Majors and Minors

Requirements for Major

The curriculum in the Communication Studies Department is designed around two components—(1) a common core of three fundamental courses, and (2) a variety of specific courses covering the three primary emphasis areas of interpersonal communication, organizational communication, and mass communication/media. All majors must complete the common core, which consists of:

Communication Studies 101: Introduction to Human Communication
Communication Studies 241: Public Speaking
Communication Studies 322: Communication Theory and Research

Beyond the core, each major must choose from one of five tracks. These tracks include the general track, interpersonal track, organizational track, mass communication/media track, and professional communications and production track. The track chosen determines the required breakdown of a student's remaining six units, and those breakdowns are listed below. The specific courses counting for each emphasis area are also listed below.

General Track Requirements
Common Core: 101, 241, 322
1 course each from List I, List II, and List III
3 additional departmental electives (any course within the department)

Interpersonal Track Requirements
Common Core: 101, 241, 322
2 courses from List I
1 course each from List II and List III
2 additional departmental electives (any course within the department)

Organizational Track Requirements
Common Core: 101, 241, 322
2 courses from List II
1 course each from List I and List III
2 additional departmental electives (any course within the department)

Mass Communication/Media Track Requirements
Common Core: 101, 241, 322
2 courses from List III
1 course each from List I and List II
2 additional departmental electives (any course within the department)

Professional Communication and Production Track Requirements
Common Core: 101, 241, 322
3 courses from 205,306,351, 365, internship off-campus
3 courses from English: 207, 208, 306, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313.

List I: Interpersonal Communication Courses
202: Interpersonal and Family Communication
207: Communicating Gender
313: Intercultural Communication
314: The Other Side of Interpersonal Communication

List II: Organizational Communication Courses
203: Small Group and Organizational Communication
303: Organizational Culture and Communication
306: Public Relations
351: Persuasion

List III: Mass Communication/Media Courses
205: Mass Communication
306: Public Relations
311: Environmental Communication
365: Media Theory

All 287-289 and 387-389 courses (Selected Topics courses) offered will be accepted as electives toward the major. Students may complete multiple Selected Topics courses and count them toward the major, but may not complete the same course more than once. In addition, internships (391, 392) and directed studies (411, 412) may be counted toward the major if they are approved by the department in advance and are taken within the Communication Studies Department (as COMM 391, 392, 411, or 412).

Requirements for Minor

The minor requires a minimum of six units including:

• Common Core: 101, 241, 322
• 1 course each from List I, List II, and List III