Communication (B.A.)
The Communication major is an interdisciplinary program combining courses in Communication and Philosophy. The major is designed to take a broad-based, humanities-centered view of the symbolic ways humans create meaning. The program will focus on the development of skills as students learn to work with various communication tools to improve their own ability to interact effectively with others. Students will also increase their critical awareness as they study the structure, patterns, and effects of communication on both themselves and society. Communication majors go on to graduate and professional schools, work as teachers, writers, and social activists, or work in a variety of fields utilizing a liberal arts education including human resources, media, advertising, public relations, politics, and many other fields.
Students majoring in Communication must complete a minimum of 10 courses (40 credits) in the areas specified below. An average of C or higher must be earned in courses counted toward the major. Communication majors may count three courses used for the major toward a minor in Philosophy; however, credits may not be counted twice.
Integrative Studies Requirements
Minimum 40 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (40 credits) | ||
| Foreign Language Course | 4 | |
| The minimal requirement for all students with a major in Communication is one course in a foreign language, normally French, Spanish, or German. | ||
| Introductory Courses: | ||
| IHCOMM-171 | Public Speaking | 4 |
| IHPHIL-100 | Logical Argumentation | 4 |
| IHPHIL-220 | Ethics | 4 |
| Research Methods: | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Strategic Digital Comm | ||
| Quant & Qualitative Methods | ||
| Phil & the Holocaust | ||
| Philosophy of Language | ||
| Existentialism & Film | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 16 | |
| Communication Studies Option: | ||
| Select four electives that meet the following criteria: | ||
At least two courses must be from Group 1 | ||
At least one course must be from Group 2 | ||
A maximum of one course can be from Group 3 | ||
At least two courses must be at the 300- or 400-level, including at least one of the courses from Group 1 | ||
| Philosophy Option: | ||
| Select four electives that meet the following criteria: | ||
At least one course must be from Group 1 | ||
At least two courses must be from Group 2 | ||
A maximum of one course can be from Group 3 | ||
At least two courses must be at the 300- or 400-level, including at least one of the courses from Group 2 | ||
| Electives Group 1: | ||
| Rhetoric Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Interpersonal Communications | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Workplace Comm & Writing | ||
| Strategic Digital Comm | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Internship | ||
| Digital Comm Law & Ethics | ||
| The Rhetoric of Race | ||
| Rhetoric Post-Civil Rights Era | ||
| Quant & Qualitative Methods | ||
| Advanced Special Topics | ||
| Electives Group 2: | ||
| Comparative Religion | ||
| Knowledge & Reality | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Phil & the Holocaust | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Philosophy of Language | ||
| Existentialism & Film | ||
| Adv Special Topics | ||
| Electives Group 3: | ||
| Careers & Professional Comm | ||
| Information and Media Literacy | ||
| Participatory Cultures | ||
| Crisis and Conflict in Africa | ||
| Media & Society | ||
| Media Writing Fundamentals | ||
| Multimedia Fundamentals | ||
| Org Theory & Behavior | ||
| Organizational Diversity | ||
| Human Resources Mgt | ||
| Advertising & Promotion | ||
| Race Gender Sexuality Pop Cult | ||
| Latina Fem Theory | ||
| Spanish and Social Change | ||
| Capstone: | ||
| COMM-479 | Senior Project | 4 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Electives
Select courses to reach a total of 120 credits for the degree
Degree Requirements
120 credits
40 credits at the upper-level
Upon completion of the Communication B.A. degree, students will be able to:
- Create and articulate persuasive arguments in speaking and writing.
- Recognize how communication both shapes and reflects the beliefs, values, and attitudes of different worldviews.
- Engage in research, using appropriate analytical methods and tools.
- Articulate the ways messages are evaluated from a variety of ethical perspectives.
- Analyze and evaluate communication, using contemporary and historically significant theoretical frameworks.