Communication Major

Entry into the Major

A student desiring to enter the communication major will make a formal application to do so at some point following the successful completion of three college semesters.

Entry to the major will be granted based on the following qualifications:

1. Achievement of at least a 2.8 GPA in all of the pre-major communication requirements.
2. Successful completion of Major Admission Application and portfolio submission. Special circumstances may be considered by the communication division faculty.

Pre-major requirements should ordinarily be taken in the first two college years:

• COMM111 Fundamentals of Speech 3 cr.
• COMM212 Interpersonal Communication 3 cr.
• COMM230 Argument and Advocacy 3 cr. 
• COMM240 Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr.
• ENGL100 Stretch Composition I 6 cr. or ENGL110 College Writing I  3 cr.
• ENGL210 College Writing II 3 cr.

Declaration of major process can begin here.

• COMM362 Social Media Communication 3 cr.
• SOCL320 Research Methods in Social Sciences 3 cr.

Core Requirements

All communication majors will be required to pass each of the following six core courses with at least a “C–” grade, while maintaining a 2.8 GPA requirement in Program Courses:

• COMM318 Small Group Communication 3 cr.
• COMM340 Rhetorical Traditions 3 cr.
• COMM389 Intercultural Communication 3 cr.
• COMM440 Communication Theory 3 cr.
• COMM475 Media Ecology 3 cr.
• COMM499 Communication Internship minimum of 3 cr. required

Major Electives

At least 33 upper division (300–400 level) communication (COMM) credits are required for graduation with a communication major. Students may with advance planning create “Areas of Emphasis” consisting of groups of three or four upper division courses focusing on a particular aspect of communication studies. Emphases may consist of COMM offerings combined with courses that deal with communication in other disciplines — these courses all count toward the 33 credit requirement.

Areas of Emphasis

“Emphases” (groups of three or four upper division courses also focusing on a particular aspect of communication studies) provide communication majors maximum flexibility in tailoring programs to fit their interests and needs. Emphases make the communication major truly interdisciplinary, since courses can be drawn not only from communication (COMM) offerings, but from other curricular areas as well.

Internship Requirements

An essential component of the communication program, fieldwork experiences (internships) provide opportunities for students to apply classroom learning in real-life situations, explore career options, and build meaningful resumes.

Communication internships are available only to communication majors (COMM499 Communication Internship). At least three internship credits are required for graduation and count toward major requirements. As many as seven additional credits may be earned as upper division electives.

Students who minor in communication and desire an internship experience should pursue one within their chosen major.

Communication Minor

The communication minor requires:

• COMM111 Fundamentals of Speech 3 cr.
• COMM212 Interpersonal Communication 3 cr.
• COMM475 Media Ecology 3 cr.

One of the following:

• COMM230 Argument and Advocacy 3 cr.
• COMM240 Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr.

One of the following:

• COMM318 Small Group Communication 3 cr.
• COMM340 Rhetorical Traditions 3 cr.
• COMM440 Communication Theory 3 cr.

Six additional credits at the three- or four-hundred level communication (COMM) courses