Public Relations)

COMM 302SIPersuasive Speaking

3

COMM 315WIPublic Relations & Advertising Writing/

3

COMM 325Social Media Management

3

COMM 331Visual Communication

3

COMM 416Strategic Communication Case Studies

3

COMM 446Strategic Communication

3

COMM 465Principles of Communication Research

3

COMM 485Senior Communication Seminar

3

COMM 485: See Asterisk(*) in Notes

Communication Studies

COMM 301Effective Communication Strategies

3

COMM 302SIPersuasive Speaking

3

COMM 315WIPublic Relations & Advertising Writing/

3

COMM 322Argumentation

3

COMM 401Communicating to Diverse Publics

3

COMM 450Nonverbal Communication

3

COMM 465Principles of Communication Research

3

COMM 485Senior Communication Seminar

3

Total Credit Hours:9

COMM 485See Asterisk(*) in Notes

Suggested Electives

COMM 395Communication Practicum

1

COMM 397Communications Leadership Practicum

1

COMM 452Special Topics in Communication

3

COMM 490Communication Internship

3-6

COMM xxxAny non-required upper level COMM course outside of chosen specialization

3

Notes:

*All students shall complete a senior seminar project that demonstrates mastery of their chosen specialties.

  1. Students should complete COMM 455 in the fall of their junior or senior year.
  2. Students should complete COMM 475 in the spring of their senior year.
  3. It is recommended that students interested in print and online journalism register for COMM 307WI and COMM 310. It is recommended that students interested in broadcast journalism register for COMM 317 and COMM 332WI.
  4. This course is a prerequisite for several other courses in the specialization.

Additional Communication Major Important Notes:

  • Students entering the University with the AA degree must take a foreign language through the 202 level.
  • Course COMM 201SI can be used by any University student to fulfill the requirement for a speech intensive course.
  • Students majoring in communication must earn a "C" grade or better in all communication core courses.
  • A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all prerequisite communication courses before taking a course with the stated prerequisite.
  • Students are encouraged to develop minors or second majors in other fields including but not limited to English, foreign languages and literature, humanities, philosophy, business, art, sociology, psychology, political science, history or theatre. These secondary areas of study should be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor.

Minor Requirements

A minor in communication requires 18 credit hours selected with assistance from a communication faculty member

Total Credit Hours: 120